Lines To Investigate Container Cargoes

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 3

Lines To Investigate Container Cargoes

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 21. Shipping companies, with the approval of the Exports and Shipping Council, will appoint an overseas firm of experts to investigate container cargoes.

The chairman of the council’s Overseas Shipowners’ Committee, .Mr J. H. Cook, said it might be as long as 18 months or two years before the detailed report would be available. He said there was tremendous interest in container cargo systems, but there were problems peculiar to New Zealand. The major problem was the terrific imbalance between imports and exports—there was a far greater volume of exports. “We would need far more containers for exports than could be used for imports," he said. Mr Cook said that last year 81 ships discharged and

loaded cargo here, 81 came only to load, and 25 came in ballast from England to pick up refrigerated cargoes. “Also, mueh of our imports are not suitable for containers, for example, steel, heavy machinery, obnoxious chemicals, and completely-knocked-down cars.” The chairman of the Exports and Shipping Council (Sir John Ormond) said the council had received approaches from two New Zealand companies eager to supply containers. One container could be built of fibreglass, possibly far transportation on flat-top railway trucks. The other, of insulated panels, appeared suitable for road transport.