EFFECT OF CONTAINERS ‘Understanding’ or compensation

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 3

EFFECT OF CONTAINERS ‘Understanding’ or compensation

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 24. An “understanding” with British containei shipping lines which will result in compensation being ’paid to any smaller ports hard hit by falling revenue when container shipping is in full use was announced today by the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon). The Minister said British lines would be required to adjust their rates so that compensation could be paid to ports whose revenue fell at a time w’hen the ports were facing heavy debt repayments.

The Minister said in an interview that the British lines —which would begin working from New Zealand in late 1973 or early 1974—had still not told the Ports Authority of their plans for filling containers in this country. He said the authority had to make a report to the Government on the packing of containers. Neither the Ports Author-

ity nor individual harbour boards was yet certain whether containers would be packed near the source of supply, or whether the goods would be brought to major container ports before being packed into containers. But Mr Gordon said today that the Meat and Dairy Boards had been pressing the Government for a relaxation of the 40-mile road transport

restriction for containers. He said this indicated that they favoured the wider distribution of containers.