SHIPPING PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 213, 3 June 1919, Page 4

SHIPPING PROSPECTS

THE NEWS FROM LONDON. The cablegrams from "London, reporting improvement in the shipping prospects, are having a cheering effect on producers and exporters. But official predictions and promises have often produced disappointment in . tho past, and anxiety will not bo- fully allayed until the promised ships ar« actually in New Zealand waters.

The present position is that there ard nearly 7,000,000 carcasses of frozen meat in the stores. Of this quantity tho Der payment of Imperial Supplies expects to ship about 750,000 freight carcasses dnring the present month. Tho cheeso stores contain about 300,000 crates, and the pressure will' be much relieved this month and next month. There is no doubt there has been some deterioration in portions of this cheese, owing to tho delay in shipment. The dotorioration does not affect the produoer, the loss falling upon tho. Imperial Government, but it has to be taken into account when prices are being compared. Tho Now Zealand producers are not getting as' Rood a prico under the Imperial contract as tho Canadian producers are getting from a freo market, but on the other hand tho New Zealand producers have had the advantage of a fixed prico and a secure market at the time when shipping was exceedingly scarce. The amount of wool in store in this country is about 400,000 bales, of which roughly 100,000 bales aro washed, scoured, and slipe wool. Shipment is not as pressing a matter in the case of wool as in the case of cheese, since tho product does not deteriorate in store.