THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1917, Page 6

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

New Zealand producers of exportable commodities must be. prepared for a possible shortage of tonnage next season. The current expoi't season is nearing its close, and it will not re-open, until-about September next, when the new buttei' begins to come in. That being the case, produce in store in the Dominion will now be a diminishing quantity. Tho [ dairy and meat export seasons are drawing to an end, and although there irtay iba substantial .accumulations ofl produce awaiting shipment \production is declining in the normal course. If the whole of the tale- could be told it would no dpubt be shown that remarkable ex-peditiofl-g,has been made in getting th» produce away considering Ithe almost insuperable difficulties those controlling the shipping have had to contend with. Today's cablegram states that Mr. Massey, who is in London, is still urging upon the Imperial Government the need for providing facilities for shipment of New Zealand produce, and he expresses the hope that America's seizure of enemy vessels will afford some relief to the general tonnage stringency. Sir James Allen, who is in New Zealand., is more precise, stating that already two ships have been diverted from this trade to others not so geographically remote, and he prepares Dominion producers for a shortage of tonnage during the year. Any, relief to be looked for as a result of the utilisation of enemy ships interned in American ports is problematical; and besides, assuming such tonnage to be in a workable condition, the United States Government would naturally have first call upon it. ,

In sentiment New Zealand no doubt feels nearer to Britain than Britain realises, but that does not overcome thd fact that main ports of the Biver Plate and South Africa are less than three weeks nearer to Britain than ours. True, the Argentine and South African producing seasons are about the same as, ours, but, the Canadian and United States summer production and navigation are opening, and six to ten days may be given as sufficient for the passage from North Atlantic ports to Liverpool—a tremendous advantage over our own lengthy run Home. Thus not only time but freights can be saved, and of these time is the more important consideration at the moment. Of course, any limitation of the tonnage to load hero will mean a restriction of space outwards for imports, so that Britain, it is presumed, will not be able to fully meet all New Zealand's demands for manufactured and raw materials which help to pay for.the produce purchased from us. Probably this aspect of the caee has been fully presented to the right quarter by Mr. Maasey. In any case it is evident that producers must be prepared to suffer some further inconvenience in the matter. of getting their produce away next season, and they should now take the best steps possible to meet the contingency.