THE SHIPPING TRADE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17868, 14 August 1918, Page 5

THE SHIPPING TRADE

CARRIAGE OF DOMINION PRODUCE. OUTLOOK STILL SERIOUS. The position in respect to the overseas shipping trade is very much the same as» was the case a month ago. During the course of a conversation with a reporter Mr .A. »V. Bennett, manager of the NewZealand Shipping Company, stated that there was one steamer due foi uispai.cn iiomewardß very soon, ami. seven steamers were due to sail during tho > early future. These womd load with frozen meat and, general cargo. Mr Juenuett. remarked tiiat tins coUid bo regarded as a slight improvement, ami rather more tnan was at one time expwted. As to the shipping prospects beyond the period no Had mentioned, he had no definite knowledge. The charter of a sailing ship which had been fixed to load at Montreal for .New Zealand had been cancelled Most of the stores m the Dominion, Mr Bennett stated, were very nearly full. In the .North Island eleven of tho frozen meat stores were practicajly holding up to full, capacity, and there were nine frozen meat stores in the South Island, which were nearly fully stocked. There had been very little reduction of late in the quantity of wool lying in tho Dominon for shipment. The eight Bteamers due to depart within tne next few months would take away a great deal more than was coming into store at present. In fact, these eight steamers would lift nearly a million freight carcases, from which, however, must be deducted the space possibly allowed to butter and cheese.

A gentleman who is thoroughly conversant with the facts concerning the frozen meat industry said that although there are a few steamers expected to load during the next few months, the position was practically unchanged. The stores were congested, but there whs still a certain amount of space to make a start with next season, which commenced late in December or early in January. It would need a huge lifting before then for the new season's prospects to be anything like secure. Of the steamers likely to load shortly it was believed that probably the bulk of the loading would go to the North Island for beef, as it was understood that the destination of some of the vessels was such that only that class of meat would be lifted. The general outlook, in this informant's opinion, was just as serious as ever—it was purely h question of th« shipping that would bo available. As to the future, there was no information whatever. In the matter of increased cold storage accommodation the New Zealand .Refrigerating Company was making a further addition at Smithfield. utilising some spare piping. There was sp.'ire powei in tho Dominion, but the difficulty of getting the material had to be considered, and then there was the financial aspect also. The gravity of the situation lnv in the enormous stocks of meat piling up, and even should the supply of shipping become greater at an earlier period than expected, the nrqblem of haw to get that awnv within a reasonable time, in the light of other products that would claim space was, sorely exercising the minds of those who were fully noon nin ted with the true facts of the industry.