CARGO SCARCE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 105, 30 October 1931, Page 14

CARGO SCARCE

SHIPS FROM AMERICA

CALLING AT GULF PORTS

A serious fulling-off in trade ig reported by l.ho shipping companies that trade between tho United States smd New Zealand and Australia, and also from Canada to New Zealand and Australia. This has been shown by the fact that the Canadian National Steamships has, for tho past few months, ■been sending one ship to Australia and 2sew Zealand, the vessel discharging and loading in New Zealand, and then going on to Australia to complete discharge and to load. Previously Australia and Now Zealand wcro visited by separate ships once a month. Companies operating cargo vessels from the Pacilie Coast of America to New Zealand and Australia confirm tho report of a serious falling-off in trade. As a result of the decrease in cargo :froni New York, the Federal Company has had to send ships to the ports in the Gulf of Mexico to fill up the holds. "Formerly, ships used to call at the Gulf ports once or twice a year, but the last three ships to come to New Zealand from Now York have had to divert to the Gulf to load case oil or sulphur, l'he Australind, which was the first, has completed discharge in New Zealand; the City of Eaßtbourno is due at Auckland on 6th November, and hag in fee* cargo 1480 tong of sulphur for Dun•dia, and 1000 tons of sulphur for Auckland; and the Winton sailed from Galveaton, Texas, on 22nd October for New Zealand. The sulphur is in many eases takon on to Australia, as the .federal Company's ships proceed thero after completing discharge at the main New Zealand ports.

The Canadian National Steamships Company is sending the Canadian Conqueror, which left Montreal on Saturday, to load sulphur at the Gulf ports, and this is the first time that a vessel of this lino has had to do so. It is not known whether other vessels coming to Now Zealand from Montreal will follow this procedure.