N.Z. DIFFICULTIES Container Service May Be Delayed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32068, 16 August 1969, Page 1

N.Z. DIFFICULTIES Container Service May Be Delayed

CN.Z.P.A. Staff corre«pondent>

LONDON, August 15. The starting date for the container shipping services of the British Conference Lines to New Zealand may be delayed. Mr W. A. Dawes, chairman of the New Zealand Tonnage Committee, said today that a delay was likely unless difficulties now being encountered in New Zealand were ironed out within a few weeks.

He said the companies involved planned to call tenders soon for the construction of ships for the United Kingdom-New Zealand container service, which was due to begin in 1972.

Ships for the New ZealandUnited States service, due to start in early 1971, are now under construction. Mr Dawes said about s2om would have to be spent on shore facilities in New Zealand for container services. The lines would almost certainly be asked to help find this capital. The lines were already in-

volved In discussions with harbour boards on questions connected with container facilities. “We are concerned that if we can’t soon resolve some of the difficulties there will be a delay in the implementation of the service," he said. Among points to be clarified were responsibility for the construction of facilities and agreements on their use.

In Wellington, the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board (Mr E. M. Hodder) said today that the board had not asked the Conference Lines to find any capital for the working of the container berths at Aotea and Fryatt Quays, Wellington, the Press Association reported. Discussions were proceeding, with the view of the lines providing some capital. The board would consider the matter at an early date. The board had also to consider the results of discussions on the whole question of the type and style of construction necessary to handle containers at Wellington.