FROZEN MEAT.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 152, 29 June 1917, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT.

STATEMENT BY THE HON. W

D. S. MacDONALD

•'■ An important statement, on the subject of\ the shipping and freezing industry of the Dominion, was made to a Post reporter by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. W. D. to. Mac Donald). 'In the first place the Minister referred to the fact that freezing companies in New Zealand, as well as in Australia, are carrying trat experiments with the object of saving space. No definite scheme has yet been evolved, but if the idea is eventually improved by the Imperial authorities it will be brought ' into

operation next season. "The whole matter is still in the experimental stage," said the Minister. "We hope shortly to get some definite replies from the. Imperial authorities. If those are satisfactory, the freezing companies will probably adopt the new proposed method of, packing frozen meat, which will 'mean a Kaving of one-third of the space. Other experiments are being made, but they cannot j-et be explained. We hope, however, that before next season a very great advance in regard to space-saving -will have been

! achieved.'' | Speaking of shipping, the Minister j said he had been in communication t with the High Commissioner, who is putting the matter before the Tonnage Committee of the Board -of Trade in England. . (>We cannot say anything in regard to the future," he remarked. "We can only say J that certain shios, under urgent ! necessity have been diverted to other j ports by the Imperial authorities. Our position in- this respect has been " kept very prominently before the Imperial Government, which is fully ! alive to the position." | In regard to other refrigerated i space requirements, tlfo Minister said ; that, as far as butter was concerned, I the export to date was not much less than for the same period of last year. However, the increase in the production- of butter during last year, more especially in the north of Auckland, had been very considerable, and that meant the hbld-'ng of very large quantities in store.

'•'What can you do about it? was the question put to the Minister. "We are urging upon the Imperial / Government," was. the Minister's reply, ''the necessity, of, if possible, diverting insulated space in New Zealand. A weekly return is sent" to the , Imperial Government in regard to. meat', butter, and cheese in store, ; and pointing out the urgent necessity ; of providing transport at the earliest ; possible moment. ... .1 am in daily < communication with the High Com- j missioner on the subject, and \ye i hope that in time the position will -j f, be eased. Naturally, the people of j New Zealand and the Imperial | Government are doing their utmost \ to meet the requirements >of the Dominion, and we hope, for an improvement. It has, 1 know, been a difficult problem,, but up to the present the . wool-grower and the meat-grower and the dairy-producer appear to be faii'ly well-placed 'as far' as things have at present developed. "Mr Massey and I have been doing our very utmost to emphasise the I position in New Zealand to the Im- ; perial Government, and I can assure you that the best that can be done by the Imperial Government is being done. I believe (in reply to criticism) tha^i the Imperial Government is doing the best it can to meet New Zealand in its shipping requirements, aiid that the Dominion will, in due course, get its fair share."