SHIPMENTS FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 6

SHIPMENTS FROM BRITAIN

DELIVERY IVANTED AT LYTTELTON

To speed up the delivery of goods from Britain, importers in Christchurch are taking steps to see that their goods are not shipped by any vessel for which Auckland is the first port cf call before Lyttelton. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, at a meeting this week, agreed to instruct its London representative to approach the Australian and New Zealand Merchants’ and Shippers’ Association in London to ensure that goods for Christchurch are not shipped on a vessel which has Auckland as the first port of call. A letter from one importing firm before tne chamber said that it had instructed its shippers not to place goods on vessels calling first at Auckland. “Even if this instruction causes a delay of a month or so in En; land while waiting for a suitable boat we

still think we shall be getting our goods earlier.” said the letter. It would appear that a considerable number of boats were now making Wellington their first port of call, then gong on to Auckland and then to Lyttelton. Four ships at present in New Zealand waters —the Hertford. Suffolk. Ceramic, and Norfolk—had done this.

“We feel that if other members who have large importing interests were to instruct their shippers on the lines suggested we would in time have a better service to the South Island as the tonnage coming to Christchurch would appear to warrant direct boats,” the letter added.

One member said that a perusal he had made of sailing lists for May, June, and July showed that not one ship leaving England was scheduled with a South Island port as the first port of call.