SHIPPING SPAGE.

Grey River Argus, 14 April 1916, Page 4

SHIPPING SPAGE.

PREFERENCE TO BEEF AND CHEESE. WELLINGTON, April 8. Speaking to a "Pos trepresentative this afternoon on the subject of the shortage of shipping space, the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F..Massey, said : — 'The Imperial Government is asking us to give preference to beef anei cheese, as both are required for the troops. The dairying season is now ; coming to an end, and a -fry large proprtion of the output of outter and cheese has been sent away. Cheese 1 must go because it is required as ra--1 cions for the soldiers. So far t^s 1 can see, most of the buter now >n store will have, to stop over for the p'ys-ent. I In any case, a large quantity is required for home consumption, and I I will do my best to keep lie flax industry going", in accordance with the' request of the deputation made to me 1 few days ago, but I do not expect to be able to make any definite statement on the subject for a week or I two.", CANADA'S TROUBLES. Sir George Foster,, Minister for Trade and Commerce in the Canadian Ministry, writing to an Auckland friend, says : — "I. notice that you have the same troubles as regards transport arid freight rates as \«e rive. It is unfortunately much more easy to I point out the difficulties than it is to I provide efficient remedies. 1 here is no necessity for mv taking time "o point out the tremendous increases in freight rates . the world over, nor to enforce the fact that up to the present tint eno Governments have been ible to solve the difficulty. "In Canada our transport is reduced 'o almost a fraction of our necessities. 'Our regular lines have been depicted almost to the vanishing point by requisitions from the Home Government to -meet the necessities of the war,

land with us at the present time it is i not so much ti e. rates of freight that are charged, hilt ' tne possibility .of grctring cargo at any rate that may be asked. . . . Charters arc, of course, abnormally high, and it is impossible t buy shipping at the present time without paying such enormous prices that, in view of the contingency of duration, frightens capital from the venture. ... "The British Government has given very faithful and long consideration to the eruestion of commandeering ships for commercial purposes, but has found the difficulties and consequences too great to be met in that way. At least", that is the case up to the present time. . . I quite understand the difficulties of carrying on export trade under these conditions, but we must in the end admit that these conditions, are war conditions, and therefore unavoidable. With steamship companies at the present time it is not a question as to fair profit on vessels owned previously to the breaking out of the war. It is the old luestion of supply and demand, and •*•■ market rate "established thereby, and not even Govei'nment subsidies -:an very much affect this general law. \ large exporter telephoned to me yesterday, and imade a harrowing plea for cargo space. In regard to rates, he said he raised no question, J|ut 'Vhat ho wanted was to get space for the products, no mater how much he had to pay for carrying." Sir George also says : — "I have had «rrcn.t difficulty -in keeping the New Zealand Shipping Company on jfche r oute, even at existing rates,- but have done so because the exporters hei'e, in 0 main, say, "Give us space, we shall have to pay 1 the world's rate.' "