PORT DELAYS IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26729, 13 May 1952, Page 7

PORT DELAYS IN NEW ZEALAND

N.Z. Conference Lines Give Reasons

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The New Zealand Conference Shipping Lines in a statement to-day said that everything possible had been done to help Britain and New Zealand, but there were circumstances beyond its sphere which caused delays in the turnround of shipping. The lines were replying to criticisms in New Zealand that there was insufficient refrigerated shipping to carry New Zealand food to Britain. They said every effort had been mad* to provide ample refrigerated tonnage. In addition to refrigerated ships on the regular run, the lines were sending an additional .32 ships to New Zealand this season. The chartering of extra ships to cope with the recent abnormal flow of imports to New Zealand had resulted in a loss to the lines of £BOO,OOO since last July, the statement said. These ships were placed last in order of priority for loading and unloading at New Zealand ports, and had often been held up for many weeks to allow food ships to be loaded. The lines felt that more must be done by the ancillary services which cleared and fed the wharves. At present they did not keep step with the rate at which ships could discharge and load.

While New Zealand’s overseas trade had been steadily expanding there had been no parallel expansion in fxirt facilities to handle the increased exports and imports. The lines have recommended that an independent and comprehensive review of New Zealand port policy for the next 30 years should be made and a programme mapped out. As far as they know this suggestion has not been acted upon. The statement by the lines says: "We have done our utmost to provide refrigerated space as and when required to lift New Zealand exports. When the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) was in London earlier this year he made a joint appeal with the British Minister of Food (Mr G. Lloyd George) for the quickest possible loading of food ships for Britain. We have done everything possible to assist this appeal. We have sent out 42 ships with refrigerated space to arrive in New Zealand to load during the peak of the export season and carry New Zealand’s food to Britain and we have arranged for 32 additional ships with refrigerated space to supplement these. “This has been done at considerable expense. We have, sent ships out in ballast from England and we have chartered others to send from the Plate to Dominion ports. We nave also diverted ships from Australia to New Zealand. These carried British cargo to Australia and were to have brought back Australian produce to Britain. Instead we arranged for them to bring babk New Zealand food. Low Priority "We understand that there have been allegations that the conference lines have been attempting to make profits out of ships especially chartered to carry imports to the Dominion and that these ships have been given priority by us over refrigerated vessels. This allegation is entirely untrue. The chartered shins have been placed last on order of priority for unloading and reloading. They have been held up day after day, week after week and month after month in New Zealand to allow New Zealand food to be sent to Britain. Since July. 1951, the special chartering of ships to carry the abnormal flow of imports to the Dominion has cost the lines a loss of £BOO,OOO. . . . .. 4 “The conference lines feel that they have done everything humanly possible to help both Ndw Zealand and Britain at this time. They have provided every available ton of refrigerated space; ample tonnage in fact, to keep all ports working to capacity throughout the season. “But there are various circumstances beyond our sphere. These cause delays in the turnround of ships. “New Zealand ports are short of labour. The number of wharves and transit sheds is insufficient to keep fully working all ships sent. The hours of work and overtime vary in different trades and businesses. The overtime worked on the waterfront has been much greater than the hours worked by the ancillary services which remove cargo from and feed the Waterfront. There is a considerable disparity in the hours worked on the w'aterfront and by these services. Congestion is habitually caused when cargo is unloaded from ships but is not removed from the wharves. We feel most strongly that all services engaged in the import and export trades must intensify their efforts to keep cargo moving to and from the wharves. Long-Term Planning

“This is only one part of the problem of the slow turnrourid. Another is that the steady expansion of New Zealand trade over the years has not been matched by the parallel expansion of the Dominion's port facilities. , , , “If the Dominion’s overseas trade is to continue to develop, we urge that long-term planning for ports is essential. We have frequently urged in the highest quarters that an independent firm of consulting engineers make a comprehensive review of New Zealand port policy for the next 30 years at feast. As far as We know this suggestion has not been acted upon. Unless greater efforts are made by all concerned to keep cargo moving t.irough the ports and unless some longterm port policy is mapped out and adhered to, chronic congestion at New Zealand ports will, It seems, recur indefinitely and will probably get worse. We are not only willing but anxious to play our part in implementing such policies. “Meanwhile the various delays that now occur have resulted in the time taken for a round voyage from England to New Zealand being 35 per Cent, longer than in 1938-39, Four ships are now needed to do the work previously done by three. “The conference lines are naturally disturbed by the criticisms made in New Zealand about the present position. Rightly or Wrongly they have never felt it necessary to extol the service they give the Dominion. But it now seems that they have carried silence to the point of culpability. There is obviously considerable misunderstanding and ignorance of shipping problems in New Zealand. Perhaps the facts given here will help to remove them.”