SOUTH ISLAND PORTS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26212, 8 September 1950, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND PORTS

CLAIMS TO OVERSEAS SHIPPING VIEWS OF SHIPOWNERS’ COMMITTEE Draught restrictions at southern ports precluded consideration of an alteration in the rotation of ports in New Zealand to which ships sailed from British west coast ports, said a letter from the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee, received at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening. The weight of these cargoes usually necessitated calls at Auckland or Wellington, or both, before ships could go to South Island ports. The assistant-secretary (Mr R. Doig) said that the chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr F. W. Freeman) had asked him to say that he did not agree with the letter. The draught of Lyttelton harbour did not preclude the entry of maximum tonnage ships. Although Lyttelton could take these ships it would not be practical for companies to send shins to Lyttelton, then to the North Island, and back to the South Island. Mr Freeman had said it should be known that it was southern ports other than Lyttelton that had draught restrictions. The council agreed to refer the question to the Chambers of Commerce in Timaru, Dunedin. Invercargill, and Oamaru. The letter from the Shipowners’ Allotment Committee also stated that the outward programme of lines associated in the committee was designed to give a balanced service in relation to the volume of cargo moving and importers’ needs. In spite of the disabilities of South Island ports, an equitable share of first and second port calls was given to Lyttelton. Port Chalmers and Dunedin, while Bluff had a regular share of calls and Timqru was well catered for.

“It is unquestionable that there are at present many shortcomings in the South Island.” said the letter, referring to port facilities. The committee added that it was gratified that harbour boards in the South Island anpreciated the needs of their ports, and that they planned developments which would largely remove the difficulties.