DEPUTATIONS TO SIR JAMES ALLEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3399, 7 May 1919, Page 38

DEPUTATIONS TO SIR JAMES ALLEN.

EXPORT FACILITIES WANTED. On Friday afternoon Sir James Allen received two deputations at the Y.M.O.A. Rooms. Both were introduced by Mr C. E. Statham, M.P. Tho first deputation consisted of Mr James Begg and Mr Jonathan Rhodes.—Mr otatham explained that they came from tho Otago Expansion League to bring before him tho housing of public offices in Dunedin. These offices were widely scattered, and there was a great deal of waste involved in the payment of rents to private landlords. Sir James Allen said that, as regarded the concentration of public offices in on© building in Dunedin, ho knew from the Minis-, ter of Public Works that it was his desire to do this, and to do it on the present site. The Minister, however, was doubtful if he could get sufficient accommodation, in one building, and was considering the question of further building on another site—the telegraph office site/" Sir James thought. INSULATED SPACE. Mr Statham then introduced a deputation consisting of Messrs S. B. Macdonald, G. E. Moreton, and J. B. Waters, from the Expansion League and the Chamber of Commerce . Mr Macdonald drew the Minister's attention to the shortage of insulated space_ on Homeward-bound steamers, and complained that the Imperial Supplies Committee had commandeered all insulated space to the detriment of local industry. This meant that small manufacturers in this town and all over New Zealand probably were totally shut off from sending foodstuffs to the Homo Country unless these had been coramendeered by the Imperial Government. Mr 'Moreton, of Moreton and Bradfield, stated his case as an illustration of hardship. The cheese his firm manufactured required insulated space to get it through the tropics, and that they could not get. Tho difficulty had been that first ho was sent"*o tho Overseas Committee, from there to the Imperial Supplies Department, which switched him on to the Munitions Supplies Department, and thence again to the Imperial Supplies Department. Now he came direct to tho Acting-Prime Minister for assistance. They had been hanging on to and developing their business during the last five years, looking forward to the time when they could export freely, and now the position was that he would have to close down his factory next week, with no guarantee whether they could get their stuff away. They only required- accommodation for five tons—about 200 cubic feet.—and their small packages would do for broken stowage. Mr Waters (president of the Chamber of Commerce) supported what had said not only on behalf of the present applicant, but for similar applicants throughout the dominion. He asked Sir James to discuss the matter with the Minister of Munitions and Supplies and see if some relief could not be given. The various chambers of commerce were in communication with Mr Myers on the question of freights on goods which' did not come within the purchase of the Imperial authorities. When they put the question of freights before the local shipping companies they were told that the companies had no control of these at all, yet they were told by the Minister that the adjustment of rates was outside the scope of the Ministry of Shipping. In the meantime these high rates were still being charged. Hemp, for instance, was valued at £3O a ton to-day in New Zealand, and the freight wa3 £ls, or 5C per cent. It was ihe same with honey and other exports. These high freights were going to react on local values to the serious detriment of the producer. Sir James Allen said that with regard to the position of materials that were not Imperial supplies no Aioubt a reply would be received from the Minister concerned in due course. The difficulty was that a great many liners were still under requisition, and the Imperial supplies held in New Zealand were very heavy. He would have tho matter examined and a reply sent as soon as possible. The Government had been doing all that was humanly possible to secure a reduction in freights, but they were practically powerless at this end. Quite recently three extra ships had been secured as a result of Mr Massey personally interviewing the Sliipping Controller. They were only too anxious to relievo local industries all thev could, but they were practically powerless to do more than they had done. .