COASTAL SHIPPING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19322, 8 May 1926, Page 11

COASTAL SHIPPING.

NORTHERN COMPANY'S YEAH. COMPETITION BY RAILWAYS. M KEEN AND SOMETIMES UNFAIR."

The annual meeting of the Northern Steamship Company, Limited, was held yesterday, Mr. Charles Rhodes, chairman of directors, presiding. The meeting was not open to the press. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, details of which were published in the Herjxd last Tuesday, the chairman said the year had been one of considerable anxiety and worry, due principally to keen, and in some cases, unfair competition by the Government railways The company had also to meet an extra amount of opposition from outside vessels owned and run by single individuals.who were cot bound to pay award wages and comply with the conditions of the Arbitration Court awards affecting shipping. In response to demands made for increased wages to meet the variation in the cost of living, it had been necessary to hold conferences with many of the employees, and to make increases to meet present conditions. The increases had affected the company adversely because at the very moment of increased cost tins volume of trade and the passenger traffic, in common with the experience of tho New Zealand Railways and other carriers, had materially decreased. Wireless Equipment. On January 1 the new wireless regulations came into force which required nine of the company's vessels being equipped with wireless at a cost of over £2OOO. They further provided that ships' officers could qualify as wireless signallers and operate the instruments. As the object of installing wireless in the coastal vessels was purely a further protection to life, it was gratifying to record'that the officers of the Mercantile Marine, through the guild, expressed their willingness to pass the necessary examination and operate tho sets. To make this possible the company established a wireless school in the head office, provided an instructor, and gave free tuition to its officers, with the result that 14 of them were now qualified signallers under the regulations. The summer passenger and excursion business had not been up to the usual standard, this being possibly due to the Dunedin Exhibition attracting so many visitors who otherwise would have speut their holidays in the North; also the unsettled weather experienced during the months of January and February. To develop excursion business the company purchased the Rangitoto, a three-deck passenger steamer of 545 gross tons, with a speed of 12 knots, and capable of carrying 1900 excursionists. The vessel had proved very popular with the public, and was much in demand for excursions and picnics. Russell Fishing Traffic. Deep sea fishing for the swordfish and mako shark had attracted a large number of tourists to Russell, and it was to be expected that this popular sport would bring a considerable number of oversea visitors during the coining year. To meet the requirements of this tourist traffic a by-weekly service was run to the North, during the summer, including a week-end steamer from Auckland, calling at Deep Water Cove. This had given business men from the city an opportunity of spending a week-end in the North and having two days' fishing. Having regard to the future development of the coastal cargo trade the company proposed to increase its fleet of auxiliaries by building a large steel scow, capable of carrying 300 tons of cargo on a shallow draught. The company's superintendent engineer was now in England, and it was hoped to have the vessel running next summer The company's fleet was in first-class order and had been well maintained, a very large sum having been expended on the up-keep of the vessels during the year. An assurance could be given that the balance-sheet value of the vessels was well sustained. None of the vessels could be replaced at the price now standing on the books. ( Freedom from Accidents. The directors were pleased to be able to report that the year had passed free from marine disaster or serious accident to any of the employees. The claims on the insurance accounts had therefore been light, with a resulting increase in these two accounts. This reflected credit upon the efficiency of the officers ashore and afloat, and praise was due to them for their efforts to carry out successfully their various duties and promote the welfare of the company. The chairman said ho regretted having to report the death of Captain Haultain, late master of the " Ngapuhi," after 38 years' faithful service. He was a capable officer, and was held in high esteem by all travellers in the company's vessels. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The retiring directors. Messrs. M. A. Clark, N. Alfred Nathan and A. B. Roberton, were unanimously re-elected. The auditors, Messrs W. Wallace Bruce and G. O'Halloran, were reappointed. The meeting concluded a vote of thanks to the chairman and Board of Directors. , . ~ The dividend of 8 per cent, for the year is now payable.