DECLINING HARBOUR TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 5

DECLINING HARBOUR TRADE

LOWEST MONTH ON RECORD VARIETY OF EXPLANATIONS OFFERED COASTAL SHIPPING NOT AVAILABLE When it was disclosed at last night's meeting of the Otago Harbour Board that the tonnage figures for coastal shipping using the Harbour during the past month were the lowest since 1893, Mr H S. Watson asked the chairman (Mr W. Clarke) for an explanation. Only 75 vessels with a tonnage of 49,302 visited the harbour in the past six months compared with 107 vessels of 75,037 tons in the corresponding period of last year—a war year, when many vessels were diverted for war purposes. During March the tonnage was only 5,345, the lowest for any month recorded, totals being available to 1893. " The position is that we haven't the coastal shipping," explained Mr Clarke. " There is a shortage of bottoms. They are just not in the country, and that is why they are not clearing the coastal cargo. Then, too, a number of small ships have been diverted to the West Coast on account of the condition of the bars at Westport and Greymouth. WHARF STOPPAGES BLAMED. " Isn't it due to the shipping holdups? " asked Mr A. L. S.'Cassie. " If ships are held up in Auckland we still get them next week. It doesn't make any difference, we still get the tonnage," replied Mr Clarke. " We don't get the number of visits, though," Mr Watson pointed out. " It is not the whole story," said Mr J. G. Jeffrey. " Manufacturers down' this end are facing very heavy costs in getting goods to and from the North Island by other means than by direct shipment by sea." SHIPS DIVERTED. " Up to the termination of the war there was a certain number of ships doing war work," said the chairman. " Last month an overseas ship had to lift cargo here for Auckland. One reason was that with the drought in the North Island vessels were diverted to pick up urgent stock food in Timaru. We lost space equivalent to what the overseas vessel loaded. The whole position is just one of the aftermaths of the war that cannot be avoided. At any rate it has not been avoided. Before" the end of the month there will be a new coastal boat visiting here with several more to follow. The figure has dropped from 117,000 tons in 1939." EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE. "Manufacturers here have been arranging for their goods to come by scow to Blenheim, and thence to Dnnedin by rail," said Mr Cassie. " This is adding tremendously to their costs. We as a harbour board should have a special committee looking into it on their behalf. The majority of ships are back in service," he stressed, " but Dnnedin is not getting them. If we looked intu it we would not only be helping our own revenue, but. that of the province as well. There are plenty of bottoms on the coast, and there is something behind this more serious than the shortage of,shipping. Last month wehad a disastrous fire here in British Chemicals. There was £15,000 worth of goods in stock waiting on shipping to go up to the North Island, and that was a total loss. We should lend our weight to get something done in the matter, if we have any weight to lend." Mr R. S. Thompson pointed out that any action the board took would be helping itself as well as local manufacturers. The board was losing revenue through the lack of coastal shipping. FARMERS SUFFER, TOO. "The subject has more repercussions than the average person realises," said Mr J. Preston. " The shortage of shipping keeps trucks away from the port, and the district is suffering from a shortage of railway trucks. Lime and manure deliveries are away behind, and that affects primary production. I am certain that it is having a far worse effect on the farmer than it is even on the business houses." he said. "At one time most commodities were sent by coastal shipping," said Mr W. Begg. " Then the railways offered special inducements to shippers to use the rail system,- cutting prices so low that there was less than no profit in the trade. From that time the coastal ships have had to give up that part of the trade. There used to be' two running between here and Invercargill. Trucks should be used on the jobs where they are necessary, and coastal shipping allowed to take its rightful place." " That matter has been occupying the minds of shipping people for a good many years," commented Mr Clarke. It was decided to bring the matter before the Dnnedin Development Council and the Importers and Shippers' Association.