IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Evening Star, Issue 20972, 10 December 1931, Page 8

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

ASSOCIATION'S MONTHLY MEETING The monthly Electing of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association executive was held on Tuesday evening, the president (Mr H. 0. Campbell) presiding over a- lull attendance of members. ' The first item dealt nfith was the report by Mr A. W. Jeavons, a member of the sub-committee appointed by the association to confer with other business associations of the city with* tiro Harbour Hoard regarding the connecting up of the rails on the Victoria wharf with the railway system. He reported that no definite decision, had been arrived at, principally because of the department’s demand that even if the rails were connected, which would have to bo done at the Harbour Board’s expense, a haulage charge of 2s Cd per ton tvould have to be paid, in addition to the ordinary railage. As this would largely render any connection valueless, it was decided that the first thing to bo done was to confer with the Railway Board with a view to overcoming such extra charge, and that no occasion had so far arisen of placing the matter before the board in person, but this would. be done at the first opportunity. A.rcoly from the Overseas .Shipping Comma,tee (Wellington) in connection with th stabilising of freights from the United Kingdom and Continental ports to New Zealand, received in response to a letter sent by the association, pressing that this should be done, with.a view to assisting importers to quote for forward business, was considered. The committee had replied that nothing could be done from this end, and recommended that importers should communicate with their agents in London on the matter. It was reported that some few days after tire matter had been first discussed by the Executive Committee of the association cabled advice had been received from London stating that rates had been definitely stabilised up to the end of February next, and indicating that the rates would probably remain so after that date. The executive considered a letter sent early in the month, at the suggestion of the chairman, to the Minister of Customs, pointing out that no uniform method obtained at the various ports to decide the actual elate, in the course of any importing transaction, on which Continental currencies should be converted into British sterling, which was in contrast to the fixed date when dealing with goods emanating from Canada and America. The association had pointed out that the frequent variations in exchange values of Continental currencies, especially since Britain had abandoned the gold standard, made the question of importing foreign goods a very complicated matter, and this was intensified by the lack of uniformity in the department’s decisions as to tho date of conversion, so that it came about that two importers of goods of the description and value might be called upon to pay duty on a different basis of valuation, even when tho goods were imported by tho same vessel. The association had further suggested that the date might be fixed as that of tho departure from the final loading port. No reply, however, had so far been received from tho Minister. Tho next item considered was in connection with the valuation of goods in tho case of the Port Hobart general average bond some months ago, when the association strongly protested against the demand that duty and landing charges should bo included. The local agents of Lloyd’s Underwriting Corporation had referred the matter to London, and Lloyd’s in turn had taken the opinion of leading average adjusters in the metropolis, who had given the verdict that tne association had been perfectly right in its contention, and that duty and landing charges had no place in a general average valuation. Satisfaction was expressed at this outcome of tho association’s action. In closing the meeting, tho chairman expressed the hope that the coming year would show materially improved commercial conditions.