FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 13

FROZEN MEAT TRADE

SHORTAGE OF SHIPS. POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. IFbom Odu Own Couhispondent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 16. A letter, dated May 27, has come to th« Now Zealand authorities from tho Imperial Government Frozen Meat Australian Shipping Committee in Sydney. Tho letter shows incidentally that New Zealand is not tho only country suffering from lack of shipping. The following is an extract from the letter;—• “I understand that a communication way recently received by the Prime Miniate* of New Zealand to the effect that there are 19 meat boats in all loading in Australia during May, and that although they will all be filled, two or three could very well be spared for New Zealand. Although the statement that 19 meat steamers load in Australia in May is correct, it ia liable to cause misapprehension, as for your information I might mention that of the 19 steamers loading in May only seven steamers were under the control of the committee, out of which three were mail steamers, possessing very limited insulated space. The 12 remaining steamers wero transports and under the direct control of tho Commonwealth Navy Office as to their ports of loading and the quantity of meat which each steamer could lift, such quantities being governed by military considerations. That two or three steamers could have been spared is absolutely incorrect. The position in Australia this month haa been, most acute, and will" be even more so next month. In Queensland a large number of the works have already been blocked, _and had to stop operations, with disastrous effects to the cattle already on the road. As you will no doubt have heard, the Imperial Government is anxious that beef shall receive preference. The majority of the beef exported from Australia goes from Queensland, where it has been quite impossible for us to give the works the opportunities of shipments that they require* In addition to the beef in Queensland there is a large quantity of mutton which has been in Queensland for some months, and which the committee has been unable up to the present to touch, and ia not likely to be able to lift for some time to come. The position at Sydney and Melbourne is that meat is at present in store which has been there for four or five months, and there is no possibility of our being able to clear this up until July at any rate. Taking it all round, it seema that New Zealand has been quite as well, if not better, treated than Australia in connection with the supply of tonnage, especially seeing that beef is what_ the Imperial authorities particularly require. For your further information the committee has under its control only three steamers for allotment in June, out of which one Is .a mail steamer with very limited insulated space, while the total space in the requisitioned Steamers and transports in June will, I estimate, lift only about onc-third of the meat awaiting shipment.”