SHIPPING FOR FIJI

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26488, 1 August 1951, Page 7

SHIPPING FOR FIJI

NO INCREASE LIKELY AT PRESENT

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, July MThe New Zealand Tonnage Commiti tee has informed the Colonial Office | Cat it does not feel that at PF o *®* , any improvement can be made m the • number of calls made at Suva by s niP* » travelling between Britain and New < Zealand. A British United Press message from Suva, published in Lloyd ■ Snipping I Gazette, says a reply has been received from the Colonial Office, after rep- \ resentations by Fijian interests, the Secretary of Stat# for the Colo ; nies (Mr James Griffiths) to examine .! the possibility of introducing an improved service to Suva by liners serving Britain and New Zealand calling at Suva on outward and inward ' The reply stated that British *hiPPing companies did notfeel that tne B suggested two-way service would be ified at present. Fijian .interests said that more than 41,000 tons ox Produce was sent to Fiji last year compared with 38.500 ton* ' of British cargo shipped to Fiji. Tne Colonial Office reply quoted the NSW Zealand Tonnage Committee lows: “The’lines operate nine sailings Per annum at regular interval* from the United Kingdom to Suva and they have every reason to believe that this tervice adequately cover* the outward ’ “Sjement of cargo. The committee understand* that tne <'■ produce which moves from Fili to tne United Kingdom and which the Governor of Fiji claims to be approximateV 41.000 tons a year is mainly com- | Posed of sugar, copra, and coconut oil, first two of these items are usually ■. regarded as tramp cargoes and we beneve are catered for as such at the JJesem time. They move only at certimes of the year “U. “VK? large quantities to be lifted Sone bottom. It therefore is readily *en that they are not such cargoes * would provide adequate employ®Sjt for * regular two-way *ervica. The lines are already prepared, Jhere suitable stowage became* availto load homeward general cargo which call at Suva on their SJward voyage, leaving this cargo on wd in New Zealand while dischargloading and eventually bnngit to the United Kingdom. to view of the foregoing considerJ? o®B. 0 ® 8 . the lines do not consider at j that there is sufficient suitable I tT g 0 mo ving in a homeward direction "• c. Warrant the institution of a twos W of regular liner vessels. g* should there become so in the 2**- th* line* will ba ptoaiisd to the matter further consideration.