H.—3B

11

Purchase of the hides is effected by the Government broker on the authority of the Government valuer, and all purchases are subject to the condition that the seller shall place the hides f.o.b. ocean steamer. The scale of values fixed for hides is as follows :— Per Pound. Ox-hides, first quality, over 45 ib. up to freezing companies' best s. d. standard ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 1 Others, first quality ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 Ox-hides, second quality ... ... ... ... ... 0 11-|-Cow-hidcs, first quality, up to freezing companies' best standard ... 1 0 Others, first quality ... ... ... ... ... ... 011 Cow-hides, second quality ... ... ... ... ... 0 10-Hull-hides, good quality ... ... ... ... ... 0 9 All other grades and qualities, including cut and slippy hides, to be fixed at relative valuations. Provision was made for local tanners' requirements to be met by granting them permits to purchase at the scheduled rates. Hides supplied to the Australian and Canadian Governments under approval of the New Zealand Government are invoiced at the values as set out above, plus 1\ per cent, to cover expenses of valuation. SHIPPING. For many years antecedent to the declaration of war the freighting of frozen meat between New Zealand and Great Britain had been carried out by private contract between the respective shipping companies engaged in the New Zealand trade and the freezing companies. This system remained in force for a few months after the declaration of war — i.e., between August, 1914, and March, 1915 —when the whole of the insulated tonnage in steamers engaged in the Australasian overseas shipping trade was requisitioned by the Imperial Government. The interests of the various shipping companies in the existing contracts with the freezing companies and others in consequence disappeared for the time being, and, in effect, the shipping business, in so far as the insulated space was concerned, although carried on by the respective companies, became conducted as one concern —that is to say, the insulated space became " pooled " for allocation to shippers. The Imperial Government, in order to regulate the distribution and allocation of this insulated space, appointed Committees in London, Australia, and New Zealand, the New Zealand Committee receiving its directions from the London Committee and acting in co-operation with the Australian Committee. The Dominion Committee is known as the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee, and was appointed on the 26th March, 1915, its members consisting of representatives of the four overseas companies trading between New Zealand and Great Britain. Shortly after the appointment of the Committee the New Zealand Government expressed a desire to be represented on that body. This was agreed to, and the officer controlling the Department of Imperial Government Supplies was appointed. The present personnel of the Committee is as follows : Messrs. James Findlay (Chairman) and A. E. Pearce, representing Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited); Messrs. A. W. Bennett and G. B. Bullock, representing the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited); Messrs. W. Wallis and R. A. Anderson, representing the Federal Shire Line; Messrs. J. R. Rooper and J. Sandtmann, representing the Commonwealth and Dominion Line (now Cunard); and Mr. R. Triggs, representing the New Zealand Government, The Committee meets daily, and the amount of business which requires to be conducted is very considerable. The Department of Imperial Government Supplies completely co-operates in the work of the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee, and furnishes important information as may be required at frequent intervals.