9

H.—3B

During the months January to March, 1921, it was necessary to devote only 33| per cent, of the insulated shipping-space available to Imperial refrigerated cargo, the balance being filled with free meat and cheese. ' The following table shows the number of insulated steamers which have sailed from the Dominion during the years 1914 to 1920, inclusive, together with their total insulated carrying-capacity : — Total Y ear Number of Insulated Capacity Steamers. (601b. Freight Carcases). 1914 .. .. .. .. .. ..99 8,800,700 1915 .. .. .. .. .. ..84 7,682,000 1916 .. .. .. .. .. ..78 7,322,500 1917 .. .. .. .. .. ..62 5,626,350 1918 .. .. .. .. .. ..52 4,926,300 1919 .. .. .. .. .. ..79 7,694,000 1920 .. .. .. .. .. ..94 8,875,500 The New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee, which was established in March, 1915, to regulate the distribution and allocation of space in overseas steamers loading in the Dominion, continued to meet daily, and carried out its duties with impartiality according to the requirements of the different districts. ' The Committee's work will be completed when the final shipment of Imperial Government produce is made. _ Mr. James Findlay, 0.8. E., New Zealand representative of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), has been chairman of the Committee from its inception, and a great deal of the success of the Committee has been due to his guidance. The New Zealand Government has been represented on the Committee since March, 1915, by the Controller of this Department, or by his Deputy, the Assistant Controller, and the Department has furnished the information regarding the quantities of meat held in" store at the various freezing-works, and the quantities of butter, cheese, and wool available for shipment on the basis of which allocations were undertaken. Produce in Store awaiting Shipment. The following table shows the quantities of meat, cheese, and butter in store and. awaiting shipment on the 31st March for the last six years : —

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS. Total disbursements by the Department from the 3rd March, 1915, to the 31st March, 1921, were as follows : — £ Frozen meat .. .. .. .. 53,039,535 Cheese .. .. .. .. .. 21,160,884 Butter .. .. .. .. .. 16,571,130 Scheelite .. .. .. .. .. 178,481 Wool .. .. .. .. .. 52,882,583 Freezing companies' slipe wool .. .. 7,525,305 Sheep-skins.. .. .. .. .. 3,279,499 . Hides .-. .. .. .. .. 741,208 Miscellaneous .. .. .. ~ 3,198,019 £158,576,644 The total disbursements to 31st March, 1920, were £133,091,240.

2—H. 38.

Frozen Meat. Date. Cheese. Butter. list March, 1916 list March, 1917 list March, 1918 list March, 1919 list March, 1920 ilst March, 1921 On account Imperial Government 601b. Carcases. 2,152,250 2,409,541 3,398,364 6,482,529 6,628,789 600,956 3,098,216 Crates. 73,927 185,417 363,790 474,754 274,411 Boxes. (Free) 87,678 (Free) 224,506 350,315 93,729 77,482 251,029 Free 307,222