OVERSEAS SHIPPING!

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11662, 29 October 1923, Page 7

OVERSEAS SHIPPING!

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE. PASSING ON TELE COST. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, October 27. A round-the-table conference took place in Dunedin between the importers, the harbour board, and three representatives of the overseas shipping companies, who came to Dunedin specially for the purpose, namely:—Mr J. H. C. Bond (Dominion manager for the New Zealand Shipping Company), Mr J. Findlay (New Zealand representative of the Shaw, Savill Company), and Captain Rainey (joint manager of the Commonwealth and Dominion line). The question at issue was as to receiving and delivery charges. The shipping men gave a statement of the facts, revealing candidly, and in a friendly manner, the position of the companies, and stating that anv inneased charges, or continued differentiation between coastal and oversea* cargo, must be passed on. It is understood that the conference accepted this statement, and had nothing to say against it. AN AID TO SETTLEMENT. That, however, is not the end of the matter. The real question yet to be decided is between the importers and the Harbour Board. In a eense, therefore. the well-intentioned visit hy the shipping men is merely an aid in the settlement of the question. Captain Rainey and Messrs Findlay and Bond met the fruit exporters, and disen c eod questions in regard to the carriage of apples. This conference was also of a most amicable nature, and the representatives of the fruit industry expressed themselves as satisfied that the shipping companies aTe doing their best to enable the fruit to be marketed with advantage in England.