CITY OF KIMBERLEY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 15

CITY OF KIMBERLEY

WELLINGTON CARGO

IMMEDIATE DISCHARGE

SOUGHT

A decision was made at the meeting of the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last- evening to send a deputation to the agents of the steamer City of Kimberley which arrived in Auckland from New York on 2nd July with a broken tailshaft ana no propeller in' tow of the motor-vessel Opawa with a view to arrangements being made for the immediate discharge ana transhipment of cargo for southern ports. It was stated that it was imperative that some importers should receive merchandise that arrived by the steamer' without delay. A Press Association message from Auckland reported that the captain of the City of Kimberley stated that, as a new propeller and shaft Would have to be obtained from England the vessel would probably be laid up at Auckland for two months. It WBs also intimated that no decision regarding the transhipment of cargo for southern ports would be made until the vessel had entered dry dock and the extent of the damage was estimated;* The City of Kimberley has cargo for Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton, Duneain, and Australia. , The secretary (Mr. H., S. Fairchild) said that quite a number of importers was concerned about cargo they had on the vessel, especially cargo that was of a seasonable nature. It was understood that it would be some time before the arrival of merchandise for southern ports. Auckland consignees, of course, would be able to get their cargo, some of which might possibly be sold in other parts of the Dominion. ; . Mr. B. Ginger said he knew of companies that "werd most anxious to get thei■cargo down to Wellington. There was one company that would have to' close down if .certain-goods were not available at .once, because it was unable to wait another seven or eight ■weeks. He suggested that some united protest might" be made from the chamber to the. agents for the City of Kimberley with1 a' view to southern cargo being discharged in Auckland'without further delay and the cargo transhipped. .-'•...... In reply to the president! (Mr. C. J. B,t Norwood) Mr.- Ginger said he suggested that the company or the agents for the vessel should be asked to arrange for" the .immediate, transhipment ;'of the cargo; If the merchants had to pay extra freight down the coast they; would pay it and growl, but they would pay. .it rather, than wait seven or eight weeks... -■-. ■ ■ i _. Mr. Norwood ~said, he thought that father- than; protesting the' better plan would'be to'draw the company's attention to" the position. He believea the was quite within its rights in holding the cargo in the'vessel. ; Captain S. Holm saia that the cargo could'be heia in the City of Kimberley until the vessel arrivea at the ports at which the cargo was to be discharged. Mr. Norwood: "I would like to see some constructive proposal." At the suggestion of Mr. J. Pearce Luke it was decided that a deputation should wait on the shipping company or the agents for, the vessel, and that the deputation-should incluae business men concerned in the transhipment of cargo. - ,' ;