REORGANISING SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 303, 20 December 1913, Page 5

REORGANISING SHIPPING.

A COMPLICATED TASK. SURPLUS COAL SUPPLIES. STEAMERS FOR LONDON. In shipping circles the general opinion ■is that it will be some time vet before the regular coastal and inter-colonial passenger and cargo services resume. The seamen's strike caused an almost complete dislocation, and in the comparatively few cases where temporary crews have 'been engaged it will be necessary to oign on permanent hands. In the attempt to maintain inter-colonial connection also, steamers have been diverted from their ordinary routes, and in consequence it will be some time before these vessels revert to the ordinary timetable.

At the four principal ports of the Dominion, and at Newcastle and Sydney. many steamers belonging to the "Union Steamship Company, the Huddant Parker Company, and other vessels engaged in the Australasian service, have been laid up for some weeks. Presumably colliers will be able to get all the coal requirefl from Newcastle, and it is thought that before long the New Zealand coal mines will be producing fuel as usual also. In view of the settlement the shipments of coal ordered from Cardiff, Durban, Bengal, Japan and elsewhere will be reckoned as expensive. A conservative estimate of the quantity of coal reported to be on the way to Auckland from oversea is 20,000 tons, a o that unless some of the vessels are diverted, there should be some cheap coal here before very long.

Shortage of coal and other industrial troubles have interfered to some extent with the dispatch of Home steamers. Loading at Auckland has been arranged at more lengthy intervals than usual, a fact which accounts for the exceptionally large quantities of butter lifted in single shipments. According to present arrangements the dispatch of Home liners will be as follows:— Corinthie, •from Wellington for London, 3 p.m. on Tuesday; Arawa, January S, and Tainui January 22. For the Xew Zealand .Shipping Co., the Ruahine will load butter here on the 27th inst.. and sail from Wellington on January S. She will be followed by the Rotorua on sth February. A direct sailing from Auckland is to be made by the Zealandic about January 17.