Containers, but ‘at higher rate’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32640, 23 June 1971, Page 3

Containers, but ‘at higher rate’

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 22.

The Union Steam Ship Company had now agreed to supply containers to Seacons International, but at a higher shipping rate than given to other consolidators, said Seacons’ managing director (Mr T. McNicholl) today.

The general manager of the Union Company (Mr R. C. Stevens) confirmed that containers would be available to Seacons, but he declined to comment on rates. Last week, Mr McNicholl said that Seacons was being refused containers because it had agreed to employ watersiders in its depots. Mr Stevens denied this, saying

' that as soon as Seacons resolved with the Government : the problem of who should ■do the work in off-wharf depots, space would be allo- . cated.

Mr McNicholl said today that the dearer shipping rates Seacons would have to pay were “slow strangulation.” The Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union might refuse to handle cargo for the rollon Tasman vessels because of the action of the Union Steam Ship Company over Seacons International, said a union spokesman today. The union disputes officer (Mr J. Hewitt) said that the shipping company was discriminating against the cargopacking firm. The Union Company employs watersiders on its rollon vessels but was stopping Seacons* from employing watersiders. “We will have a hard look at this, with a view to not handling the Union Company’s cargo,” he said.

Boat sails.—The Australian tuna fishing vessel Espirito Santo left Napier at 3.30 p.m. yesterday after being confined to port for more than a month. The vessel was arrested at the port on a Supreme Court writ executed because of the vessel’s owner’s failure to pay a $5OOO debt for a hull painting job done earlier this year. (P.A-) ’