PRODUCE SHIPMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22741, 29 May 1937, Page 14

PRODUCE SHIPMENTS

NO SUBSTANTIAL DELAY ASSERTION BY MINISTER [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WANGANUI, Friday A statement concerning shipments of produce for home markets has been made by the acting-Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, who, in reply to a report published last week stating that the Okoia and Wangaehu dairy companies had large Stocks of butter awaiting shipment, denies that any substantial delay has occurred in shipping this year when compared with last season. "The statement published in the press implies that the situation in regard to butter shipment is unusual and that there has been a substantial delay this year when compared with last," said Mr. Lee Martin. "I desire to point out that such is not the case. On May 21 last year the Okoia company had in store butter made from March 6, so that shipping dates this year for this company happen to be exactly in line with what they were at the same date last year. In regard to the Wangaehu company, shipments this year are only one day behind, compared with last year. "The shipping policy of the Marketing Department has been framed on lines similar to those laid down by the Dairy Board," said the Minister, "and every effort has been made til space shipments to the best advantage from the marketing point of view, and in that policy 1 am sure the industry is in agreement. Notwithstanding 'the increase in the quantity of butter and cheese manufactured (11,000 tons to date), the department has endeavoured to keep its shipments as nearly as possible in line with last year. In the case of the Wangaehu and Okoia companies, there is no appreciable difference in shipping dates."