TRANSFER OF GOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 5

TRANSFER OF GOODS

SOUTH ISLAND TO NORTH MANUFACTURERS CONCERNED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. Much concern has been caused among members of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation at the limitation on cargoes of ordinary consumer goods and essential raw materials being shipped from the South Island to the North Island. According to information received from the secretary, Mr D. I. Macdonald, this was discussed at a recent meeting of the federation council and a decision was made to urge upon the Government the need ol' additional shipping for interisland transport, especially from south to north. The federation claims that the effect of the present position is to create an unequal distribution of goods in the Dominion. "We can foresee the possibility of the position arising where more goods will have been produced in the South Island than the consumptive capacity," the federation says, “ and where the North Island shortages will have become considerably worse, with storage in the case of perishable goods presenting additional difficulties. Such a position may result in allowing man-power to be diverted from essential civilian production in the South Island because of a wrong assumption—based on local evidence—that 'civilian needs have been met. It is possible also that when shipping becomes available the man-power position in factories in the south may become considerably worse than at present with its obvious effect on total New Zealand supplier ”