SUBSIDISED SHIPPING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 5

SUBSIDISED SHIPPING

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UNION COMPANY

CARRIAGE OF LUMBER

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Australian Press Association)

(Received 9th January, 10.40 a.m.)

VANCOUVER. Bth January. Claiming they have never been able to get any' space for lumber shipments of any size on the Union Steamship Company’s vessels to New Zealand and Australia, as that company had taken little interest in the lumber trade to the Antipodes, the Associated Timber Exporters of British Columbia met and flatly denied the statements of Mr J. C. Irons, tho Vancouver manager of tho company, that space is available. All leading exporters with one exception attended and unanimously asserted that the company which had been operating for thirty years, specialised in passengers’ mail and general cargo. The company had consistently treated lumber as a stepchild ami had declined to handle lumber at all during certain months, claiming that no space was available. Lumber shipments on the company’s vessels for tho last two years were only five per cent, of cargoes. Under the circumstances lumbermen claim they are forced to petition the Government to subsidise a new freight service to Australia direct, as the company’s ships first call at New Zealand.