‘Crucial Stage’ In Transport System

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 1

‘Crucial Stage’ In Transport System

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, May 13.

The Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) will support the container shipping proposals outlined by the British Conference Lines and the Metra reports if they are supported by the Transport Commission.

Speaking to about 300 people at the opening of the Otago Harbour Board’s s2.Bm Beach Street wharf at Port Chalmers, Mr Gordon said he would have to do this in the national in* terest.

New Zealand was at a crucial stage in the evolution of its transport system,

more particularly in marine transport, he said. “The Metra report, though it may be good news for the nation as a whole, will have caused considerable misgivings at the smaller ports, which perhaps see themselves as sacrifices to the greater good,” the Minister said. The Metra report had no doubts about the interim future of conventional shipping to Britain and Europe from New Zealand, he said. “When we look at this report, we should keep one important fact in mind. It is purely an economic survey of which combination of ships and ports is the most profitable in terms of dollars. “It goes without saying that any final decision that is made will take into account sociological and oth?r factors as well.” Mr Gordon gave an assur-

ance that any suspicions that there was some “under the table” reciprocal agreement between the Government and the Union Steam Ship Company over the dropping of surcharges for the Tasman ferry service were unfounded. Freight from Port Chalmers would be shipped to one of the other ports by the Union Company’s container ship Hawea for transfer to the new vessel Maheno at no extra cost, Mr Gordon said. “Freight rates from Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers to Sydney will be identical.” There was no cause for despondency or alarm because all the country could not hit the New Zealand-United Kingdom trade jackpot, he said.