GETTING OUR PRODUCE TO MARKET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2552, 28 August 1915, Page 4

GETTING OUR PRODUCE TO MARKET

. fr—. The Budget contains some striking facts and figures regarding the steps taken by the Government to, maintain the facilities for getting' our produce to the English market in spite i of the disturbing influences of' the war. It is of vital importance that sufficient insulated tonnage should .be available to oarry our frozen meat and dairy produce to Londoii. but experience has shown 'that it is no easy matter during the progress of a groat' war to keep overseas trade going smoothly ancl regularly. _ It is absolutely impossible to avoid a certain amount of dislocation, but by constant attention and foresight the Government has succeeded in reducing the disturbance to a minimum. Of course everything ultimately depends upon the supremacy and vigilance of the British Navy. If Admiral Jellicoe's Fleet by any chance Suffered' a decisive defeat our external trade would gradually collapse, but for-, tunately the Empire's sea power has remained unshaken, and apart from the danger of submarine attack, tho ocean commorce routes are as safe for the merchantmen of Britain and her Allies as they were before the struggle commenced. . The way has thus been kept clear for the shipment of our produce, .but much difficulty has been created by the requisition of so many "steamers for military purposes. The trouble has been intensified by delays caused by congestion of shipping at the London docks, and other unexpected occurrences. Considerable anxiety was' felt at one time regarding our frozen meat trade. A serious block seemed inevitable; but tho Government faced the position, in a resolute and businesslike way, and by negotiations with the snipping companies and representations to the Imperial authorities difficulties that seemed almost insuperable were, overcome and means wore found for getting our meat and dairy produce away with some regularity. It is really wonderful that in a war of such magnitude as that in which we are engaged our export trade should go on almost as if nothing unusual were happening. ' In February last tho British Government requisitioned' all our beef, mutton, and lamb exports, and since then enormous quantities have been sent out of the country. Up to Thursday Inst no fewer than 183,371 quarters of beef, 1,385,899 carcasses of mutton, and 2.032,320 carcasses of lamb have been snipped on behalf of the Imperial Government. The total value of tho purchases is no less than £3,774,795. The success of the 'New Zealand Government's efforts to solvo the shipping problem is demonstrated by the fact that between October 1, 1914, and March 31, 1915, forty insulated steamers i left our ports cai'r.y: ig tho equivalent of 2,009,281 freight carcasses, as against 2,404,189 freight carcasses during the Corresponding period of the previous season. It is no exaggeration to say that such a satisfactory, achievement aa tbeue (IgilfeS disclose wim hardly .I'ogar.ded flfi IfeU 6^jppij3g_

difficulty is an excellent illustration of the additional work and responsibility which has been thrown upon the shoulders of Ministers since the outbreak of the war.