AMPLE STORAGE Available

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 4

AMPLE STORAGE Available

Provision For All Produce Minister Outlines Position (PA.) WELLINGTON, June 19. The cool storage facilities available in the Dominion for the storage of primary products were outlined to-night by the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay. Figures were given by the Minister showing the increase in storage capacity for meat and dairy produce since the outbreak of war. He said the Government was reviewing the situation almost dally and was taking every action necessary to ensure that under any possible emergency condition the country’s essential primary products would not waste or deteriorate because of lack of cool storage. “In spite of all the difficulties we are facing as a result of the war situation the position with regard to cool storage of our primary products is reasonably good," said Mr Barclay. “Our emergency cool storage arrangement for extensions are now completed, and at the start of next season’s operations we will have available a storage capacity for 250,000 tons of meat At the end of thus season it is estimated that we will have in store not more than 110,000 tons of meat and at the peak of next season’s killing the total quantity of meat in store should not exceed 210,000 tons which, with a total capacity of 250,000 tons means that there is an ample safety margin. I might mention that in assessing our maximum quantity in store next year at 210,000 tons we have by no means been over optimistic in imitating the amount which will be shipped overseas during the coming season. From these figures the country can be assured that the meat storage position is well in hand and no cause for anxiety can exist.

Storage of Dairy Produce Reference was also made by Mr Barclay to tbe position in regard to dairy produce. "We have made considerable extensions to our storage capacity since the outbreak of war.” he said, “and now we have available space for 50,000 tons of butter and 41,500 tons of cheese. Further extensions are proceeding. We will start our next dairy produce season with a very satisfactory storage position, with practically no cheese whatever in store and only from 18,000 to 20,000 tons of butter. Taking into account the fact that we have had a remarkable increase in the production both of butter and cheese this season the position at the commencement of next season will, if anything, be more favourable than at the commencement of this season.”