Crates For Shipping Of Stock

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 8

Crates For Shipping Of Stock

With the introduction of the drive-on ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington, a new method has had to be devised for shipping livestock.

It has resulted in higher charges for cattle and horses, but rates for sheep are several shillings a head lower. Before the vehicle ferry service was introduced, stock travelled in the holds of the Hinemoa and the Maori, but now all sheep, horses and cattle are transported between the two islands “on wheels.”

Companies freighting livestock were faced with a considerable problem when the roll-on roll-off service was introduced. For a Christchurch firm, it quickly became obvious that if laden lorries of livestock were shipped to Wellington, the vehicles would in most cases have to return empty, and the cost of getting them back to Christchurch would be the same as shipping them to Wellington when full.

The only solution was to build containers which could accommodate both livestock and general cargo. This method has now been operating for some weeks, and is proving quite satisfactory. Sheep Trade

A considerable number of sheep, mainly ram hoggets, were shipped from Lyttelton to the North Island before the inter-island ferries changed over to roll-on roll-off traffic, and when the new service was introduced it was feared that because of higher charges that would follow the business in sheep would be jeopardised.

The new system of transporting livestock from island to island, and back-loading with general cargo, followed a merger involving two firms in Christchurch and a Ijrge

Wellington-based firm of general carriers.

Operating from the Christchurch end is the firm of R. Taggart, Ltd., which recently merged with Guthreys Freightways, Ltd., while O’Briens Freightways operate at Wellington. The firms have built a number of open-topped crates for setting on flat-decked lorries. Both the floors and the sides of these containers have been water-proofed. They can accommodate 50 to 60 sheep, depending on size, or four to six grown cattle.

Stock from Canterbury bound for the North Island are loaded into these containers usually at Addington saleyards or stock firm paddocks, then on arrival at the wharf the containers are transferred by forklift trucks to trolleys, and manoeuvred into the ferry. Back-Loaded When the stock is transshipped at Wellington, the crates are hosed out, and back-loaded with general cargo. Had this method not been evolved, cost of transport of stock across the strait could well have doubled, as the lorries or crates would have had to return empty.

"The whole idea of stock walking on, or being slung on board ship, has gone,” said Mr J. R. Taggart, whose firm is handling livestock shipment from Lyttelton. Under the new system, stock could travel from vendor’s farm to buyer’s farm, if required, without having to be transferred from these containers.

Another aspect of the new system is that part loads of livestock can be carried, with the remainder of the container being filled with general cargo. This has been done where there have been varying numbers of horses. The new charge for cattle is £l6 a head, this being from the loading point at Christchurch to the railhead at Wellington. The old charge was £l4 2s lOd for bulls, and £l3 17s lOd for heifers and cows. A breakdown of the old

charge Is: loading point at Christchurch to Lyttelton, £2 10s; wharfage Ils, handling charge £1 for heifers and cows, £1 5s for bulls; wharfage at Wellington ss, shipping £9 Ils lOd. A flat rate of 24s is being charged for sheep, this being several shillings cheaper than the old rate. As with cattle, the charge covers transport from depot to depot, and incorporates wharfage and handling charges.

The old rate for shipping sheep ranged from 18s to 24s depending on the size of the consignment; the larger the consignment, the lower the rate.

But added to this were the following charges: transport from Addington to Lyttelton, 4s to ss; wharfage at Lyttelton, Is 2d; handling charge, 2s; transfer to railhead at Wellington, Is; wharfage at Wellington, a few pence. The saving to the shipper of sheep is therefore between 8s and 10s a head. The rise in the freight charge for horses is only a little greater than the increase for cattle. From the stable at Christchurch to the stable at Trentham outside Wellington, a one-way journey costs £2O 15s, and a return trip £4l 10s. The old rates were the same as for cattle. Included The new rates at first appear to be markedly higher, but they include £3 worth of float travel from the stable to Lyttelton, and £3 worth of travel from Wellington to Trentham or Hutt Park.

However, it was pointed out this week that in some circumstances, these rates would be varied, particularly when a full load leaves either loading point for a race meeting, and for various reasons, horses which have been part of the original load, do not return.

Because shipment of livestock on the drive-on service is still in its early stages, rates for cattle and sheep could be subject to some variation course.