EXTREMELY URGENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17064, 24 July 1917, Page 6

EXTREMELY URGENT

PROVISION OF COOL STORAGE,

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

Important recommendations regarding the cool storage of moat and dairy produco have been made to the Government by the lioard ol Agriculture, wmen sat in Wellington recently. Tho. board held a lengthy consultation in regard to tho matter, and in conjunction with Mr Cuddio (Director of the Dairy Division of tho Department of Agriculture) went most exhaustively into the question of the cool storage for butter and ciioese at the various .gazetaed grading stores in the dominion, and the poss.bhity of extending some of these places to provide accommodation for larger quantities of dairy produco should there be a further diminution of our shipping facilities. Tho board also discussed the question with Dr Koakes (Director of tho Live Stock Division o: the department of in relation toe storage of frozen meat, and the immediate and future prospects for shipping As a result of the board's deliberation of those matters, it was decided to convey to the Minister of Agriculture its recommendations m tho matter, which aro as follows and to request that they receive the Government's earnest and immediate attention, as tho subject was one of extreme urgency:— That the Government should, if possible -ry to secure for the carriage of butter' say about 6 per cent, of the shipping space available; and also to consider the practicability of adopting some method of assisting some of the smaller dairy farmers should they need financial help in the event ot their being unablo to ship their butter. Ihe opinion was also expressed that ii is imperative that additional freezing stores built as soon as possible in view of the probable shortage of ships, and that the Government should subsidise the building of these stores, if necessary, after consulting with the freezing companies and obtaining from them their views as to the most suitable locality, and the best method of financing the proposals; also that a portion of such extra storage should be made availa w- ° r storage of dairy produce. With regard to the cheese question, the board pointed out that the New Zealand Lxovernment is in honour bound to see that all cheese is- properly stored at a low temperature, both for tho sake of the British Government and for the reputation of New Zealand oheese, and in support of this submitted the following facts:— 1. The outlook for shipping is absolutely uncertain. J 2. Without cool storage cheese will not keep. 3. Cool storage for cheese can be erected at a cost amounting to, approximately 5 per cent of the value of tho product, and the storage fees paid by the Imperial Government would recoup a large proportion of the cost. 4 After the war this storage will probably be required in the ordinary course of trade, but even if not required for storage or for some other purpose—and of no value afterwards, which is highly improbable—tho expenditure would only mean an insurance policy of about 5 per cent, on the year's output of cheese. 5. In order to expedite the despatch of vessels so as to make the greatest possible use of them, a large central store in Wellington ,is urgently required. Tho board therefore strongly recommends that storage accommodation should be provided, which, with the storage now available, would amount to a total of 600.000 crates and that the Wellington Harbour board having offered to commence the erection of a building for 60,000 crates, on condition that the Government subsidise tho expenditure by £3250, this offer should be promptly accepted, so that storage may bo available for the incominsr season commencing in September. This matter tho' board regards as one of extreme urgency