FROZEN MEAT SHIPMENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3193, 26 May 1915, Page 13

FROZEN MEAT SHIPMENTS

ALLOCATION OF SPACE. IS SOUTHLAND FAVOURED? (From Ode Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, May 23. As a result of a discussion at the meeting of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union on Wednesday, the following letter was drawn up and forwarded to the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), with regard to the question. “ We forwarded you to-day a telegram re Freight Committee and "the necessity of the Government obtaining authority from the London Board of Trade to give the New Zealand Government sole control in the allocation of space. We contend that the Freight Committee have entirely failed to give justice to the producers of Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago in the allocation of space. From January 1 to May 10 1,932,000 freight carcases were shipped from the North Island, and 768,238 carcases from the South Island, and,, in spite of the disastrous drought conditions existing in Canterbury and Marlborough, and part of Otago, we are given only 234,000 carcases out of 534,000 carcases for the dominion during June. Southland sends away about one-sixth of the South Island meat export, and yet it had nearly double its proper allocation of space last month, and now again they receive 74,500 freight carcases, while the rest of the South Island get only 234,000 carcases. Southland, in addition, has abundance of feed, and has been, and is now, buying thousands of lambs in Canterbury, and railing them to Southland. No better evidence of the rotten system by which space is allotted can surely bo needed. Beyond this, the Southland season is much later than ours. Wo realise that, from an Imperial standpoint, you should aim at an allocation of space that will obtain the maximum output, and unless immediate action is taken, and relief given to us here within a month, then the effect will not only be disastrous now, but will materially affect our next season’s output through the shortage of feed affecting (by overstocking with sheep now ready to kill) our ewes for next season’s lamb supply.” A Southland Times reporter, on making inquiries yesterday amongst those engaged in the industry, was informed that the letter quoted did" not accurately state the position. It was, in the first place, pointed out that ihe North Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union was taking into account the figures for the whole of the season, which was manifestly not right, since a large quantity of moat had been shipped before the Imperial authorities bought the produce. The letter, it was stated, made it appear that the commission had favoured Southland and the North Island as against Canterbury, but the writer of it should have borne in mind that the commissioners could deal with the position only as_ it wasr when thov took office; and such being the case, the figures relating to the period since they took office should have been quoted in any complaint against them, in preference to "the figures for the whole season. The North Island season being much earlier than that of the South Island, a great many shipments were got away from the North before the Southern works started upon the season’s work, and tak ing the aggregate figures, it was made te appear that the commissioners had acted with favouritism. This year the South Island started operations much later than usual. _ owing to climatic conditions. The peculiarities of the seasons demand that farmers should have feed well into the first month of summer, failing which the stock do badly. And Canterburv farmers wore helping to accentuate the difficulties which wore ahead of Southland in ibis respect by sending thousands of their sheep down to graze, and they wore reducing the chance of Southland being able to carry its stock through the winter. From this it" would be apparent that Southland’s difficulty would arrive at a later date than that of Canterbury, and it required to see that '*■ was not made greater bw other pro-

vinces unfairly claiming Southland’s faijfc share of freight allotment. Even now the stock accumulating for killing through the inability of the works to deal with them (only being able to work half-time) wore eating out the feed which should be conserved for the late winter/ In view of the difficulties Southland had to face, it was not asking for sympathy or assistance disproportionate with what was being given to other districts. A good deal of the present trouble was due to the largo shipments of beef which had been sent forward. Enormous quantities of beef had been put through, and this had created a tremendous demand for shipping space beyond the usual requirements. The gentleman interviewed stated that Southland had no doubt that the commission was doing its best to cope with the position. The fact that it had failed to please everyone, and was making some sore, was indirect evidence that it was tackling the question thoroughly. To ask the Government to take the matter over would not give any more ships than are available.

It was pointed out that the Canterbury works had been / increasing their killing capacity and neglecting to provide corresponding storage. Had they not made that mistake, they would not have so much trouble at this time. r l he general_ position in iSouthland is certainly a most serious one* and will bo brought homo to us all directly? as the months of April, May, and June are the flush months of the season, and as all the works are full at the present moment, and the freight allotment for the next two months will not provide one month’s killing, there is sure to be a large number of lambs go off in condition through the feed being finished, and these will not find thenway into the works. In the statement regarding Southland allotments made on a previous occasion by Canterbury farmers, Balclutha had been wrongly placed in the Southland total. In the May allotment Southland was said to have had 70.000, whereas it had only 56,000. the balance being from Balclutha, which is in Otago. Consequently, Southland was credited with something it did not get. Moreover, the June and July allotment from Southland was 64.000. not 74,500, us abated, whereas freight for approximately 190.000 was required, so that only one-third of the requirement was being met.