DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 722, 2 June 1923, Page 3

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT.

THE SHIPPING FACILITIES,

EXPLANATION BY COMPANIES,

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June I

As considerable publicity has been given to complaints by dairy producers regarding the shipping facilities during the past season, representatives of the shipping lines have put forward their side of the ease in the form of an interview, at which the questions put, and the answers given, were as follows:

(1) Who arranges the shipment of dairy produce, mid on what basis is it arranged?” ‘‘For many years past it has been arranged under contract between the shipping companies and North and South island Dairy Associations.” (2) “Have the shipping companies been able to provide the space for the Dairy Associations’ requirements throughout the season?” “Yes, with the exception of February, which was the peak of the season for refrigerated cargo, when the dairy produce received an equitable proportion of space. More space for dairy produce could have been provided had a longer notice been received by the shipping companies. Applications for space and shipments durum' the past season were, butter, applications 2,468,500 boxes, shipments 2,335,099; cheese, 1,014.600 crates, and 824,921. In April ’and May the quantity of butter shipped was all that was available and the ships sailed with empty spaces the quantity of cheese available lell short of the applications by 189,000 crates and the slaps were consequently short loaded.” (5) “Has any district suffered any undue delay this season in regard to the shipment of dairy produce?” “The only shipping port that suffered is the Bluff, due to the fact that when the contract was negotiated the Dairy Associations particularly requested direct shipment from nine stipulated trading ports. Is T o doubt tins was clone to avoid handling, but as the season progressed it was realised that it would hate been better to have sent some of the Bluff produce to connect at Dunedin or \t ol-liiip-ton as as was done m at the’shipping companies’ expense. _ (4) “How many steamers arrived m the United Kingdom each month?” “November two; December, three;, January live, February, six; March, nine; April, tomtoon; May, ten; June, nine; July, nine, Autrust, two.” , , (5) “Were there any special circumstances outside the shipping companies contro , which contributed to any delay m .hipineuiv” “Delays m , shipping m New Zealand this season have been cacop on account of too wet season, the liinita tion of hours prevents the time oping nia . ui> by working exceptional overtune, such as ail night work, and ships have frequently been held up over week ends in consequence; besides which there wore delays rough bad weather at roadstead porta. There were several exceptional delay., namely the Tckoc and the Mamma, at Auckland, for a week each owing to the dispute between New Zea.aua seller -uw American purchaser of dairy produce, lay of several days to many sleamors occurred at New Plymouth, where only one berth is available. (6) “Can you say if the manner m which dairy produce was s upped resulted in a glut in the Home markets and consequent fall in prices?” . “The shipping companies, in reply to this, can only say that {he regulation in size of shipments Iron, this end is in the hands of the Dairy Associations, and as the Hump m London took April, if more space had been available for February shipment the arrivals in April would have been greater ;and Sight have caused a greater fall in prices The position that has not been made clear to dairy producers is, however, we understand an economic one. Owing to the financial conditions m Germany, Danish " shippers’ have concentrated on the fCiish market and, wo arc led to believe shipped fully 90 iwr cent of their Output to the United Kingdom on account ot the lass of their German market. _