One vote only for S.C.N.Z.

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 13

One vote only for S.C.N.Z.

NZPA staff correspondent Washington

A Washington judge has recommended that the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand and Bank and Savill Line. Ltd. be formally allowed to continue their joint service to United States Gulf

ports and the Caribbean, but has recommended against giving them separate votes on rate-fixing bodies. The recommendations by Judge Joseph Ingolia, an expert in Federal Maritime Commission Administration law. now go to the five maritime commissioners.

The judge also recommended recognition of Bank and Savill acting jointly for Bank Line and Shaw Savill and Albion. It is believed that such recommendations have usually been accepted in the past.

The recommendations on joint services would formalise present operations, which are being conducted under temporary F.M.C. approval pending the judge's recommendations and the commissioners' decision. The New Zealand Government argued for a separate Shipping Corporation vote on rate-setting bodies on the grounds that the country's high dependence on shipping gives the corporation "important defence, political and political-economic responsibilities." the judge said.

But. he added: "Nowhere is it explained how these responsibilities' are manifested in commercial terms to justify a separate vote in any conference in which the joint service might function."

In the absence of answers, he said, "We are asked to approve a separate vote for S.C.N.Z. simply because it believes it needs it.” While he believed some

weight must be given to the views of foreign governments, their views, standing alone,- should not be allowed to outweigh the basic fairness of one vote for a single joint service on most questions.