COST OF SHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22845, 28 September 1937, Page 5

COST OF SHIPS

HIGHER PRICES DEFENDED ADVANCES IN DESIGN BETTER EARNING WEAPONS [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Sept. 8 Suggestions that the shipowner, in catering for increased demand and in bringing his fleet up to date, is being "held to ransom" by the shipbuilder, were rebutted by Mr. Wilfrid Avre, chairman of the Burntisland Shipbuilding Company, Limited. He said no shipowner would wish to see the building prices remain at the very uneconomic levels which ruled some years ago, when shipbuilders were as anglers fishing in a barren pool. Whatever might be the percentage rise in shipbuilding costs, a comparison with any previous period should be judged alongside a corresponding improved earning power in shipping. Many sections of the mercantile marine were moderately pleased with the level of cargo ship freights, but the rise in that section was of far greater dimensions than the corresponding increase in building prices.

"As evidence of this," Mr. Ayre added, " if shipbuilders quoted prices for new ships of a corresponding magnitude to those for which new and ready ships are being sold by owners at home and abroad to-day, then undoubtedly there would be a jump in building prices of such size that it would become at once obvious how really moderate and fair the shipbuilders' present quotations are."

Even if the ship to-day might strike the owners as being somewhat on the high side as regards price, the vessel incorporated all the advances made by designers during tho period of depression. and bore no relationship to the old haphazard pre-slump design. It was a ship which had proved in performance a better earning wyapon than its predecessors. Moreover, shipbuilding prices were not onlv governed by the builder himself. The more " modern " tho tonnage, the more tho shipbuilder was dependent on outside contractors.

UNION COMPANY ORDERS VALUE TO THE INDUSTRY [i'llOM OUR OWN "ORIt KHPONnKNT*] LONDON, Sept. 8 At the luncheon following the launching of the Kakapo, in Glasgow, Mr. A. Murray Stephen, chairman of Alexander Stephen and Sons, shipbuilders, mentioned that when his firm had finished all tho ships it had on order for the Union Steam Ship Company it would have delivered to that company and its associates ten ships costing not far short of £1,250,000 in tho space of about six years. _ These ships had all been for the services of the company round the Australian and New Zealand coasts. Ho ventured to say that no higher-class ships than these were being built anywhere to-day for services of a similar nature. Not only had they very high-class, engineroom and cargo installations, but tho demands of the Merchant Service Guild in New Zealand concerning the accommodation appeared to be on a more elaborate scale than those of any other union in any other country of which he knew.

It was easy enough to get official figures to show the value to Britain of tho total trade with New Zealand, but it was not so easy to visualise that trade in detail. These ships, however, formed a very substantial item, and gave a concrete example of tho benefit of that'trade to one district in this country at least. When they built the first of"the New Zealand ships she was the only vessel in their yard at the time, but ho was glad to say that now they had ships for every berth, and one or two to take tho place of those yet to bo launched.

DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES COMPENSATED BASIS RAISING FUNDS FOR CAMPAIGN [I)V TKLKGIIAPir —OWN COKRKSI'OXDENT] DARGAVILLE. Monday The assistance of the Northern Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, in securing financial support for the compensated price campaign was urged by the Dargaville-Arapohue branch of tho Farmers' Union, which set up a committee consisting of •Messrs. W. A. Morgan, F. Hcerdogen and 11. F. Clements to wait on the company. "It seems that many people think the money wo intend collecting' for the compensated price campaign is for the Farmers' Union itself," commented Mr. Arthur Cates. "People generally would bo in a different mind if tho directors of our dairy company ,and those of other large companies, and not only tho union, were to take up tho matter."

Mi-. F. Staples: It seems that wo have reached a dead end by asking that the amount be deducted through the dairy factory, which lias no authority to stop payment of half-a-crown from the monthly cheque. A similar arrangement for securing funds for an experimental farm was entered into, but it was agreed upon at a general meeting of shareholders.

MEAT QUOTA INCREASE SOUTH AMERICAN SHIPMENTS LONDON, Sept. 25 The International Meat Conference has decided to increase from January the quota of imported meat from South America, bringing the quantity of foreign chilled meat imported in the winter season to the 19,'i0-UG level, and supplementing the expected 70 per cent increase in Dominion shipments. This step lias been taken to maintain prices at a reasonable level,, and to arrest the recent declines. It is stated that it will not jeopardiso Dominion interests.

PUKEKOIIE PRODUCE NEW POTATOES IN DEMAND [ KJtOM OUK OWN COJI RESPONDENT J PUKEKOIIE, Monday The demand for new potatoes from Pukekohe is excellent for so early in the season, inquiry having been received now from practically all the leading towns in the North Island. Several more growers have commenced digging and supplies are expected to increase until aliout the first week in November. Samples generally are good and so far the crops have been very free from blight. To-day's value is about 3Jd per lb., with seconds at about 2Jd. Spring cabbages are at 5s a sack, f.0.r., Pukekohe, with Drumhead at 4s (3d, and Savoy, which are' now scarce, at 6s 6d. To-day's value for cauliflowers is 8s 3d a sack and 6s 6d a super bag. Lettuce, which is in short supply yet. is worth 6s 6d a case. In root vegetables, to-day's- value of carrots ranges up to 7s 6d a sugar bag. parsnips to 6s 6d, and beetroot and swedes to 4s 6d. Cabbage plants are selling at 9s 6d a thousand and onion plants at 8s 6d.