INTERNED STEAMERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2363, 20 January 1915, Page 6

INTERNED STEAMERS

_ 9 NEW ZEALAND CARGO LOCAL MERCHANTS TAKE ACTION. A meeting of consignees Interested in oargoes on board German steamers interned in Java and other places was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. Mr. C. ,W. Jones presided and about thirty' consignees were present. The German shipping companies intimated about a mouth ago that they were-prepared to give delivery of cargoes provided -certain average bonds were Binned. Tho position, however, has ohangett following on a judgment given in the case of the Nestle and AngloSwiss Company against the' captain of the Scandia, the Dutch Couits ordering the steamer to deliver the cargo without average bond, or payment, and further, the steamer had bet self to pay the cost of putting the cargo out. A similar decision has been given by tho Italian Courts. The Sydney Chamber of Commerce advised that it is thought likely that the German; steamers in practioally all, neutral ports can be compelled to deliver their cargoes. A meeting is to be held in Sydney with a view to making fina' arrangements as to the best course of procedure to follow, and the suggestion had come from Sydney that i\ r ew Zealand consignees should be represented at that meeting. The chairman explained that consignees of superphosphates in the steamers interned m Java had! sent Mr. Martin (of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Invercargill) to Java to represent them, and it might be possible to secure his services for merchants interested in other cargoes in Java. Correspondence read'at the meeting included a letter from the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, referring to-the decisions of the Courts above referred to, ' and stating that co-operation was desirable in any action taken to secure delivery >of the cargoes .at present in the interned steamers. The correspondence also included a telegram from Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., stating that average bonds had been signed' under protest consignees of cargoes on the following interned steamers:—Frieburg, Hagen, Luneberg, Stoib'erg, and Iserholm, . all interned in Java. ' . . . ' i , After some discussion it was decided ' that at the coming conference, in Sydney Messrs. Gollin and Co. be asked to represent Wellington consignees of cargo in interned steamers. It was also decided to send the_ following cable to Mr. Martin, who is at present representing some New Zealand consignees at Banjowangi, Java:' '.'Telegraph if you are willing to act for all consignees interned steamers, state under what conditions cargo will be released, and if deposit 10 per cent, general average with Court peiding Testilt of appeal will be accepted. On receipt of your reply will cable definite instructions." > The following committee was set up to-take such further action as should be necessary:—Messrs. 0. R. Bendall (chairman of the Marine Underwriters Association), W. B. Lees (Bin?, Harris ' and Co.), J. M. Muir (Nathan and Co.), T. J. Thurman (J L. Lennard). D. A. Hamilton (GoHin and Co.),,and J. M. Fleming (Turnbull and Jones).