IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Evening Star, Issue 25617, 18 October 1945, Page 10

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

I EXECUTIVE MEETING i The monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Importers and Shippers' Association was held last week. Mr W. E. Ernshaw, the president, was in the chair, and Messrs S. F. Aburn, A. de Beer, J. Elvidge, J. G. Jeffery. J. D. McKechnie, and W. J. Winefield were also present. A circular from the National Service Department asked for information regarding opportunities of employment for ex-servicemen, but it was found that all present had already had a copy direct, and it was decided that the question would best be dealt with in the individual replies. A letter from the Minister of Industries and Commerce.,'Mr Sullivan, was hei'ore the meeting. It dealt at length with the amendment to the Sea Carriage of Goods Act. which came into force in 1943. and drastically altered the liability of coasting vessels for loss or damage to cargo, reducing this to a maximum of £lO per cubic foot and not exceeding £SO for any one package, whereas the Imperial Act of 1924 stipulated a liability of £IOO maximum per package irrespective of size. The result had been, it was explained to tho meeting, that various consignees had suffered substantial losses, where it was admitted their cargo had been pillaged or gone astray while in charge of coasting vessels, and representations had been made to Mr Sullivan with a view to a revision of the Act that had undoubtedly caused heavy losses to owners of cargo, admittedly the actual liability of the carrying steamer. While the Minister admitted in his letter that it would appear to have been better to have left the liability on the same basis as the Imperial Act, i.e., £IOO per package, still he did not consider, for various reasons given, that the Act should be amended as had been suggested. It was decided that further .representations should be made to the Minister.-

The Secretary advised that he had written on behalf of the association thanking the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Wellington, for having brought the Coptic iup to the Dunedin wharf to discharge, the first vessel to do so for a long period, and expressing the hope that other overseas companies would follow this example. A reply thanking the association for its letter had been received, expressing the opinion that other overseas companies would follow suit now that the war was over.

It was reported that a letter conveying the congratulations of the association and its members had been sent to Mr M. S. Myers on his appointment to the City of Dunedin Development Council.

The loss that had been experienced by Mr F. Tyson, local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, in the death of his son while a prisoner of war in Singapore was referred to, and it was resolved to send a letter of sympathy. It was also resolved to write a similar letter to'Air Greenfield, late chairman of th'e local Chamber of Commerce on the death of his daughter in an air crash.

The Secretary reported on claims submitted to him during the month, and on the financial position of the association to date, which was quite satisfactory.