SHIPMENTS OF MEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 10

SHIPMENTS OF MEAT.

THE ADMIRAL OGDRINGTON. USE NOT . TROVIDED FOR. [BX TSLSGaATH.—PIIESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE. Saturday. An extraordinary position is reported to have arisen in respect to the steamer Admiral Codrington, owned by the Poverty Bay Farmers' Moat Company, whose works were recently acquired by Vestey's, Ltd. Last month the .company asked the 'New Zealand Meat Producers' Board if it would assist to load the vessel with frozen meat, as arrangements were being made for her to come to the Dominion. The board replied that the current contract with the shipping companies contained no provision for the inclusion of the Admiral Codrington. The company then inquired if there were no saving clause in the freight contract by which the position of the Admiral Codrington could be protected. The board was reminded that contracts prior to its establishment contained a clause that if any other boat were prepared to carry at less than the contract »ato all must reduce freight, or the owner would be free to ship by boats outside tho contract. The board replied that no such clause existed, and that Mr. W. D. Lysnar, chairman of the company, had informed the chairman of the board that the vessel was to be sold. No request was made for the Admiral Codrington being included in the contract, and the receivers of the company must have known about tho negotiations. The company denied the statement as to what Mr. Lysnar was alleged to hava said. The fact was that the ship could not be sold except at a complete sacrifice. The board had no just cause to shut the Admiral Codrington out of the contract. The suggestion that no request on thematter was received was a mere quibble. The contention that the receivers failed to apply for the inclusion of the Admiral Codrington in the contract was out of place, as they had nothing to do with tho ship at any time. The hoard's action was tantamount to stifling competition, and involved ruin to the remnant of a farmers' company which the board publicly proclaimed it was desirous of assisting. The board replied that the National Bank had informed it that* it had a lien over any proceeds from the sale of the vessel after debts in Scotland had been discharged. The board suggested that the company's directors should confer with Mr. Jones in Wellington, as the exchange of telegrams was leading nowhere. In a further rejoinder the Meat Company asked how did the Meat Board come to discuss the matter with the National Bank, as the bank having a lien is no concern of the board and does not affect the position.

FINANCIALLY SOUND. TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. "Of the many countries in which I have travelled, I know New Zealand thoroughly from Auckland too the Bluff, and I have no hesitation in saying that it is financially sound, has enjoyed good government always, and in it no man need be poor if he is prepared to work. What has particularly pleased me is the large number of P-.nus insignis plants that have been put in. These soft-woods forests, in light of the prospective world shortage, should be a big asset to New Zealand." Mr , Walter Leitoh, a member of tho Commonwealth Tariff Board, spoke in this strain to a representative of the Wellington Dominion prior to leaving for Auckland. Mr. Leitch realises tho value of tree planting as an investment, and if every parent in -New Zealand would take out one or more shares lor each child in> some tree-planting company, in from 20 to 25 years there would be absolutely no poverty in the country, for New Zealand grown soft woods quicker better than any other country in the world and is going to be one of the largest exporters. For New Zealand's need alone, large quantities of timber will bo required, and Captain L. Macintosh Ellis, in a paper " The Progress of Forestry in New Zealand," sets out the forest problem as it now exists:

(l)-The annual consumption of sawn forest produce manufactured within the Dominion is 500,000,000 superficial feet, while the imports of articles derived from wood over a period of 20 years average in value £1,000,000 per year. Within a generation the annual consumption of sawn timber (on a 5,000.000 population basis) will probably be 1,000,000,000 superficial feet. According to a forecast of" the national forest inventory now being compiled by this service, the total visible supply of virgin marketable timber is less than 45,000,000000 superficial feet on less than 5,000,000 acres. Were this quantity to be exploited without regard to silvicultural control it would provide 45 years supply. (2) New Zealand possesses 2,500,000 Acres of desert wilderness, which is being added to at the rate of 100,000 acres per year, producing nothing of value to man rtr beast, but valuable for the production af forest crovs.

(3) New Zealand possesses 6,000,000 horse-power, potentially available ' from its rivers for the making of electricity. Their forested watersheds must be conserved.

(4) New Zealand's irrigable lands and other lands dependent on the rivers for water in the South Island total several million acres. These rivers come from forested mountain watersheds; these forests must therefore be conserved.

The problem is plain; a national forest estate of 10.000.000 acres must be converted into a timber-crop-producing machine if tho legitimate and reasonable needs of New Zealand's citizenry are to be secured from within the Dominica. The desert wilderness must be gradually reclaimed to human use by restocking with timber farms. The vast uplands and mountainous protection forests from which debouch the Dominion's essential water supplies must be rigidl*- perpetuated and saved from, destruction by fire. Means must bo found to use the 8,000,000 tons of wood garbage and waste that is created Annually The liKelihood of shortage of wood uulp during the next 10 years makes the grov*ng of soft woods a matter of ungency, and where else are climate and conditions so suitable as in New Zealand, where trees mature many years sooner than in other countries.

The Putaruru district is recognised as the best in New Zealand, and Mr. Goodie, the chief forester of Afforestation Ltd., has stated that, in his opinion, no other part of New Zealand makes the same growth as the Putaruru district. Recently a well-known New Zealand financier was in Auckland and called at the office of Afforestation Ltd., at 408. Smith's Building. 9-11, Albert Street. Having read of the company's doings he wished to got further particulars, and was amazed when shown the company's share list which includes bankers, merchants, miners, accountants, labourers, clerks, farm hands, solicitors, journalists, newspaper proprietors, and, in fact, members of every occupation and profession in New Zealand He stated that the most astonishing feature was the wonderful response from Dunedin. -which showed " that »hey knew a good thing when it was put before them." However, £500 for an outlay of £2o would appeal to almost anyone.—Advt.