“Assurance” On Coastal Trade

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 40

“Assurance” On Coastal Trade

(N.Z. Press Association)

TIMARU, Aug. 30.

A “personal assurance” was given that coastal shippers had no real need to fear the future and a suggestion that means would be found to “rationalise” the transportation industry was made by the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) at an informal meeting with the Timaru Harbour Board today.

Mr Scott, who was in the district in his capacity as Postmaster-General to open the Pareora-St Andrews automatic telephone exchange, had accepted an Invitation to meet the board. Mr Scott said he believed there was room for healthy competition between coastal shipping and the Railways Department.

The board’s chairman (Mr E. W. D. Unwin), welcoming the Minister, said the serious decline in coastal shipping was one of the topics for the board’s consideration today. The board considered that unless action was taken now to ensure continued coastal shipping trade, the South Island could be in a serious situation in a very short time.

“I know the Minister is sympathetic to this question, but we still consider that more vigorous action is called for,” he said. Mr Unwin said the new era in transport had been referred to as a “revolution,” but everyone knew that major problems had to be overcome soon.

Mr Scott said he could see no reason why road, rail and coastal shipping could not live together for the benefit of all. He appreciated that coastal shippers were having a struggle. “Personally, I have no worries about the longterm prospects for any New Zealand export ports. My re-

action is that sea-going transport was the original system, from which all modern schemes have stemmed. It is going through difficult times, but, as the country grows, so, too, will shipping trade. One has only to visit other countries to realise this. “If New Zealand is not careful in getting more tons of cargo on the water, there won’t be enough room on the roads at all for cars,” he said. “There are many forms of sea transport available and 5000, 6000 and 7000-ton oceangoing barges are able to carry away a terrific amount of cargo. “While it is conceded there could be internal problems to be tackled, I believe coastal shipping will still expand. The problems will be temporary, particularly for export ports. I am positive the future for all ports is bright.” There were people wanting to bring better coastal equipment to New Zealand, but they were not prepared to do so until the situation was more stable, Mr Scott said. He was not aware of what

the study of the use of containers would bring forth, the Minister said. It. was something the Government was not going to rush into overnight. Substantial costs were involved.

“Progress is being made towards the establishment of a ports authority,” he said. “A bill is to be produced in the House of Representatives this year. It is planned to put through a Ministry of Transport Bill in Parliament at the same time. A final de-, cision is expected soon. All interested parties will be shown the documents. The scheme should be in everyone’s interests,” Mr Scott said. The board later decided to ask representatives of the South Island Chambers of Commerce to join the board in a deputation to Wellington to discuss with the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) and Mr Scott the serious national ' situation which would be created if the coastal shipping trade were forced out of business.