SHIPPING

Grey River Argus, 4 October 1918, Page 3

SHIPPING

FREIGHT FROM AUSTRALIA,

ALLOCATION OF SPACE,

WELLINGTON, September 30; The Hon. A. M Myers, Minister of Munitions and supplies, commenting on a statement recently -published in a Christchurch paper that rice had been ■shut out of the intercolonial boats on an instruction given to, the ' shipping.companies by an agent appointed by the Government, siated that the last threeboats from Sydney had brought about 2000 bags of rice. .The position Vs that, there is more' cargo, awaiting (shipment at. Australian ports than tonrSiage i's available to take the same uO [ N&k, Zealand. . ' ■■ '^-£\s a result of the action taken by me," V<iid Mr. Myers, "shipping .corn-panies'ht-X'o given attention ip several isolated orcfef^ for important mercliat--dise required iif-'^Jew* Zealand,-, the absence of which wo&M effect the continuance of oiir in.<ivfj?hVe s - My desire is to disturb as. little a^ipssible i-ae i existing commercial practice, but the requirements of the DoiuHt^uon are such that it Is undesirable roW-a^ limited' shipping space available to? be utilised without careful attention to the comnipdites most needed for the welfare of the Dominion. Early last month I requested the New Zealand Government agents in Sydney > nd Mcl .bourne to approach the shipping companies concerned, asking them to favourably regard the applications forsu])ci'phosph!'itcs> potatoes, onions, pollard and lines of seed grain, the understanding beAig that the. request would be reviewed early next month. "I desire to make it clear that the New Zealand Government! has not sent an official to Australia for the purpose of regulating cargo space in cooperation wi)th the shipping companies concerned. To prevent confusion .it will be appreciated if consignors continue to make their applicat/ons foi\ space .direct to the shipping companies interested i!n Australia. Then in hie event of the shipping' companies iinri-" ing themselves able to givo the attention which such consignors regard as reasonable,. I will be pleased, at i-he request of consignors in New Zealand, to, consider whether and representative can be made by the, New Zealand Government to tho shipping companies. Then,, v if:. justified, I will direct *Jie New Zealand 'Government ageni; concerned' to make suitable representations jn . regard to the matter. Merchants and others in New Zealand affected by the procedure ouitfinod above may rely on prompt attention by my Department to any requests made in this connection. "

'An interesting quarter page display advertisement dealing with the. question of ■National Efficiency will be found on page,, 4 of this issue and should be carefully considered by every reader, , .