CONGESTION UN SHIPPING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 19

CONGESTION UN SHIPPING.

(By Cable.)

MEAT AND WOOL.

LONDON, February 20. , Commander Hamilton Benn, M.P., who is ,a member of the Port of London Authority, in proposing the toast of the dominion guests at a luncheon, explained that the congestion and delays in port were due to the doubling of the business. He instanced wool as having increased from. 700,000 bales to 1,600,000 bales, meat from 900,000 carcases to' 1,700,000, and tea from 50,000 tons to 120,000 tons. Sir T. Mackenzie, replying, vigorously criticised the British authorities for limiting the sales of New Zealand meat to the British public during the war, when ample ' supplies were available. He said that this overcharging was for the purpose of recouping the Government for the extravagant prices they paid for American meat. One result had been the congesting of the cold storage in New Zealand, thereby rendering deterioration possible and prejudicing British consumers against frozen meat. Sir T. Mackenzie also complained of the dearth of shipping. Five New Zealand ships were unable to discharge, and between 9000 and 10,000 emigrants were unable to obtain passages. Mr Hunter complained that the British were paying Denmark 4s per lb for butter and Australia tinder 2s. They were also pooling butters, thereby concealing the identity of Australian Butter. February 21. Smithfield dealers -estimate that the foreign meat delivered in London weekly is' now more than double the average consumption. The surplus has become mountainous, and some will be stored for years. Sir Thos. Mackenzie ridicules the fixed official prices, and believes that long storage of New Zealand mutton will pro judice the public against it. February 24. There is a renewed outburst of public indignation at the high prices ruling while the docks and cold stores are crammed with foodstuffs and food-laden ships are unable to discharge. It is stated that 6000 tons of condensed mill: and an enormous quantity of canned meats were recently destroyed as unfit for consumption owing" to their lengthy storage. Some Australian meat has "been in cold storage in England for the past 18 months. Sir Thomas Mackenzie continues to press for a reduction in the price of frozen meat, and says if the Government does not make such reduction as will secure a sale, the meat will inevitably become unfit for human food. It is only fair to New Zealand that the Government should use some of its profits made during the war as a set-off against the loss that may occur : n effecting a clearance from the stores. Mr M'Curdy, speaking at Northampton, said that the Cabinet was considering the s whole problem of food control, high prices, and unjustifiable profits. He expected that Mr Lloyd George would shortly announce satisfactory remedial measures. February 25.

A leading authority on the Australian meat trade suggests that the best way to clear the situation would be to release all the stores of frozen mutton at a considerably reduced price, say, 6d per lb. The Government; he said," had made largo profits out. of imported meat during the war and till quite recently, therefore ifa could well afford -new to do as a business firm would do in similar circumstances — i.e., cut its losses and get rid of the present stocks. This course would not only relieve the congestion of the docks and shipping, but would help the workers to get cheap meat and prevent a furthei demand for increased wages. February 26.

Owing to the steadily increasing prices of wearing apparel pressure is beinj, brought to bear on t-ho Government Woof Committee to release more wool for tfli» manufactures at reduced cost.