SHIPS FOR EXPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15711, 11 September 1914, Page 5

SHIPS FOR EXPORTS.

DAIRY PRODUCE AND MEAT. SHORTAGE OF VESSELS. AX IMPORTANT QUESTION.

The question of .nadequate transport facilities for dairy produce and meatdestined for Great. Britain has recently given serous concern to those immediately interested. On Friday last, ,„r. H. E. Pacey, general manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, made strong representations on the subject to the general managers of the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Sha.w-SaviU Company, and also \o the Prime Minister, the Plight Hon. \\. {•. Massey. Similar representations have been made by Southern interests.

A communication was received yesterday by* .Mr. l?!Lcey from the general manager of the Nov Zealand Shipping Company advising that, he expected to provide sufficient, space probably up to the middle of November, but that he could not forecast subsequent arrangements °

Speaking to a Herald representative yesterday, Mr. Pacey sa,id the position was undoubtedly a grave one, and needed urge.it attention on the part of those responsible. Ho intended to make further representations that suitable steamers should be chartered, even if it meant securing thorn from Great Britain or elsewhere. Pome 32 vessels had been taken ■over for use as troop*hips, leaving ,1 general short-ago of suitable steamers throughout the Commonwealth and the Dominion for dairy produce shipments. The matter was of the utmost importance from tho point of view of tho millions of pounds worth of trade, and the industrial and social welfare of ten* of thousands of persona involved. These surely demanded ••■Xtiraordinmry measure* being taken to assure the continuation of shipments. A jict ng of representatives of the principal co-operative dairy companies of the Naikato is to be held in Auckland today to consider the question of transport arrangements and other matters affecting the dairy industry.