COASTAL SHIPPING SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 117, 12 February 1944, Page 6

COASTAL SHIPPING SERVICE

Greater Use Advocated RELIEF OF PRESSURE ON RAILWAYS Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, February 11. A suggestion that greater use could be made of the coastel shipping services for tlie carriage of goods, and so relieve the pressure on the railway services, is contained in a circular letter from the president, Mr. F. G. Baskett, to members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Inquiries made at coastal shipping offices revealed that the space available in the vessels plying up and down the coast could probably accommodate hundreds of tons of extra gooep a month. The very serious position which had arisen in New Zea.and through the shortage of coal was referred to by Mr. Basket!. who said the matter had been thoroughly investigated by the chamber. Realizing that the problem might be a serious one for many businesses, the chamber also investigated the possibility of increasing the carriage of freight by sea where it was convenient. Three shipping companies had given positive assurances that they could handle extra freight for the ports they were now serving. “While we know that the service offered by the shipping companies is not so expeditious, we strongly urge all our members to use the shipping services available in this time of crisis.” said Mr. Baskett’s letter. “If this is done we hope it will be possible for the railways to give a reasonable freight service to those towns that are served by rail only.” The increasing tendency during .the last few years t<- use rail services. between places served by coastal vessels was referred to by the representative of a shipping firm. The business men could hardly he blamed, he said, due to the attractive bait held out by the Railways Department. Highly, competitive freight rates had had a serious effect ou coastal shipping arid in some instances seemed to be designed against the shinping services. Now the railways were facing a critical position while there was vacant shipping space. • Discussion on the. “inequitable and uneconomic competition” against sea freights took place at a meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Dunedin last November. As an instance of the competition. Mr. F. 11. Beckwaite, Wanganui, said the railway freight oii sugar from Auckland to Taumarunui was substantially higher than to Wanganui, which was much further from Auckland. Captain Holm. Wellington, said the railways had promised to drop such an uneconomic policy, but other instances had occurred even: at. a time when the department complained of a truck shortage.