19

H.-38

The losses of insulated tonnage since the commencement of the present war, represented in terms of 60 lb. carcases of meat, are as follows : — a . Capacity: (steamer. ..,,,, *~ 601b. (Jarcascs. S.s. " Kaipara" ... ... ... ... 96,500 S.s." Otaki" ... ... ... ... 95,000 S.s. "Rotorua" ... ... ... ... 99,000 S.s. " Tongariro" ... ... ... ... 83,500 S.s. " Rangatira" ... ... ... ... 97,800 S.s. "Tokomaru" ... ... ... ... 82,000 S.s. " Middlesex" ... ... ... ... 102,000 S.s. " Port Nicholson" ... ... * ... 113,000 S.s. " Port Adelaide" ... 113,000 S.s. "Marere" ... ... ... ... 86,000 S.s. " Clan MacTavish" ... ... ... 48,000 S.s. "Turakina" ... ... ... .... 120,000 S.s. "Somerset" ... ... ... ... 95,000 S.s. " Roscommon" ... ... ... ... 100,000 S.s. " Cumberland" ... ... ... ... 123,000 S.s. "Delphic" ... ... ... ... 93,000 S.s. "Limerick" ... ... ... ... 100,000 S.s. " Port Kembla"... ... ... ... 65,000 S.s. "Westmoreland" ... ... ... 50,000 1,761,800 Of the vessels mentioned only the s.s. " Rotorua," " Clan MacTavish," and " Westmoreland " carried produce consigned to the Imperial Government, and the values of the cargo lost in each of these steamers were as follows :— "Rotorua." "Clan MacTavish." "Westmoreland." £ £ £ Meat ... ... 89,991 47,558 66,452 Wool ... ... 221,625 ... 20,075 Cheese ... ... 102,318 Scheelite ... ... 1,641 "Glaxo" .... 2,503 £415,575 £47,558 £89,030 The s.s. " Matatua," which was mentioned in my previous report as damaged by an explosion and subsequent stranding, has since been repaired, and is at present engaged in the transatlantic trade. The shortage caused by the disappearance of so many steamers from the New Zealand trade has been very largely set off by the system of exchanging steamers with Australia, and as a result of this practice several steamers which have hitherto not been seen in New Zealand waters have visited New Zealand ports for the purpose of lifting refrigerated and wool cargoes. STAFF AND ORGANIZATION. In addition to undertaking the arrangements necessary in connection with the requisition of produce on behalf of the Imperial Government, the Department has at different times been called upon to institute general inquiries regarding other lines not commandeered, and in all matters in connection with shipping it has endeavoured to constitute itself a Department for the collection and distribution of information of interest to the commercial community. A weekly bulletin showing its operations has been prepared and furnished for the information of Ministers, all Departments of the Dominion Government concerned, the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee, representatives of the associated banks of New Zealand, the Board of Agriculture, and others,