FREEZING SPACE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1919, Page 8

FREEZING SPACE

A UNIQUE POSITION SUGGESTION TO DIVERT SHIPS FROM AUSTRALIA. (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A unique position arose at the Rangiora market yesterday in connection with the sale of fat lambs and the larger lines of fat sheep.- The yarding was the largest of the season, and some consternation was caused when it was found that freezer buyers were under instructions from their heads not to operate.

Mr. Bennett, general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, in the course of an interview, stated that the present situation was due to the insufficiency in the number of insulated ships, and he did not think there was any immediate prospect of ftn improvement, at all events for a month or so. The only hope was that the New Zealand Government might persuade the Imperial authorities to divert some insulated steamers now in Australia or close at hand. There was far more frozen meat and frozen dairy produce in New Zealand than in Australia, and the diverting of ships had been urged by the Overseas Committee in Wellington, and also by the New Zealand Government. The present position -was that in a few weeks more than half the freezing works in the Dominion would be closed down for want of space, and the result would be very depressing on the market, as freezing buyers could not operate unless there was some freezing space. As for the freezing companies, the committee controlling shipments worked on the principle of allotting shipping space where stores were full, and freezing companies were compelled to put stock out in accordance with instructions.