AID TO BRITAIN COMMITTEE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25275, 29 August 1947, Page 6

AID TO BRITAIN COMMITTEE

___—> — TURN-ROUND OF SHIPPING DISCUSSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 28The quicker turn-round of ships on which tne congestion in harbour sheds bad a large bearing was described as The crux of New Zealand’s difficulties in helping Britain when an informal discussion followed the official opening of the permanent Aid to Britain Committee by the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr W. Nash) to-day. Mr D. A. Robertson, the shipping companies’ representative on the committee, that at the present rate of turn-round, it would take till the end pf the year to clear from the stores all butter, cheese, and meat which were immediately available for Britain. At 'fie end of July there were in store i? 600 tons of butter, 3650 tons of cheese, and 119,500 tons of meat, a total of 128,750 tons of food ready for Britain. Answering a question, Mr Nash said that Cabinet was considering to-day the problem of th© turn-round of ships. Mr H. G. Kilpatrick, of the Freez:n- Workers’ Union, said it would do no good if things were going to be jammed up on the waterfront. He commended the spirit of the Auckland watersiders, who had made some concession in hours of work in handling badly needed basic slag. Mr Nash said that Cabinet expected to be called upon to arrange with the committee the best possible way to get the job of helping Britain done. The Government would bear any expenditure, although industry would be encouraged to help in such direction® •as publicity. Mr Nash said there was no question of freezing exchange. New Zealapd s overseas funds were there for purchasing goods, and the Dominion would not trespass on those funds in a way that would embarrass th© United Kingdom.