PRIORITY LIST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9956, 27 April 1918, Page 9

PRIORITY LIST

FOR U.S.A. EXPORTS TO NEW ZEALAND.

In reply to a question asked in the House of Representatives during the recent short session by Mr J. McCombs (Labour member for Lyttelton) —"(1) Whether there is a preference list for the lading of oargo in the United Kingdom, United States of America, or any other country; (2) when that list came into existence; and (3) whether he will supply a. copy of'that list?" tho Hon. Arthur M. "Myers, Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies, has forwarded the/following statement: is no preference list f,or the lading of cargo from tho United Kingdom, the position being that there is more space availablo from Britain than there are goods to fill it. As regards the United States, tho position is reversed. More goods aro availablo than there is tonnage to carry them Consequently the list appended hereto, giving preference to certain commodities, has been sent from New Zealand for the guidance of the Shipping Controller in America. This list is at present only applicable to tho ports on tho east coast of America. It is found that, owing to temporary congestion of railway traffic, there is not sufficient: preferential cargo offering to. fill the ships loading at west coast ports, and the Controller has consequently allowed lading with tho kinds of goods usually shipped, but having special regard to goods most essential to the necessities of the Dominion. Tho - priority list for the United States is as follows:—Agricultural seeds, meat-wraps, canvas, agricultural and dairying machinery, sheepshearing plant and motor-tractors, but-ter-paper, paraffin wax, surgical instruments, machine tools, artificers' tools, printing and writing paper, iron, brass, copper, tin, and zinc, in pig, bar, sheet, or hoop; steel, tanning materials, chemicals, drugs, and dyos, electric appliances, bottles and jars, fencing wiro and staples, metal wiro, mails, paints, gum-boots and grindery, motor trucks and lorries, railway plant and rails, gas-engines, portable and traction engines. This list was cabled to ,«?i Kin fi<Jom on September 10th, 1017."