CARGO BY HOROATA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19583, 12 September 1925, Page 9

CARGO BY HOROATA.

MEETING OF CONSIGNEES. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SOUGHT. Tho bringing of the steamer Hororata s cargo to Dunedin from Lyttelton is still engaging the attention of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association. The delivery of the cargo involves an important principle, since the Hororata has been at Lyttelton since August 22. She has under hatches about 2300 tons of assorted merchandise consigned to this port, including a quantity of drapery #nd fancy goods which are urgently wanted for the spring season. With the object of getting to the crux of the position, a meeting of the consignees of cargo on board the Hororata was held last evening in the New Zealand Express Company's building. The meeting, which was called by the Importers and Shippers’ Association, was fully repro sentative of the principal local importers. Mr H. C. Campbell presided. lie briefly stated that the meeting had been called to enable those concerned to discuss the matter, He then read the telegrams which had passed between the association, the New Zealand Shipping Company, Wellington, and the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee, Wellington; also the telegrams which had passed betw r een the association and Che Hon. J. G. Coates with reference (o the cargo being brought to Dunedin by rail. Tho matter was then freely discussed, and it was ultimately resolved to again communicate with the Prime Minister by telegram seeking the Government’s assistance on behalf of the importers of Otago, and asking that a special low rate be granted under the circumstances in order to secure -delivery of the cargo by rail. On receipt of a reply from the Prime Minister another meeting of consignees will be called to discuss the matter. The special railage rate on ship’s goods from Lyttelton to Dunedin is 4Cs 2d per ton deadweight, but it is argued that 'f this were spread over the whole deadweight and measurement cargo the charge would lie bearable, aiso that the consignees would thereby save the railage charge from Port Chalmers to Dunedin, whilst the ship would escape the expense of coming from Lyttelton.