Union Company To Stop Auckland-Coast Service

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 10

Union Company To Stop Auckland-Coast Service

(New Zealand Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, Sept. 25. The Union Steam Ship Company's decision to discontinue carrying general cargo between Auckland and Greymouth and Westport was announced in Greymouth today. In future, supplies for the West Coast will be handled by the Anchor Shipping Company, whose smaller ships will offer a monthly service if sufficient cargo is offering and depending on harbour conditions

Some concern is felt by local importers that the 3500 to 4000 tons of general cargo passing over the Greymouth wharf each year may be subject to delays at both the point of loading, Onehunga, and West Coast ports. Similar harbour conditions to those encountered here are said to obtain at Onehunga. The main reason advanced for the Union Company's decision is that it has become uneconomic to continue carrying general cargo on the 2000 to 3000-ton ships which have been operating the service These were handling in the vicinity of 300 to 400 tons a month and weather and harbour conditions often caused serious delays at the ports of discharge. One immediate effect of the change will be an increase in the

price of sugar, which will rise by 10s lOd a ton, but so far as can be ascertained today, this will be the only item affected by increased shipping costs. The reason is that sugar lightered from the Chelsea works will now be transhipped for road or rail transport to Onehunga. Importers are now awaiting advice of arrangements for handling such items as bottled beer, wallboards. refrigerators, and other home appliances, and a wide range of foodstuffs manufactured in the Auckland area and quoted as f.o.b. Some of the factories, at least, are known to be situated in areas covered by this arrangement, but no definite information is yet available on this point. Union Company vessels have been carrying motor-cars to Greymouth for distribution to South Island destinations, because of congestion at some of the larger ports, but import cuts have already forced a cessation of this trade through Greymouth. The Anchor Company’s agents in Greymouth said today that a regular monthly service will be offered if sufficient cargo is offering, and discounted reports that Ohehunga port was affected by similar harbour conditions to those found on the West Coast. A regular service operated between Nelson and Onehunga and this had not been unduly affected by adverse conditions, the agents said.