JUTE SHORTAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26437, 16 April 1947, Page 6

JUTE SHORTAGE

CONSERVATION OF SACKS DOMINION-WIDE CAMPAIGN Since last November the Department of Agriculture has undertaken a sack conservation campaign and has stressed the necessity for all empty sacks to be made available for further use as soon as possible. The present acute shortage of sacks, was the subject of discussion at the monthly meeting of the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday evening when a letter was received from the Associated Chambers, forwarding a request from the Auckland Chamber that the support of chambers throughout the Dominion should be given to the sack conservation campaign.

The primary cause of the shortage was mentioned in a letter from the Department of Agriculture, stating that the world demand for jute was far in excess of the present supply. India was the only country that grew jute in commercial quantities and the Indian Government controlled the export of the raw and manufactured artide by means of quotas. For the year ending June 25, 1947, New Zealand had been allotted a totally inadequate quota of 12.000 tons—approximately one-half of the tonnage for the estimated over-all requirements—and as there were no reserve stocks of jute goods in the Dominion, it was inevitable that a difficult supply position must obtain unless relieved in the near future.

The Government realised the disastrous effect a shortage of woolpacks, cornsacks, fertiliser bags, cement bags coverings, etc., for frozen export beef requirements for esesntial secondary industries, etc., would have on the economy of New Zealand, the lettei continued, and it was making the strongest personal representations to the Indian Government with the object of obtaining an increase in the quota. In view of the difficulties of obtaining supplies of new sacks, the local demand had switched to suitable second-hand containers with the result that they were difficult to obtain in any quantity. The second-hand sack shortage had been accentuated because Australian wheat sacks had to be returned for re-filling. Australia, which was also short ■of jute, would not supply New Zealand with wheat unless bags were returned. In previous years an average of 2,000,000 sacks per annum had been available from this,, source.

Mr L. F. B. Titchener said that the farmers were too complacent about the jute position. If they did not release the bags in then- stores for fertiliser, the situation as a whole would become desperate. At one period, he added, it was estimated that there were 2,000.000 bags in farmers’ stores in Southland alone. The farmers were being encouraged to return their bags, and the Department of Agriculture was sponsoring the campaign to let them know that what jute there was in the country must be used. .The chamber decided to offer its assistance in the campaign and also to ask the Junior Chamber of Commerce whether it would be prepared to co-operate with the Boy Scouts’ Association in a drive for sacks and bags in the city.