OUR OVERSEA TRADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3044, 3 April 1917, Page 7

OUR OVERSEA TRADE

THE TONNAGE DIFFICULTY

STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN / By; Telegraph—Press AssociatiM. Dunedln, April 2. Sir James Allen, Acting-Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, stated to-, day that the Government - was making every effort to maintain the best standard possiblo.in connection, with tho essential/oversea trado of New Zealand. Indeed, the : question has obtained; the consistent'attention. of the Administration', and, of Ministers at Home, but in view of the recent direct effects of the enemy submarine campaign on New Zealand traders, and also tne announcement as to the diversion of several ressols in the Australasian service to. tho American trade, the Government got immediately into communication With' Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward.' A cable/.rcply,;had been, received to-day, Mr. Massey advising that a, strong, protest had been made to the Board of Control against the diversion of such vessels,. and stating that- ho! thought t-ho board was- impressed. But he ad-; mitted that tho position was very difficult. , : v . .-

Sir James Allon points out that the reason for diversion.' is that the : ships can; make two trips in tho American trade! against one to an! in view of tho urgency of supphes at Home |it may he necessary for New Zealand to bear a sacrificial adjustment of the shipping service, i "

Tho. shortags. of shipping tonnage iri ■Australia, brought about by the diversion of rso many vessels to naval and military,,duty was considered some days ago ;by tho Commonwealth Shippine ..Board, w.hich , now controls the movements of ships from- and. between Australian ports. "Tho position of late has becon»i more aoute, by reason of r the : fact that tho tonnage now available for trado is found to .be inconimohsurato with requirements. As „far /as oversea transport is concerned, tho board attaches primary importance to t.hp shipment of wheat and flour cargoes," and at the meet-ine-:.it made allotments tb' tho vossels wliich • lit • heliovuxi will be available during':tho.next few weeks. 'All oth'er ( cargoes for which spaco is sought for oversea' shipment have to ho subordinated'to those of- tlie primiary •prodjicts. There are''still millions of bushels of the,old harvest,, ret to..be cleared, arid the' movement of this, together with last seasou'.s - crop, is a problem of considerable magnitude. . The fact that' of rcsselsi has been' .withdraw from the! coastal servico" knd further withdrawals ara-pending as seriously 'interfering with transportation between Australian ports. Already, there is a- coal shortigo at -.Broken Hill, where two "or the mines .haye been 'forced to close dowu. I'hia is duo to" interruption in tho movements of;.colliors trading botween Newca«tlo and Port, Pirio. Tho Shipping Board is vto give consideration to this aspect '.of, tho situation, together with' 'the main question of interstate inide. It will bo necessary to classify cargoes according to the degrcci of necessity for thoir transhipment "• botween Commonwealth ports.,'..;