INSULATED TONNAGE.

Marlborough Express, Issue 203, 28 August 1915, Page 2

INSULATED TONNAGE.

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT FROZEN" MEAT SUPPLY. In the course of his Financial Statement Sir Joseph Ward (Minister for Finance) reviewed the position concerning the frozen meat export trade | as it has been affected by the war. He i said:—_-The shortage of insulated tonnage for the conveyance of frozen I meat and dairy produce to the London I market has been a matter of grave i concern to the Government during jthe year. .ft arose lai-ffi^ +1" '

the withdrawal of a number of steamers regularly employed in the New Zealand trade for the transportation of the Expeditionary Forces, and the position was aggravated by other vessels engaged regularly in the trade being taken in Great Britain and Australia for military purposes. Moreover, the drought which was experienced in parts of the North Island early in the season, and later on in tho South Island, rendered it necessary, if values were to be maintained, .that farmers should immediately send their stock to the freezing works. Further, delays in the discharge of vessels, due- to the serious congestion of shipping at the London docks, the loss of the steamers Kaipara and Tokomar v, and the inability of ship-build-

ing contractors in England to complete a number of vessels ordered for the New Zealand trade and due for delivery early in the current year, have all tended to accentuate the difficulties. The Government has been in the

closest touch with the representatives in Neiv Zealand of the various shipping interests, and has been in negotiation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies through his Excellency the Governor with a view to mitigating the trouble. It also has been in

communication by cable with the High Commissioner, and has made representations to the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia with the object of securing tonnage from Australia.

As a insult of these efforts the Government was able to arrange for the return of three steamers from Egypt, the despatch of two steamers in ballast from Great Britain, and the diversion of two steamers from Australia. The expense incurred in connection with tne return of the two steamers from Great Britain is being borne by the Imperial Government.

In* February last the Imperial Government requisitioned the whole of the beef, mutton, and lamb available for export from the.Dominion. A scheme for giving effect to the requisition was submitted to a conference of representatives of freezing companies, the Board of Agriculture, producers, and other interested parties, and approved by.them. It was accepted by the Impeiial Government and brought into operation at the beginning of March, a special branch of the Public Service, known as the Imperial Government Meat Supply Branch, being established for the purpose of handling the business.

The meat then in store amounted to 1,383,627 601b carcases. The initial shipment went forward by #hq s.s. Ruahine on the l£tli March. The total shipments on behalf of the Imperial Government up to the-31st July were 151,367 quarters beef, 1,206,995 carcases mutton, and 1,747,596 carcases lamb. Tne total payments to freezing companies and producers up to that time amounted to £3.022,344. The purchases under the scheme are made by the New Zealand Government on behalf of the Imperial Government, and the funds fire requisitioned from London as required. Early in March the Imperial Govern ?nent entered into an "agreement with the various shipping interests with the view of requisitioning the insulated space of all steamers in the Australian and New Zealand trade.. This provided for the' establishment in London, Australia, and New Zealand of committees of representatives of the overseas . shipping companies to control the tonnage supply. _ The Imperial Meat -Supply Branch, m addition to attending to all matters connected with the purchase of meat on behalf of his Majesty's Government, has from time to time supplied the Overseas Shipowners' Committee with valuable statistical information, which has much facilitated the allotment of space. During the period Ist October, 1914, to 31st March, 1915, forty insulated steamers left the Dominion carrying the equivalent of 2,669,281 freight carcases, as against 2,404,189 freight carcases during the con esponding period of the previous season.