THE TRIUMPHAN TRAMP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 6 March 1912, Page 6

THE TRIUMPHAN TRAMP.

| Before the pi'feSeMt. wave of prosperity set in the position of the tramp steamer had. become rather precarious in the face of the continued encroachment of the lilieh Thfe vastly increased size atid numbers of liners led their owners to break away from the traditional practice of confining their operations to a strictly defined berth route, and to a cutting in for cargoes of grain and ere, wllloh httd hitherto been shipped, as a rule, in full parcels by tramps. It looked as if the tramp owner won d presently bij forced 10 ekb (Jut a living by carrying coal, no gfeedy were his competitors iri filling up parcels at cheap and evert nominal rates of freight. It would not be srife to say eveii now that the dangei' has altogether passed away, for a return to lean times must mean a renewal of the competition. Hope for the future of tlv ; tramp industry must be based largely on a continuance of the present expansion of the world's trade in foodstuffs and raw materials. At the moment, however, it can confidently be said that not only are tramps benefiting to the full from the golden freights in all markets, but are doing even better than liners. They are not being thrown into any market in disproportion to the demand, as has so frequently happened, but are being handled in such a manner as to secure the full benefit of the universal competition of charterers for tonnage. On the othel- hand, the liners. although everywhere obtaining more cargo, are not in all trades earning an increase in freight rates comparable with those secured by the tramps. It is well known that some regular liner owners, either because they did not see far enough or because they thought it worth a sacrifice to keep out tramp tonnage, fixed ahead at rates several shillings below those which they could to-day get with the greatest ease. Tramp competition has ,in fact, retired into" the background, the bidding for tonnage in Far Eastern markets, for instance, being so keen that the need for forcing tactics har ciisappeared, and charterers are complaining of the dearth of vessels. Altogether, the tramp industry is making hay while the sun shines. It is to be hoped that out of increased earnings something is being put by for the next rainy day.—"Lloyd's Weekly Summary."