SHIPPING FREIGHTS

Northern Advocate, 8 June 1933, Page 4

SHIPPING FREIGHTS

j A NEW SITUATION. | The entry of the Blue Star shipping line into the arena brings new light to bear on the question of shipping .freights as applied to the earriage of New Zealand meat, butter and cheese to the Old Country. For many years, ships owned by what is known as the Conference line have exclusively carried our produce, the owners having undertaken 1o provide sufficient refrigerated space to deliver shipments regularly to the Home markets. The contract under which the Conference ships have operated is about to run our. Instead of making another arrangement with the Conference shipowners, it is proposed that the various'control boards should, invite open tenders. The Blue Star line, which possesses a large fleet, of insulated ships, have applied to the Control Boards for a share of these freight contracts, and declare that they are prepared—in the event of their application succeeding—not only to work under the regulations imposed by tlie boards, but also to reduce ai! .■freight both to and from New Zealan'l. They have offered to provide one fast modern ship per month special.lv equipped, not only for the carriage of frozen beef, mutton, lamb, dairy produce and fruit, but also for chilled beef, a branch of the export trade which it would be to the advantage of New Zealand to develop.