IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Evening Star, Issue 22880, 11 February 1938, Page 14

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

OTAGO ASSOCIATION The monthly executive meeting of the Otago importers and Shippers' Association, was held on Tuesday afternoon, Mr H. L. Smith (president) being in the chair, Messrs S. E. Aburn, J. H. Edmond, J. C. JdL. Somerville, and W. J. VVinefield were also present. The first matter considered was a letter from the association to the London agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd., thanking it for its efforts in connection with a delivery of the new season’s dates from Arabia. While the direct steamer from (Basra had again just failed to connect with the Maunganui in Melbourne, the Union Steam Ship Company, in response to the representations of the association, had arranged to send the Karepo specially to pick up the fruit, with the result that it had been delivered just in time to meet the local Christmas demand. A letter was received from a member of the association complaining strongly against the recent substantial increase in local harbour rates. —The secretary advised that, in an interview with the acting secretary of the board, the whole question had been carefully gone into, with the result that he was satisfied that the increases, though admittedly heavy, were justified, in view of the substantially increased running costs imposed on the board from recent wage regulations, coupled with the 40-hour week. He added that he had in turn seen the member making the complaint, and he had been satisfied with the explanation. A further complaint was received from a member regarding the abnormally long interval that had elapsed since the arrival of the last steamer from the west coast of North America, more than two months ago.—The secretary reported that the complaint had peen fully gone into with the local office of the Union Steam Ship Company, which controlled the line, advantage having been taken of the presence in Dunedin recently of Mr J. A. Grimwood, Wellington, in charge of the company’s operations in the Pacific, to discuss the matter fully. It was frankly admitted that an undue delay had occurred, but this was largely. owing to a succession of untoward incidents on the Pacific Coast, over which the company had no control. Mr Grimwood had assured the secretary that every effort was being made to bring the running schedule hack to normal, which would mean regular monthly arrivals. The result of the inquiry was being passed on to the member interested. A letter from the London representative of one of the largest local importers, members of the association, _ was read giving details of the efforts still being made in tbe metropolis to ensure that as many steamers as possible with inward cargo to discharge came tbe Dunedin wharves. The secretary reported that, in accordance with a decision come to at a recent special meeting of the executive in regard to a claim submitted to the association, he had obtained the opinion of the association’s solicitor, on the various points involved, and the matter was now being further considered by the association and the members interested.