PRIMARY PRODUCTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1941, Page 3

PRIMARY PRODUCTS

COOL STORAGE PROBLEM INCREASED SPACE AVAILABLE. SURVEY BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Cool storage facilities available in the Dominion for the storage of primary products were outlined last evening by the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Mr 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 daily, and 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 the cool storing of our primary products is reasonably good." said Mr ' Barclay. “Certain statements have recently been made suggesting that the Dominion is not equipped with sufficient cool storage facilities to meet a possible emergency which might arise as the result of continued decreases in.the export of our meat, butter and cheese. These statements, unfortunately, have received more publicity than they deserve, and have in the main been made by persons who are not, really qualified ,to speak with authority on this subject.”

Position Well in Hand. Mr Barclay recalled a statement he made on April 9 that there were then cool storage facilities capable of holding 210,000 tons of meat. Our emergency cool storage arrangements for extensions are now completed.” said the Minister, “and at the start of next season’s operations we will have available a storage capacity of 250,000 tons of meat.

“At the end of this season, it is estimated that we will have in store not more than 110,000 tons of meat, and at the peak of the 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-optimis-tic in calculating 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.”

Considerable Extensions Made. Reference was also made by Mr Barclay to the position in regard to dairy produce. “We have made considerable extensions to our storage capacity since the outbreak of war,” he said, “and now have available space for 50,000 tons of butter and 41,500 tons of cheese. In addition, the Kakariki Meat Works, which previously have been idle, have been reequipped for cool storage and will be available to meet an emergency for either meat or dairy produce. The present storage capacity of the works is equivalent to 4700 tons of meat, or 5000 tons of butter. Apart from the 50,000 tons of butter storage now available, further extensions are still proceeding, and within a few weeks an additional 2000 tons will be available in Auckland, and plans are now being finalised for the immediate commencement of further extensions, in all probability in the Auckland, Waikato and Wellington districts.”