REGULATION OF SHIPMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1931, Page 8

REGULATION OF SHIPMENTS

WORK OF MEAT PRODUCERS BOARD NEW CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION. — The policy of regulating shipments of’ produce is discussed in the annual report of the New Zealand Meat Board. The report says : Under its statutory powers, the board, having the freight arrangements for the shipment of New Zealand meat in its j hands, is able to regulate shipments so j as to keep a steady flow of meat going i on to the British markets over the | twelve months of the year, having due ■ regard to the months of the highest con- i sumption of each class of meat. There can be no question that regularity and continuity of supplies are most important factors in the attainment of , success on the British market, and the ; authority exercised by the board over . shipments in this way is probably the i most valuable work it has undertaken, j

In arranging with the shipping companies for tonnage this season great difficulty has been experienced in formulating requirements, particularly having regard to the large shipments of lamb which were arriving in the United Kingdom from other countries during the early part of the season. Having in view the steady increase in the Dominion’s output of lamb the board has been using every endeavour to enlarge channels of distribution, and regards it as most desirable that Northern England and the districts served by the West of England ports should receive their share of this increased production; with this object in view the board allots .to the freezing companies as much shipping space as possible for shipment to west of England ports and Glasgow. As applying to the south of England there has also been a considerable increase in the shimonts to Southampton. Tn addition to providing adequate shipping space, the board employs a travelling representative whose duties largely consist of continually visiting retailers throughout the United Kingdom with a view to specially extending the trade in New Zealand mutton and lamb. This season he has been working extensively in the north of England, where he has done much valuable work in fostering the sale of New Zealand meat, and it is particularly gratifying to note that the shipments to the west coast ports of the United Kingdom have greatly increased this year. With the experience which the board has had to date in its work of regulating shipments, and particularly having in view the large shipments which are now arriving in the United Kingdom from other parts of the world, it is all the more impressed with the need for the utmost attention to be given to this work, to see that the different ports In the United Kingdom are kept fully supplied with their requirements, and that the arrivals are evenly spread over each month. When it is considered that our annual output of lamb ami mutton alone now amounts to over 9,500,000 carcases loaded from the various ports In the Dominion for shipment to different destinations in the United Kingdom, this will give some conception of the work and responsibility entailed In arranging for the transport of this large quantity j of meat, and in endeavouring to sec that the arrivals are evenly spread—especial- |

ly when we take into consideration the variations in the speed and in the routes of the various vessels and the difficulties to be contended with in loading, owihg to weather and other conditions.

During the height of the killing season some freezing companies were concerned regarding congestion in their freezing stores. The position has been carefully watched, and the. board, in conjunction with the shipping companies, was able, to make arrangements to give sufficient relief whereby the works were able to carry on their usual operations. The disaster to the freezing works in .Hawke’s Bay through the earthquake caused a. certain amount of disorganisation in the regulation of shipments. As it was imperative that most of the. meat from these works should be shipped as promptly as possible, it became necessary to provide shipping tonnage at once. Moot of the meat was shipped through the port of Wellington, and every effort was made to expedite the loading. The prompt, and efficient manner in which the Railway Department, the shipping companies and the men engaged in

loading co-operated in the handling of the situation was very pleasing, and as a result practically all the meat was shipped and arrived in the United Kingdom in a satisfactory condition.