SOUTH ISLAND LAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18035, 1 August 1922, Page 7

SOUTH ISLAND LAMENT

DIRECT SHIP SERVICE HEEDED. CONSOLIDATION OF CONSIGNMENTS/ - , »[§rECTA& TO THE ‘ STAB.’] , CHRISTCHURCH, .July 31. At to-day’s meeting to shipping direct to tho South Island Mr Bottrell suggested that the Union Company might bo induced lb send the-, island steamer Navna -to a South Island port once a, month or onco in two months, , Mr Macfarlane said that would not help matters, as importers would have to pay the extra charges. Ho added that Lie reason why the-business had fallen off m the South'island was the 1 extra, charges, Mr Marriner said they had to 1 look at it from tho shipping companies’ point of view. Those companies were out to make money, and if they could guarantee them freights in and.out they would jump at id at once., . v Mr Glimio said the Union Company told them that their policy was .to touch at one port and roly on coastal vessels for transhipment. Mr Marriner; But they are losing freights. Wo have to show. them that there is the business. Mr Macfarlane ; In our own. business, if there was direct shipping, where wc are handling ICO cases of fruit we would he handling 1,000. Mr Jamieson said they should endeavor to ascertain to what extent other importers and exporters could assist by the consolidation of all their consignments. It might bo possible .for them to demand a direct service from the Union Company. There used to be a double service from tho dominion to Australia, and the reinstatement of the’ service via Bluff would have an important bearing on the question of Home mails vja Suez. It would save three handlings of those mails. It was found 'by experience that they could not roly on 'the present service by the- Wa’kouaiti, and they were forced to ship via Wellington, Tho heavy by the Wellington route restricted business to and from the South Island, and the result was that the North Island got tho business. Tho North Island was very progressive, and they in tho South had allowed this service to lie- diverted from them without opposition. They had never taken a proper stand in the matter. Eventually the following motion was carried-: —" That the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Progress League be asked to take immediate steps to obtain data- from the various chambers o' commerce and other organisations throughout the South Island in support of the application which is to bo submitted to the Government and the Union Steam Ship Company for the reinstatement of regular direct services to the South Island, and that tho recommendation he made to interested bodies that an early conference of representatives bo held in, Christchurch with a- view to compiling a. strong petition for presentation at- Wellington.”