SHIPPING PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24968, 15 July 1942, Page 4

SHIPPING PROBLEM

IMPORTANCE STRESSED EXPORT OF PRODUCE The importance of shipping in relation to the export of New Zealand produce was stressed by the district superintendent of the Department of Agriculture Mr C. V. Dayus, in an address to the Otago branch of the Royal Society last night. "A primary producing country, with a sparse population, such as New Zealand, dependent on external trade, and normally exporting 80 per cent, of its products to overseas markets over long sea routes, must be faced with increasingly difficult problems if the war is a long one," Mr Dayus said. "In such an event a factor that- is likely to be of increased importance is the shipping difficulty, which the British Government fully recognises. Britain is anxious to continue taking all the New Zealand produce that can be shipped, with the result that long-term contracts have been entered into for several commodities, which must help to stabilise New Zealand's economic position. , , , " We know full well how vital shipping is to our cause and can realise just how serious the losses have been," he added. " Mercantile vessels in commission at the commencement of the present war had on the average twice the capacity of similar vessels in the last war. Nevertheless, they represented 3.500,000 tons less shipping for the carriage of food, raw materials and troops. This figure meant 1500 fewer vessels and 30,000 fewer seamen. Certainly the vessels of this war are faster, but with improved methods of tactical attack by the enemy, using submarines, mines, long-range bombers and dive-bombers they are sunk just as easily, and when this does occur twice the amount of cargo is taken to the bottom. "Figures which were published recently indicated that from the commencement of the war to the end of March of last year, 1167 British and Allied merchantships had been sunk, representing 4,500,000 tons of shipping," Mr Dayus continued. "In spite of all the difficulties, however, shipping to New Zealand during this year has improved beyond expectations, for by the end of last month there was less frozen meat in the cool stores than was the case at the same period last year. For this we are very largely indebted to the men of the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine for their fine and continuous effort."