THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

Northland Age, Volume 14, Issue 45, 19 July 1917, Page 5

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM

SATISFACTORY ISSUE PROMISE 0 ANNOUNCEMENTBY MR MASSEY AN announcement of absorbing interest to the producers and exporters of New Zealand was made by the Right Hon. W. F. Massey in the course of a banquet tendered him by his constituents at Pukekohe. He stated that one of the difficulties before the country at the present time was the fact that our freezing storage space was full. The fact was staring us in the face that the next dairying season was about to start in about three weeks, and that the stores were full of last year’s produce. He was going to give the Company what he felt would be good news to them. He had been in communication during the last few weeks with the shipping authorities on the matter, and he had received from the Export Produce Department a communication referring to the export of butter that the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners’ Committee had succeeded in setting aside space for the shipment of 50,000 boxes of butter in July and August. The Imperial authorities had not yet allowed butter to be shipped as priority cargo, but, after a conference with the Shipping Commissioner in Wellington, at the end of last week, he had taken the responsibility of recommending the export of 50,000 boxes of butter, and that day he had received word to the effect that the recommendation had been adopted. What the Imperial authorities would have to say to him on the subject he did not know, but the shipment would help to relieve the glut in the export stores. Respecting the cheese production, he had received a commcnication from the Board of Trade in London authorising him to enter into negotiations with the producers in this country for the purchase of the whole of next season’s output. He would endeavour to secure a fair price for the producer, taking into account the increased cost of production, but without trying to screw the last penny out of the Imperial authorities. Negotiations would not be closed until the representatives of the producers had had an opportunity of meeting him in Wellington to discuss the matter. Proceeding to explain the shortage of ships from one aspect, Mr Massey pointed out that at least half the British mercantile marine was engaged in carrying supplies to our own armies and Navy, and also to carry supplies to the armies of our allies on the different fronts and that was the first consideration of the Shipping Department in London, which was directed by exceedingly able men. It was their duty to see that the armies of Britain and her allies were fully supplied with a sufficient reserve to guard against emergencies. When the submarine campaign was at its height that reserve got dangerously low. From what he had seen and learned he believed that the crisis had passed, and had forecasted a while back that the worst would be over in July (the present month) and he had just received a telegram which seemed to verify that prediction. The telegram stated that the London Committee advised that ten steamers, capable of carrying slightly over a million 6olb carcases of meat would be available in September for the New Zealand exporters, and six steamers in July and August. Should that be given effect to, and the steamers get safely through the submarine zone, then the shipping difficulty in New Zealand so far as next season was concerned was practically solved. The present congestion in the cool stores would be relieved and the coming season’s output. Mr Massey stated the opinion that the Imperial authorities were treating New Zealand very well. They had to face the difficulty of keeping the armies supplied, and were able to get all the meat they required from the Argentine, a country very much nearer than New Zealand. Yet now that their reserve was at a safe margin, as indicated by the communication

just mentioned, they were going to take the produce we had promised them. He considered it an agreement with which we should be well pleased. Where should we have been if the Imperial authorities had not decided to take delivery of our produce here ? There were 125,000 bales of wool in store in New Zealand now that had been sold and delivered here, but which the Imperial people had been unable to transport. As to the outlook, it seemed that they would buy next season’s cheese at a price which would no doubt be satisfactory. The meat would be taken at a price already fixed, and he was positively certain our wool and hides would be wanted, the wool at probably the same price as that given last year. With such an outlook, and the shipping indications suggested by the present advice re more ships, the producers and exporters of New Zealand should be relieved of a great deal of the anxiety and responsibility which had been weighing on them.