Shipping To Asia

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31716, 27 June 1968, Page 14

Shipping To Asia

Although some New Zealand exporters are not yet satisfied with shipping services to Asian ports it cannot be said that shipping companies are not interested in this trade. British, Japanese, and Dutch shipowners are responding to the growth in trade between New Zealand and Asian ports by putting larger vessels into service. Since 1965 the value of New Zealand exports to Japan has more than doubled. Early this year the Crusader Shipping Company, jointly owned by four British lines, put three larger refrigerated vessels on the run between New Zealand and Japan. The large Japanese company, Mitsui O.SJL Lines, which is already in the New Zealand trade, announced recently that it had ordered a fullyrefrigerated 6000-ton ship to supplement its service. For several years a Netherlands company, Royal Interocean Lines, has carried cargoes on a monthly service between New Zealand and Manilla, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Port Swettenham. The company has now outlined its plans to eplarge the capacity of the service later this year and to offer more space on runs to South Africa and East Africa. Last year the Port Line and the Blue Star Line formed a company for the joint management of their fleets trading between New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. One object of this company was to rationalise the sailings of the ships of the two lines. The Union Steam Ship Company and the British India Company attempted recently to organise sailings in cooperation with Royal Interocean lines. Although the attempt failed because of the difference in routes followed by their ships, it was further evidence of the readiness of the shipping companies to make the best of the new trade they see offering. Dissatisfaction with shipping may continue, especially among South Island manufacturers who do not enjoy such frequent

services as are run from North Island ports. Nevertheless, it must be conceded that the shipping lines are responding to the changes in the pattern of New Zealand’s trade.