INSUFFICIENT SPACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1939, Page 4

INSUFFICIENT SPACE

COOL STORAGE AND SHIPPING.

EFFECT ON EXPORT TRADE.

Consequent on a serious shortage of shipping space, storage space for frozen meat is at a premium, practically throughout New Zealand. In Taranaki buying of fat stock has ceased as a result, while in Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu killings have been restricted.

Interviewed today, Mr E. G. Norman, General Manager of Messrs T. Borthwick and Sons, Ltd., said: Our storage space is badly affected as the result of a shortage of shipping space, and practically throughout New Zealand storage space is insufficient. We are bringing all possible pressure to bear on the shipping companies to relieve the congestion.” Mr Norman said that buying, was still continuing in the Wairarapa, which was not affected to the same extent as the firm’s works in Taranaki and Manawatu. Killings at Waingawa had eased off this week, but that was due to an epidemic of influenza which had resulted in 56 men being away from work. He did not agree with a statement by Mr F. L. Frost, M.P. for New Plymouth, that the shortage of space in Taranaki was due to the recent fire at Waingawa.

In other quarters it has been suggested that the shortage of shipping space was the outcome of the import restrictions, as shipping firms would not continue to send out their ships to New Zealand in ballast.