SHIPPING FOR N.Z. EXPORTS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 14

SHIPPING FOR N.Z. EXPORTS

“Nothing Definite” About Prospects EFFECTS OF SUEZ CRISIS (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 18. Officials of shipping lines and producer organisations in Wellington today said there was “nothing definite” about a possible shortage of shipping, especially refrigerated vessels, for the trade between New Zealand and Europe from February onwards. They were commenting on a warning issued on Monday by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake) that such a shortage was possible. The Minister’s statement was made after a brief discussion by the Cabinet on the preliminary effects of such a shortage. The chairman of the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee (Mr F. W. Spite) said yesterday that it was too soon to know whether shipping would be affected after February. He recalled a warning issued by shipowners earlier this month stating that the Suez crisis, coupled with unfavourable spring weather in New Zealand, might make it impossible for normal services to be maintained. The chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Products Marketing Commission (Mr W. Marshall) said that, up to the end of January, the commission would have shipped 86,500 tons of this season’s butter, compared with 77,000 tons at the corresponding time in the previous season. ’Some of this increase resulted from the commission's desire to provide refrigerated cargo to suit the shipping companies, because of the late availability of meat. February Allocations Awaited “We have not yet got the shipping allocations for February and March,” said Mr Marshall, “but we have heard nothing to give us any cause for concern that they will not be adequate to deal with the quantities we want to ship.’’ Mr J. W. de Gruchy, general manager of the Nev/ Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, said his organisation was in exactly the same position as the Dairy Commission. His board had its February allocation of tonnage, but not the actual allotment, which he expected within a few days. “On the face of it,” said Mr de Gruchy, “we look to be all right. But I would like to remind meat producers of the advice issued earlier this month by Mr J. D. Ormond, chairman of the Meat Board, to take advantage of the earliest, possible killings.’’ Mr Spite said the February allocation of shipping would be announced this week. At present, he had only a general idea of the tonnage that would be available. Allotments were usually announced five or six weeks ahead of the start of the month concerned.

Mr Spite released a copy of a circular letter sent .• by the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee to all shippers earlier this month. This letter was as follows: "The lines feel it is only right that they should warn you of likely repercussions on their trade generally resulting from the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East. Although it could probably be said that New Zealand in many ways is among the least affected countries so far as the shipping routes are concerned, there is no doubt that the present international situation is bound to have serious repercussions on the availability of tonnage for many months ahead. Vacant Shipping Space “During October. November, and December,” said the letter, "many ships have sailed and will continue to sail with considerable vacant space because of the shortage of refrigerated cargo resulting from delayed killings and dairy production caused bv bad weather, in spite of the fact that all general cargo available has been used to fill the consequent sur-

plus refrigerated space. “This, coupled with the Middle East situation, will undoubtedly result in a shortage of space from the end of February onwards, and it may not be possible to maintain normal services. "The lines feel it is very necessary for all to anpreciate that, in the present difficult situation, and having regard to the number of refrigerated vessels which normally cross over from Australia to load, some disruption of normal trading is bound to be suffered by shipper and shipowner alike.” Mr Spite explained today that many ships taking cargo from Britain to Australia crossed the Tasman to load New Zealand oroduce before returning home. On the voyage to Australia. many of these vessels normally used the Suez Canal. Because of the blockage of the canal, these ships were now being forced to sail by way of the Cape of Good Hope. Facilities at Cape Town and other ports were becoming very congested, and delays were being caused, said not disturbed at the Y r . os_ , pects: as far as we know, ships schedtfles for the oeriod from February onward are unaltered.” said Mr G. A. Duncan, chairman of the New Zealand Wool Disposals Commission. Mr Duncan said March would be a heaw “lifting” time for wool from New Zealand ports, but there was "certainly no sinn yet that wool purchasers will be held up in their deliveries.”