EXPORT OF MEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 14

EXPORT OF MEAT

ONE SHIP LOST TO US. (Faow Ous OWN L-UItKESFONUeSTI WELLINGTON, June 15. Recently news reached New Zealand that three of tno usual New Zealand meat carrying stc amors had been withdrawn from the 'New Zealand meat trade, and sent to the River Plate. Inquiry by the New Zealand Government elicited the fact that the ships had been handed over to the French Government by the Imperial Board of Trade for the purpose of carrying meat for the Frency Army. By way of compensation the Board of Trade has chartered the steamers El Cordobes and La Blanca, usually in the Argentine trade, to make two trips each to New Zealand. The owners requested that the steamers should ha restored to the Argentine trade, but the Board of Trade refused to disturb the charters. “We arc one ship to the bad on the transaction,” said the Prime Minister, commenting on these facts to-day. He added, however, that so far as he could learn there were 14 steamers cither in New Zealand or to arrive shortly. These were the Rangatira, Paparoa, Kia Ora, Rorauera, Indrabarah, Athcnic, Tongarird, La Blanca, Opawa, Delphic, Corinthic, Somerset, Ruahine and Waiwera. lie thought these steamers should release the congestion of frozen moat ready for export from New Zealand.