N. Z. PRODUCE AT HOME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 15 December 1921, Page 4

N. Z. PRODUCE AT HOME

DELAY IN UNLOADING f s r vfementlF the prime MINISTER . (From Oar Parliamentary Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. In (he House of Representatives this afternoon the Premier made the lowing statement on the subject or the. delays experienced in unloading New Zealand produce at the Port ot London : “Consequent upon . ..delays which have occurred in «ymection with the discharging of New Zealand meat and dairy produce in Loudon, I have been in communication with the High Commissioner with A view _ to endeavouring to arrive at the full facts of the matter, and especial y to ascertain whether anything could he done to relieve the very serious position brought about by the inability to mscharge produce after a vessel s arrival in London and delay resulting before the return voyage can be undertaken. A cable has now been r-nerved trom the High Commissioner, in which, he 'states that, as regards dairy produce, I cheese is not so much affected, though there was considerable delay. in the case of the steamer Somerset, in which cheese was carried in the lower hqicl, with meat above it. In yesse s which have arrived later, considerable delay has taken place in discharging their butter cargoes, consequent upon mea carried above the butter being unable ■to bo discharged owing to, ashore not being available. itK uign rcimnissjond' states that the tongefition of refrigerated storage . tor meat m London is dacide|ly serious. Hojijy ascertained that cold-storage w avadable in Liverpool, Manchester. Larditt, Hull Bristol, and Southampton, lor 'approximately 800,000. freight carcases, land advises that he is calling the attention of the principal importers of refrigerated produce to this fact, and suggesting the possibility of diverting some future cargoes to tnese centres. Xiic High CojnmissioTier further states that to assist in preventing the .perpetuation of the present conditMM, shippers might consider the advisability of - consigning some portwn. at any rate, of their shipment* of relngerated produce to other ports instead pf concentrating everything m London in view of the present day position. The present congestion of refrigerated storage at Home is highly detrimental to the interests of the Dominion, and the matter is of such argent importance that, by way of supplementing the efforts which are being made ny the High Commissioner, I have made representations regarding it to the Imperial authorities through the medium of the Governor-General.