PRODUCE SHIPMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17965, 15 December 1921, Page 8

PRODUCE SHIPMENTS.

UNLOADING ; DELAYS v POSITION IN LONDON. COLD.STOKES CONGESTED.. [BX SPECIAL BEPOkTEB.] it- ~'::>.?"■> •■ ■•-. ■ .< *-'?'-■ *•■; ■

'. , WELLINGTON, Wednesday. , In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Prime Minister made a statement on the subject of the delays experienced in unloading New Zealand produce at the Port of London; \ "Consequent upon the delays which have occurred in connection'with discharging of New Zealand meat j»nd dairy produce in London," he said, " I have been in communication with the High Commissioner with a view to endeavouring to arrive at the full facts of the matter, and especially to ascertain whether anything could be done to relieve the very serious position brought about by inability to discharge produce after, the arrival of the vessels ift London and the delay resulting before the return voyage can bo undertaken. A cablegram has now been received from the High Commissioner in which he states that ae regards dairy produce 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 hold with meat above it. In vessels which have armed later considerable delay has taken place in discharging their butter cargoes consequent upon the butter being carried below meat, which could not be discharged owing to storage ashore not being available. "The High Commissioner states that the congestion of refrigerated storage for meat in London is decidedly serious He has ascertained that cold storage is available in Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Hull, Bristol, and Southampton for approximately 800,000 freight carcases, and 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 these centres. The High Commissioner further states that to assist in preventing a perpetuation of the present. conditions shippers might consider the advisability of .consigning some portion at any rate of their shipments of refrigerated produce to other ports instead of concentrating everything in London. ." The present congestion of refrigerated storage at Home is nighly detrimental to the interests of the Dominion, and the matter is of such urgent importance, that by way of supplementing the efforts which are being made by the High Commissioner I have made representations regarding it to the Imperial authorities through the Governbr-General."