HELD-UP BUTTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 36, 11 February 1920, Page 7

HELD-UP BUTTER.

HOME ATTTHOKTrrES APPEAR RESPONSIBLE. BUTTER TRAIEFTC STOPPED. The mystery hanging round the steamer "Northumberland, which has been lying idle at Auckland since Sunday, and has not yet loaded the 50,000 boxes of butter arranged for, is as deep as ever to-day, except for an indication that parties in England are responsible for the hold-up. Owing to th e delay and the congestion of meat and butter at the stores, the Auckland 'Partners' Freezing Company hus notified the dairy factories not to send forward any more butter by rail till further notice. It is hoped that it will not be necessary to stop killing at the Southdown and Horotiu works, but the last-named will 'be idle on Monday and Tuesday next in any event. The New Zealand and African Steamship Co., Wellington agents for the (Northumberland, wired last evening that they regretted that the vessel was not ready to load butter, and stated that they understood that the matter was in the hands of the Overseas Shipowners' Committee. Other advices indicate that the Prime Minister has been advised that the ship's agents received their instructions from the British authorities. Mr. Massey is now in communication with the latter. Mr. J. G. Harkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association, is satisfied that Mr. "Massey is doing h-s 'best in the matter, hot says that the Shipowners' Committee is very reticent. Some measure of relief will he offered 'by the Kaikoura, whioh will start loading on Monday. This vessel will take from the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Co. 4G.000 boxes of butter, 13,000 crates of cheese, and 211,000 carcases of meat. Xo cargo was worked by the Northumberland to-day.