SHIPPING SHORTAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9247, 14 January 1916, Page 7

SHIPPING SHORTAGE

EXPORTERS' DIFFICULTIES POSITION CAUSES SOME ANXIETY. The shortage of shipping which is being experienced all over the Empire is affecting New Zealand. The arrangements made between the Imperial authorities and the Government of this Dominion, have ensured the supply of an adequate number of insulated steamers for the carriage ol meat, butter and cheese, and no future trouble is anticipated in that respect. But shippers of other products, notably wool, hemp, and hides, are having : difficulty in getting their lines away.

The suggestion has been made that wool might bo carried on troopships, for transhipment at Suez. A large quantity of wool has been loaded already by a vessel that it to take horses and some troops from New Zealand. But there are many difficulties in the way of making use of totordinary transports, which are now running in accordance with a time table, and are fully occupied in the conveyance of New Zealand's troops. Delays at any point would 1)3 -inconvenient, and it is not certain that arrangements could be mado for transhipment at a Mediterranean port. The ships could not spare the time to reach a port of the United Kingdom. The present trouble is not likely to be remedied in the near future. ,it may be accentuated as far as New Zealand is concerned, when the Australians are trying to get away their wheat. The shortage of shipping js attributable, of course, to the war. The Axiniiraltjr has commandeered many hundreds of vessels that normally would be engaged in the carrying trade. Then some British ships, a comparatively small number, have been sunk, and others were caught in German ports at the outbreak of war. A very important factor is the removal from the high seas of the whole of • Germany's mercantile marine. Neutrals who used to ship goods in German vessels are now bidding for space in British ebips. Advices received in commercial circles in Wellington indicate thaithis shortage of shipping has been receiving anxious consideration in .London. Apparently no method of securing relief has been devised. The Admiralty is using ail the shipbuilding yards, and the Imperial authorities have stated that they btc not likely to be able to release any important considerable number of ships they are now using in connection with the war.-

■ AN AUCKLAND COMPLAINT. Prow A««t>cia.tioß, AUCKLAND, January 18. Embarrassment of the f reeling industry in Auckland province is again threatened by the inadequate position of shipping facilities. Though there are three works capable of producing 8000 carcases per day, space for only 21,500 carcases has been allotted to the district for the month. Urgent representations are being made to the Overseas Shipping Committee with a, view to securing an allocation in proportion to the district's requirements.