SHIPPING OF PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 287, 31 August 1935, Page 13

SHIPPING OF PRODUCE

Problems During Season DIFFICULTIES OF BOARD From a shipping viewpoint, last season, owing to production vagaries on account of unfavourable climatic conditions, was one of the most difficult experienced by the Dairy Board’s shipping officers. The annual report of the board shows that, while by the end of August there was an increase of 3.5 pet cent., up to the end of November a decrease of 2.35 per cent, had been recorded. Each month following November witnessed a further decrease up till the end of March, at which stage favourable rains sent outputs upward. Naturally, a shipping programme which has to be arranged at the commencement of the season, and which aims at giving a regular weekly arrival of butter and cheese in the United Kingdom, was disorganised, for tonnage requirements must be given to ship owners many months in advance of the time of shipment. Despite the unexpected and variable monthly decrease, arrangements witfl the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee have worked so well that all space has been satisfactorily allotted. During this season butter and cheese have been allotted to ships in quantities according to their date of arrival during the weeks of each month, and the joint efforts of the board and the ship owners for regular weekly arrivals in the United Kingdom have only been nullified in some instances by circumstances which neither party could control. Weather conditions, the huge quantity to handle (approximately 230,000 tons), the larger number of ships to load, distance to and from the market, and the number of New Zealand ports of loading, are some of the factors which present obstacles in the way of a perfect timetable shipping policy, A most marked improvement has, however, been effected in recent years, as the board’s reports clearly show.