N.Z. EXPORTS

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1932, Page 6

N.Z. EXPORTS

LACK OF SHIPPING For Its Recent Increases AUCKLAND, .lune I). According to |tt leading exporter, shipping facilities have be?n inadequate to meet abnormal increases in production this season and some anxiety is felt whether the last of the current i season’s produce will reach the Home! market in time to avoid overlapping ; with next season’s output. During the period August. 1931, to April, 1932, shipments of butter ini', eaesd fpom 72, 454 tons to 80,498 tuns. There was a decrease in cheese shipments from 70,890 tons to 67,751 tons, the net increase in both items being 4904 tons. From October Ist. 1931, to May 15th, 1932, shipments of lamb increased from 6.(501,345 carcases to 7,411,878, an increase of 810,533. In the case of mutton, the increase was 895.486 carcases, from 1,764,993 to 2,660,479. The estimated increase of mutton ami lamb for the whole season is 1.850,000. carcases, or about 20 per rent. For the 12 months ended March 31st. shipments of fruit increased from 50,366,7581 b., to 56,184,8131 b., an a<> vtuieo uf over 10 per cent. The increase for the current season is esti mated at 30 per cent. The possibility of over-lapping with ooxt season could not be disregarded, said the exporter. The coming season was expected to be an early one and Australia promised to have the earliest nnd largest export season in its history, commencing next month. Com petition from Australia in meat ami dairy prod nee was increasing, and the Commonwealth was destined to become a serious rival. As indicating the growth of Australia’s exports, shipments of mutton in 1930-31 aggregated 1,219,867 carcases and in 1931-32 the total was 1,485,944 carcases. The In mb shipments in 1930-31 totalled 2,356,382 carcases and in the present eason reached 3,410,737 carcases.

The shipment of New Zealand refrigerated produce was now controlled bv various produce boards and a heavy responsibility lay upon them, said the exporter. They were placed in comleto authority and the shipping com•mies now had virtually no resonsibi lity to the merchant, the dairy company o'- the freezing company. It was to be feared that the samp weakness tended to creep into the produce movement as disclosed itself in all forms of Government control. Tn practice it was understandable that the shipping companies could make the case good from their own point of view with the board or with officials of the Government where they would not bp so successful with the merchant ar freezing company. Tt was notorious that where a large company was responsible to a client shipper, ho was much more responsive to trade requirements than if he was able to work through a public body not concerned with the monetary side of the transaction. Effect on Prices. Tn most carrying trades it was customary for the regular linos to charter outside tonnage from other sotfrees whore the movement of commodities was slack in order to tide them over the peak of the season or any abnormal situation. Tt was said that the abnormally early season and big increase in production was not real ised in time this season and that although in January produce was piling up, instead of having provision for increased output the tonnage available was actually smaller than last year.