COASTAL SHIPPING OF DAIRY PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 18

COASTAL SHIPPING OF DAIRY PRODUCE

New Position Might Arise GOVERNMENT MARKETING SCHEME By Telegraph.—Press Association. New Plymouth, May 14. A revolution in the coastal shipping of dairy produce might take place as a result of the appointment of a Minister of Marketing, said Mr. C. E. Bellringer, when he reviewed the position of the port of New Plymouth upon his reappointment for the fifteenth year to the chairmanship of the harbour board Presumably all shipping contracts would be made through the Minister, and the question would arise whether the payment of freight for the coastal shipping of produce would continue. About 50,000 tons of produce was conveyed annually by coastal shipping, said Mr. Bellringer. The amount from Patea was 28,991 tons in 1934. The rate paid by overseas shipping companies was about £l/4/- a ton, or a total of about £60,000 annually. In making new contracts the shipping companies would take that sum into account. The dairy industry was indirectly paying for coastal transport. With 253,183 tons of butter and cheese shipped from New Zealand in 1934-35, the cost amounted to about 4/- a ton on the whole output. After outlining the rapid growth of trade through the port of New Ply-' mouth, Mr. Bellringer said matters to be faced by the board in the coming year included extensions to the breakwater, possibly costing £70.000; a new wharf; the purchase of a new dredge or the hiring of a suitable vessel, aud the repayment of loans aggregating £339,400.