TRADE WITH AMERICA

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6815, 19 January 1929, Page 12

TRADE WITH AMERICA

An important step toward improving trade facilities between New Zealand and Pacific Coast poits of the United States is being taken by the Oceanic and Oriental Navigation Line, which is installing refrigerating machinery in four vessels for the Pacific Coast-New Zealand trade. By .this moans it is hoped to offer greater inducement for the export of frozen- meat and other primary products from tho Dominion. The estimated cdst of providing cool storage on the vessels is £50,000. The Oceanic aijd Oriental Navigation Line has for some time been exploiting trade between New Zealand and the Pacific Coast, and its Vessels arc maintaining a monthly service from America. All' classes of merchandise 'are carried, but with the effort being made by Dominion- exporters to build up new markets abroad there has arisen a demand for facilities for the safe carriage, of primary produce. At the present time the only route, on which perishable cargo is carried from New Zealand to the United States Pacific Coast is between Wellington and San Prancisoo. All such exports must be handled at Wellington and refrigerated imports from the Pacific Coast must also be distributed from that port. Under the new arrangement it will be possible to load cargo at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin* and occasionally at various outports, direct ►into the ship’s refrigerating chambers. Leaving Los Angelos on the first of each month the steam'ers will return from New Zealand, calling at Honolulu, thence Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. On the voyage to New Zealand the vessel will carry fruit, fruit juices and other perishable goods. Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, of Auckland, general agents in New Zealand for the company, advise that the first vessel to leave .Los Angeles under the new-arrangement will bo the Golden Cross on April 1. She at present being fitted with the necessary machinery.