EXPORT OF LAMB

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24547, 21 April 1945, Page 6

EXPORT OF LAMB

: ♦— . DIVERSION OP SHIPPING NO LIKELIHOOD OF CONGESTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 20. A report that four refrigerated ships commissioned to pick up meat for Britain recently left Australian ports empty and came to New Zealand to load lamb carcases, was referred to* day to authorities in Wellington. No specific information was available, but it was stated that ships frequently discharged in Australia and then came to New Zealand for homeward meat cargoes. . . . In recent years, all British shipping had been under the control of the British Ministry of War Transport atm the representatives of the Ministry in Australia and New Zealand had cooperated closely to secure the most effective use of shipping- Cargoes to New Zealand, particularly on the present restricted scale, did not bring enough ships here to take off the Do* minion’s refrigerated exports, and ships which had carried goods to Australia were therefore often sent on \o New Zealand ports to complete their homeward loading. The extent of such diversion depended on the needs pf the two countries and would naturally be greater at a time such as now. when Australia’s meat production had been adversely affected by one °f the worst droughts in history. Though New Zealand clearances pf meat this season were so far slightly behind those of last season, prospects were good. There was no likelihood of a congestion of stores or of a holdup of killings being necessary. It was also stated that the figure of 6,00(1,000 lapib carcases mentioned in the cabled message as the cargo for the four refrigerated ships was obviously an error- sffhe largest refrigerated ship, even if loaded fully with meat only, could not take more than 400,000 lamb carcases, and the usual loading’would not be more than 230.000.