STOCKS OF TALLOW.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14622, 29 January 1918, Page 6

STOCKS OF TALLOW.

ARRANGEMENTS FOll EXPORT.

Wellington, Jan. 23. For some months the Government has been in constant telegraphic communication with the Imperial Government, pointing out the urgent necessity existing for providing tonnage for the shipment of tallow.

On December 28 the Secretary of State for the Colonies cabled to the effect that owing to the serious shortage of tallow with which the United Kingdom then was faced, the Government would have wished to arrange for the shipment to Great Britain of all available supplies from JN r eAv Zealand, but owing to the scarcity of tonnagn it was impossible to obtain freight for all the Australasian tallow required, and the question was therefore being considered

of installing a plant for splitting tallowJ in this Dominion. It was pointed out,' however, that some months probably would elapse before this plant would be available, but meanwhile there would be. no objection to the shipment of reasonable quantities of tallow to the United States, provided stocks are not unduly exhausted, that no fats are diverted; from the Cnited Kmgdom which could be shipped there, that no freight be diverted from the United Kingdom, and that no general permission would be, givea to ship to- foreign countries, each case to be considered separately, shippers to linderstan'd that arrangements are strictly provisional. .

The High Commissioner again communicated on January 22 to the effect that the whole of last season's output had not been shipped, resulting in a loss to producers. Reference was included to statements made that producers in Australia had been able to ship tallow m large quantities, and this was causing much dissatisfaction to producers in this country.

A census of stocks of tallow reveals that the quantity oh hand probably exceeds 4O,CMX) casks.

The Minister of Customs is prepared to consider applications to export tallow to other destinations than the United. Kingdom, on the terms notified by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and on the "strict understanding that the arrangements are provisional