EXPORT OF FROZEN MEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16384, 15 May 1915, Page 6

EXPORT OF FROZEN MEAT

LOADINGS IN CANTERBURY,

STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY.

(P*b Ujutkd Pkbss Assooiatiok.)

WELLINGTON, May 14. Dealing with the question of export accommodation, and the relative space allotted to the South and North Islands, the Prime Minister informed a reporter to-day that, in view of the prevailing drought in Canterbury, arrangements had been made ior Canterbury ports to be tho first ports of call for loading purposes by a number of the meat-carrying ships. He produced figures !• show that the Zealandic during the last tew days had loaded i}o fewer than 13,985 carcases of mutton and 35,605 carcases of lamb at Timaru.- Ho also quoted statistics showing that, from March 3 (when the Government took over the business), until May 6, the total payment to freezing companies and their clients, as far as Canterbury was concerned, was £557,810 7s 7d, as against Wellington's £337,493 10s. The comparative weight of the meat purchased during the same period was: Canterbury, 24,767,0261b; Wellington, 18,303,3861b. TREATMENT OF MARLBOROUGH. INDIGNATION IN BLENHEIM. (Per United Pbess Association.) BLENHEIM, May 14. There is growing indignation in commercial circles at the treatment of Marlborough, compared with Canterbury, in the allotment of shipping space for frozen meat. The preference given to Cantextoury works is considered out of all proportion to tho Picton works. A publio indignation meeting will be held in Blenheim to-morrow.

ANOTHER SCORE FOR MR MASBEY. (Fbom Ode Own Cohbespondent.) » WELLINGTON, May 14. For the last fortnight, or thereabouts, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Maasey) has been in negotiation "with the British Board of Trade with the object of getting at least one insulated ship in addition to thcee coming here in the ordinaxy course. The negotiations have been brought to a successful iesCie, and Mr Massey was informed by cable to-day that the Board of Trade will send out the steamer Delphic to New Zealand in bidlaet at a cost of £15,000. The whole of the cost will be borae by the board.

The Delphio will leave England on a date between May 15 and 20, coming direct to Now Zealand. In the ordinary course this ship would have taken a cargo to Australia, und probably have come on from a commonwealth port to this country; It will thus be seen that there is a saving of time of several months by the arrangement just made. In 'compliance with a request from Mr Fisher (Prime Minister of the commonwealth), Air Maseo.y has arranged to give one of the commonwealth veterinary inspectors all possible facilities for seeing the arrangements in thi3 country for the expert meat trade. It is evident from the above that Australia is taking an interest in the way the New Zealand trade is handled, and in thin o<jnnection it is interesting to note that, according to the Australian Meat Trade Journal, the New South Wales Government had despatched till May 4 £283,000 worth of meat to the Imperial authorities for army purposes. The New Zealand Government has forwarded a little over £1,500,000 for practically the same period Tlie journal referred to" says that the difficulty in New South Wales is to sccui-e sufficient tonnage, and that part of tile business is being carried out by a sub-committee of the Shipping Committee in England.