NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 10 July 1917, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS BY MR

MASSEY

B*2 TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION ' PUKEKOHE, July 9. Some important statements in regard to the outlook for producers in New Zealand, and the pros_pects of im- j provements in the supply of ships, were made by the Prime Minister at a banquet last evening. Mr Massey said that at presentabout a quarter of a million boxes of butter were lying in the cold stores of the Dominion. The Government had been in communication during the past few weeks with the shipping authorities, and to-day he had received a communication from the head of the Imperial Supplies Department in Wellington, stating that he had succeeded in obtaining space for 50,000 boxes of butter in ships leaving during July and August. . Portion of this space would be available to relieve congestion in Auckland, ilt was pointed out in the telegram that the Imperial Government so far had not allowed butter to be shipoed as priority cargo. Mr Massey added, however, that last week when he had a conference with the Overseas Shipping Committee, he stated that he was prepared to accept responsibility for placing 50,000 or 60 } 000 boxes of butter on board the ships, in order to relieve congestion. (Applause.) He did not know whether the Imperial Government would put him in gaol for this or not, but he was prepared to accept the risk. (Ap-

plause.) Mr Massey said that he had also received a communication from the British Board of Trade authorising him to enter into negotiations with the producers of the Dominion for the purchase of next season's cheese output. He desired to obtain a fair price for j the producers, in view of the increased; cost of production, but there should be no endeavor to screw the last shilling out of the Imperial authorities. In re- . gard to ships, he said that shipbuild-' ing was going on satisfactorily, but at least half of the British mercantile marine has been required to carry supplies to the' forces of the Empire and of our I Allies. He remembered whilst in Eng-' laud sending a cablegram to the Act- j ing-Prime Minister stating that he believed the shipping position would 5m- j prove aftetr July. Some people had | considered that he was too optimistic, j but he was now ahle to make an an- i nouncement which would show that he was not far wrong. He stated that in- j formation had been received to the effect that the position would be materially improved during the next three' nionths. He felt that this would be satisfactory news to the producers of the Dominion—(Hear, hear) —as if what was promised was carried out, the shipping ' position for next season would be practically met. Ships would not be able to carry away the whole of the frozen products, but would make way for the j nex-i. season being commenced without * any serious deficiency. The Imperial ' authorities now treated New Zealand' very well They had done their best to ' keep the armies supplied, and had been j aide to get all the meat required from j countries less than half the distance of 1 New Zealand from it-he heart of the Empire Apparently they had been able to build up a sufficiently safe reserve to allow them to send more vessels to the Dominion. Mr Massey said he had no doubt it would be possible to arrange a fair price for cheese. The prices for meat until the end of the war had already been, arranged. Thetre was no doubtb that Britain would again want our wool, and the price probably would be the same as that of last season. If it wanted} our wool, it would also want our hides ' and sh.eepskins; and that meant all the principal portions of the Dominion's produce. Last season the Imperial Gov. eminent took delivery of wool here and the greatei- part of last season's clip had gone. He hoped the same arrangement would be made for next season.