COOL STORAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 6

COOL STORAGE

margin of safety

meat and dairy produce

INCREASED CAPACITY PROVIDED [BY TELEGRAPH—muss ASSOCIATION-1 WELLINGTON, Thursday Cool storage facilities available in the Dominion for primary products were outlined to-night by the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay. Figures were given by. the Minister showing the increase i r , storago capacity for meat and dairy produce since the outbreak of war. Tho Minister said the Government was reviewing the situation almost daily and taking every action necessary to ensure that under any possible emergency condition the country's essential primary products would not waste or deteriorate because of lack of cool storage. Meat Capacity 250,000 Tona "In spite of all tho difficulties we arc facing as a result of the war situation the position with regard to cool storing our primary products is reasonably good," said Mr. Barclay. "Our emergency cool storage arrangements for extensions are now completed and at the start of next season's operations we will have available a storage capacity of 250,000 tons of meat. At the end of this season it is estimated that we will have in .store not more than 110,000 tons of meat, and at the peak of next season's killing the total quantity 0 f meat in store should not exceed 210,000 tons, which, with a total capacity of 250,000 tons, means that there is an ample safety margin. "In assessing our maximum quantity in store next year .'it 210.000 tons we have by no means been over-optimistic in calculating the amount which trill be shipped overseas during the coming season. Provision for Butter and Cheese "We have made considerable, extensions to our storage capacity since the outbreak of the war." said Mr. Barclay, referring to dairy produce, "and now have available space for 50,000 tons of butter and 41.500 tons of cheese. Further extensions are proceeding. "We will start our next dairy produce season with a very satisfactory storage position, with practically no cheese whatever in store and only from 18,000 to 20.000 tons of butter. Taking into account the fact that we have had a remarkable increase in the production of both butter and cheese this season, tho position at the commencement of next year will, if anything, be more favourable than at the commencement of this season."