HANDLING CARGOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22962, 14 February 1938, Page 12

HANDLING CARGOES

COSTS IN DOMINION MISGIVINGS IN ENGLAND NEED FOR CO-OPERATION That the present cost of handling cargoes at New Zealand ports is viewed with misgiving was an impression (rained by Sir James Gunson during his visit to England, from which he returned 011 Saturday. Sir James said that the shipping companies interested in the New Zealand trade were giving considerable attention to the subject; it was of considerable value to them and . of course of great importance to the Dominion. They required the most practical assistance from shippers and importers, and particularlv, tlie full co-operation of the port authorities of the Dominion. It was felt that the cost of working vessels at New Zealand ports was becoming alarming and out of all proportion to that ruling at ports in any other country.

New Zealand had good overseas cargo services to-day. The maintenance of adequate passenger services both for the peace-time expanding volume of traffic and also for emergencies, was a matter of extreme importance; for however ocean air services might develop it was of vital importance to maintain and extend shipping connections which had been buiit up over manj' years. Ships were in course of construction, and others would 110 doubt follow which would suitably provide for the increasing needs of the Dominion, Sir James Gunson added. But if New Zealand trade were to remain competitive, keeping costs within reasonable limits, it was necessary at nil ports to provide good working conditions for the prompt despatch of all vessels.