INADEQUATE SHIPPING SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 5

INADEQUATE SHIPPING SERVICE.

DUNEDIN MERCHANTS COMPLAIN. HEAVY DEMAND FOR SPACE. [BY telegraph.PßESS ASSOCIATION.] ' ... Dunedin, Sunday. General complaint is made by practically the whole of the grain and produce merchants in Dunedin at what they consider is the totally inadequate shipping service between this port and Northern ports. It appears there is exceptionally heavy demand from the North for wheat, oats, pota- '• toes, chaff, and hay, and that while the Northern buyers are clamouring for supplies the local merchants cannot get boats to take the produce away. Merchants complain that for the last three weeks enormous quantities of produce have been. left on the wharf. The shipping companies concerned—the • Union S.S. Company and the Hudd&rt Parker Companyassert that everything possible has been done to cope with the exceptionally heavy trade, and that, the pressure has been felt at other ports. They state also that the demand for space on their boats has been very heavy, but they anticipate that the coming week will see everything cleared away. Provision has been made for the despatch of 1000 tons of grain by the Huddart-Parker steamer Wimniera en Tuesday, and the company expect to take everything offering by this boat. If any cargo is shut out it will be chaff and hay, Consignments will also be sent by the Corinna to-day, the Maheno on Tuesday, the Monowai on Thursday, and the Maitai on Sunday..