THE SHIPPING PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14713, 19 September 1918, Page 5

THE SHIPPING PROBLEM.

CONSERVATION OF COLD STORAGE

STATEMENT BY HON. W. D. S. MACDONALD.

A statement of considerable interest, effecting the shipping problem and the utilisation of cold storage m "connection with, tho frozen meat industry was made to *> Herald representative to-day by the 3Ba*i. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of .Agriculture, who said : 'Qa. the 24th. August hieat m store for ■which no allocation of shipping space Tha& been allotted on overseas steamers >wrs equal to 4,926,000 uncut freight v cat cases. It is estimated that the shippiag which will be available up to , Djejcember 31st will, if all the ships arranged for arrive here safely, reduce t)jis to the actual space equivalent of 3,0*14,000 freight carcases, the space sayed by telescoping mutton and lamb tal&en into consideration. Some killing . take -place between now and then, ••and this is estimated to bring up the "total quantity in' store on December 31st *o 3,534,000 freight carcases, calculated ■on* the basis of the space occupied after telescoping mutton and lamb. A considerable amount of extra storage is beirijgj built, which will assist m accomniWating the coming season's killings. the shipping position up to tSi© end of the year is known, there^ is wo certainty as to what number of ships ■will be available «fter Ist January; The TSrime^Miniatsr and Sir Joseph Ward while m London did everything possible . fa); secure an adequate supply of'refrigerated shipping space for the season's produce, and we may rest assured that the bjjst possible m this direction has been done. The number of ships which will Come along depends largely upon the requirements of the military authorities m : the matter of transporting men from the "United States and the transporting; of foodstuffs from, both North and South -Slm^erica. If we get the same number t)f ships as was the case this year between January and July, 'the position •wfill be fairly^ satisfactory considering all the circumstances, but 4here .is at the present no certainty 'regarding this. a^d -while we all hope for the best and kuow that the best possible is being done, farmers would bet wise to >take the jpijtecsution of ensuring that-. a sufficient supply of winter feed •'&■■? available,- for carrying over some of th^ir, stock , in -the «yent of thei shipping position developing , iii such tt way as to render this neces- ■ -s^ry. , ' A good deal of consideration has been givtn lately to the question of conserving r^efrigerated , storage space ■by cansitng a greater quantity of meat 'than is <$mned_ m normal seasons, and with a Co furthering this suggestion steps" S^ave been taken ito ascertain the capacity o| canning plants m those freezing Vn&ks which possess them, and also the requirements of freezing corcrpanies as to supplies m tin plates. ' In this lastmentioned matter the Munition and Supplies Department have given valuable assistance m expediting shipments of tin |>lata to New Zealand, and there can.bo ttkvdoufet -that "an- 'increase >>of "canning srpuld help to relieve possible future dijKct|lti«s i . t m.Hhe < /:teatter'<)f »tit6rage, and the position from this standpoint is be-ia%_-carefuUy "\rajtchedi ; 33ie m&nnev m •Which a" number of freezing companies KaVe made arrangements for increasing ifaeir cool storage-is a matter for -great satisfaction, and <the Government is taki»kg steps to provide financial assistance io .this direction where desired. Tue whole matter was 'thoroughly gone into by the Board of Agriculture m con--s|nction with the National "Efficiency E^ard, whosa joint report reads as foiSTORAGE AND SHIPPING. 4 The Boartl of "Agriculture and the National Efficiency Board have carefully esfemined the figures iii returns which h^ve been furrftshed to them, relative t$- the output of meat, butter and cheese ,the quantity of produce m store at th.c present time, -the cold storage capacity m the 'Dominion^, and the proprosed additions thereto. -We have -had tlte benefit of two interviews; with your^ and lit addition have had the advantage of- long conferences with Dr. Reakes, Mr. ■fchscTdie* and Sir. Taylor, "wrfib gave valuable information ion the various subjects under consideration. *r MEAT. ' ■< ,;The latest information > available shows tlifet the additional cold storage which is B^ing provided is even greater than was ai* first estimated. In estimating the number of freight carcases likely to be shipped after, 'January 1-,;. there 'are only thfo number, of vessels- provided last year as .a guide. Should the same number of vessels be available this year as during the period of last year, iriiere would (at the ertd of the! season) be left more carcases m store than there are at present, which might,' result in v ;a.' precarious position 'for the following season, arid for which preparation should., be made. The freezing companies arel m many cases making arrangements for extra storage, which, "utfiless^he-'atihTial production -very largely increases may not be fully required m normal times. Where additional storte is 'the proaticera should' 3ist «'uch companies by prdvidinc furttter capital for such purposes. There is rib guarantee as to the number of vessels which will be available from January 1 onwards; therefore ordinary pruqijnce dictates that preparation should bp mad<* by producers to meet a possift>]e suspension of •ilftju'g'litcring and freezing operations before the end of tJho cominjr season. :;.; DAIRY PRODUCE. I '-The information furnished shows 'Ahat SWfficiwt storage for cheese has been, or 5s beinsr, provided for m the South |sland, but that in 'the North '.lsland it be prudent to provide some addition to the storage beyond thai already Arranged for. Tlie evidence m respect to fruiter is more satisfactory v as , the additional freezing accommodation now befog provided will afford reasonable safety. Those interested m the produci\qn of dairy produce should, like the t^eat growers, contribute towards the Capital required for such increase' m storage. ' . ? RECOMMENDATIONS. "We are', therefore of the opinion: (1) That the Minister should take such steps : ae may be necessary, m the event, of a conge'stfon c '6f : storage 'becoming" sufficiently acute, to ► provide, for the canning of second-quality meat. (2) That, m order to conserve storage space, it is desirable that companies should be encouraged to can a larger proportion of suitable meat than usual, and with a view to aiding* in this mattery a further endeavor should be made to '• induce the Imperial Government to purchase the canned product. (3) That companies should be urged to provide for an increase m the present canning plant, and the Government should 'give' eVery possible assistance to enable then) to obtain such additional plant. (4) That, to provide for such a contingency, freezing companies which have a supply of tinplate for canning purposes should, by regulation, be prohibited from disposing of it for any other purpose, without the . consent of the Minister. (5) That farmers should >be warned that there may; be a necessity to cfirry over a proportion of sheep • and 'lambs, and 'that they therefore shbflld ' make due : provision for additional winter feed. (6) That the Gov- ' eminent should meet m a ■ generous spirit such dompahiefi "as are prepared to increase their, storage space, dbui requir© : firiancial 'assistance f ttiai iiho Government to«oable them to do so. (7) JThat- wiih regard 'to' butter,' . sufficient >old itdrrfge space is - likely/ to ' be availntunber- of chips' that are;:exarrive. (8) That, with regard lo cheese, additional cool storage for apferoxim^tßly/SQj^XX) crates should be provided, principally iii: the Taranaki and Wellington districts, distributed as may ■p&: adviaed by the dairy division of your < \ | In conclusion Aye would specially point 4>ut that, 'while "the aggregate stowge .space wliich will be available m the Dominion as a whole indicates a margin, it must be borne m mmd : that conditiojiß vary m different districts, and, VhiU ■' tKeVe r may 'be Nsufficient space available m one districtiin another district the stores may become seriously congested. Companies should, therefore, ■utilise the available storage space to the best possible advantage. We again . emphasise tHat the producers should make all necessary preparations to meet what.