EFFECT ON N.Z. SHIPPING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 13

EFFECT ON N.Z. SHIPPING

Few Vessels Likely To Sail

New Zealand shipping firms have so far made few alterations in their intercolonial schedules to meet the effects of the Australian wharf strike. In Auckland two ships, the Waimate and the Kairanga, will be paid off today. Several vessels are on their way to Australian ports, but few are expected to sail from New Zealand in the immediate future. “We have anticipated this strike to some extent,” said Mr H. G. Edwards, Christchurch manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, yesterday. “About seven or eight of our ships are laid up on annual survey—as is usual at this time of the year—and none are due to sail for the moment.” Ships immediately involved include a number of the Union Company’s inter-colonial traders, among them being the Karitane and Kawaroa and the chartered vessel Nadir, which were due to arrive at Geelong and Ardrossan today to load bulk wheat cargoes for Wellington and Auckland. The Waioori. due at Sydney yesterday from Wellington, was booked to load steel and other cargo at Port Kembla and Newcastle for Auckland. The Waikawa left Wellington on Saturday for Melbourne to complete the discharge of her Pacific coast cargo, and the Waiana is due at Melbourne today from Tauranga. These vessels will be caught up by the strike. The Kawerau was to have sailed from Adelaide for Napier and Auckland. and the Kurow, from Cape Thevenard for Adelaide for bunkers on her way to Auckland. Both vessels may have got away without delay. Passenger Service

Every effort will be made to maintain the passenger service of the Monowai and the Wanganella between Sydney and New Zealand. The Monowai is scheduled to leave Sydney on Wednesday for Wellington and the Wanganella is due at Auckland from Sydney today. Even if they handle no cargo, It is possible that other complications mav arise during the strike. The strike is likely to have a longterm effect on New Zealand loading schedules in the case of the Shaw Savill Line, the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Port Line and the Blue Star Line, many of whose vessels are either now on the Australian coast or outward bound from Britain and the United States. Ships likely to be affected in the immediate future are those booked to come to New Zealand for loading after discharging in Australia. One of these is Shaw Savill’s chartered vessel Condesa. Trade Losses Likely A Singapore message quotes Australian officials and local traders as saying that they were seriously concerned at the start of the Australian dock strike. Malaya would be forced to seek new sources for a wide range of commodities normally imported from Australia and Australia might lose some of its trade, they said. Australia was particularly in danger of losing its £3,000,000 a year trade in flour with Singapore and Malaya. At present flour was in short supply on the Singapore market and one alternative source —Hong Kong—had only limited supplies. One trade source said that if the strike continued, Malaya would have to draw its flour requirements from America or France. Malaya would also have to look for a new source for its frozen meat imports, 95 per cent, of which normally came from Australia. It had reserves for two months. If the strike continued until next month, when the Australian apple season started, importers of fresh fruit are expected to look to America and South Africa for supplies. “The strike will greatly benefit Australia’s trade competitors and may cause considerable harm to her trade here,” a trade source said.