INTERNED STEAMEHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15821, 19 January 1915, Page 8

INTERNED STEAMEHS.

THE WISMAR'S CARGO.

MEETING OF CONSIGNEES

SUGGESTION FROM AUSTRALIA

A meeting of consignees of cargo in the German steamer Wismar, interned in Java waters, was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, to consider the position.

Mr. A. J. Denniston. (secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, who called the meeting, read a communication from the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, pointing out that it had asked the chambers in the other capital cities of Australia to get consignees interested in cargoes on beard German steamers in Java waters to appoint two delegates to represent them at a meeting to be held in Sydney, with a view to final arrangements being denied upon as to the best conrse of procedure to follow. It would be very desirable if New Zealand chambers would join in appointing someone to represent them at the approaching meeting. The position regarding the steamers had materially altered owing to a judgment given on December 29. by the Dutch Court in Java, which had ordered the delivery of the cargo of the German steamer Scandia without payment of general average, or the cost of discharging, claimed by the owners. Mr. Denniston then read a cablegram stating that the conference of the Australian chamber would take place on January 22. Co-operation With Australia. The Sydney Chamber of Commerce further wrote on January 14, continued Mr. Denniston, stating that according to advice received by the Commonwealth Minister for External Affairs from the Secretary of State for Colonies, it had now been definitely arranged tbnt the liirkenfels wcnld come on from South Africa to her Australian ports. The final proceed ing in regard to the method of dealing with poof of ownership of cargo where the same had not been proved in the Capetown Court remained to be determined, but it was expected that the suggestion put forward by the Minister for External Affair?, at the request of the Sydney and Melbourne Chambers, that the Commonwealth Government ahould act as agent for the. Capetown Prize Court in the ma..ter, would in the end be .vdopted. Regarding the German vessels in Java port-, it was practically certain that someone would hare to be sent 1o Java fully equipped with nvoi-es, dociments. bank guarantees etc. The Sydney Chamber presumed that New Zealand consignees would be. willing to fall in with whatever was done in the interests of Australian consignees What was deemed best for Australia should prove equally valuable for New Zealand merchants, whose interests were much smaller than those of the merchants in Australia. Appeal Against Decision. Mr. N. E. King, manager of the Auckland branch of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co., stated that Mr. J. T. Martin, manager of the firm's C hristchurcU branch, and a director of th; company had gone to Java in connection with the cargo on the Wismar consigred to the company. Mr. Martin was «lso acting on behalf of other consignees in the South, and he had expressed his willingness to act for Auckland consignees if they so desired. Mr. King said that his firm had received a cablegram from Mr. Martin stating that the owners of the Scandia were appealing .-".gainst the decision of the Dutch Court legarding the claim for the payment of the treneral average, and about six months would elapse before the matter was decided. Meanwhile, the Scandia's captain refused to deliver the cargo. Mr. Martin had also cabled tha" the consignees of the German vessels Erie berg, Hagan. Luneberg, Stalberg, and Iserlohn. all of which were interned in Java waters, had all signed the general average under protest. A Further Meetug. After discussion, and at the request of the meeting, Mr. King sa::d he would inquire from Mr. Martin what the freight would be on the Wismax's cargo if forwarded to New Zealand ports, or to Sydney. No other decision was come to. and Mr. Denniston announced that in view of the communications from the Sydney Chamber of Commerce he would call a. further meeting this week to discuss the position in regard to the cargoes on the various other German steamers interned at Java. This meeting will probably be held on Thursday afternoon.