VESSELS AT REST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 33, 9 February 1928, Page 10

VESSELS AT REST.

IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

AIL FOR ANNUAL OVERHAUL.

SOME AWAITING COMMISSIONS.

The number of steamships which havel' been lying restfully for some weeks past' on the quiet waters of the upper harbour, is now diminishing. One by one the vessels are going out again into commission.j For years past it has been the practice; to overhaul large numbers in the niid-j summer months in accordance with Gov-j ernment requirements to qualify for the annual licenses, and there have been seasons when they went out again as fast as it was possible to have them resurveyed. If this year some of them have remained at rest lqpger than is usual, it is probably due to the fact that trade has not been so good, and that they have not been urgently needed. In the overseas class of vessel the Kaitoke and Kawatiri have been laid up for some considerable time in the harbour on account of slackness of trade, and they are not yet in commission. During the last three months the Union Company's steamers Kaponga, Kaiapoi. Kawatiri, Kanna, Waimea, Wingatui and Kaituna have been overhauled and surveyed. The Kaitoke is now about to undergo survey, although there is no immediate prospect for this vessel and the Kawatiri being re-commissioned.

Cause and Effect. , | The slackness of trade which is aflccting these vessels is due largely to the fact of the New Zealand Government having altered its policy in the direction|of using as far as possible coal produced :from New Zealand mines. Hitherto largj [quantities of Newcastle coal have In-en | used in New Zealand, and its carriage ■ has added considerably to the work of the inter-colonial shipping trade. Another cause which has contributed to the falling off in the coal requirements, of the Dominion has been the develop-. I ment of hydro-electric power. ' Still another factor bearing on the j .coal question is that up to a few years ago a large proportion of the vessels;' ! conveying our primary products to 1 'Britain were coal-fired, but recently l , : these have either been converted to oil-,, jfuel vessels or have been replaced by new motor ships. This, of course, dirnin- ' ,|ishes the demand for New Zcalnnd ,jbunker coal. The inter-relation of indus-l, I try s a study in itself. An indication as to how the vessels; engaged in the coastal passenger and | freight service are being affected by road motor services is provided by the case • of the small steamer Wainui, which is,' at present laid up in the harbour. The , Wainui was until recently engaged in 1 , the Napier-Gisbornc-Auckland passenger l . and cargo trade, but on account of motor competition the vessel could not main-i ' tain her position and has therefore been | replaced by a purely cargo steamer. I Officers and Crews. ( ♦ When one sees a number of vessels, j lying idle in the harbour a thought j which comes naturally to one is whatj j happens to the officers and crew during; the period of inaction? In the case of: the crew it is required that the company; | shall be responsible for their return to, the port of signing on. The officers | usually remain in the service of their company and either go to new positions! or do relieving work while annual holi-j days are being taken. An authority on shipping matters expressed the belief to a Pressman this morning that conditions in the coastali trade will improve shortly. He said, that although the trade from the South, has not been as good as it was, the new! season's grain will shortly be coming in! and then vessels will be needed to cany, large consignments of wheat and oats.j So before very long the silent company I now in the harbour should be going out again to swell the volume of New Zealand's maritime trade.