IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21828, 15 December 1932, Page 5

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

OTAGO ASSOCIATION The monthly meeting of the executive of tlie Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association was held on Tuesday evening, the chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell) presiding.

The first matter dealt with was the reply of the Union Steam Ship Company that it was regretted that owing to the present depression in trade the company conhl not accede to the suggestion of the association to re-instate even an occasional passenger steamer during the summer between Melbourne and South Island ports. In the course of the discussion that followed, it was agreed that it was absolutely essential that this question of passenger steamer connection with Australia should be kept prominently in view, if only with the object of saving this end of the Dominion !iom becoming a “back number,” and to check the threatened loss of those advantages in this and other spheres to which Dunedin was justly entitled. It was also felt that the loss of regular direct communication with the outside world would react most detrimentally on the outlook of those living in Otago. It was further suggested that during the summer months a revival of the old weekly cast coast service might be feasible, as it would afford holiday makers and those not pressed for time an opportunity to revive the pleasures of the passage by sea.—Speaking generally on this subject, the chairman informed the meeting that on his recent trip through the North Island, when talking with business men,.they had ad-

mitted the disadvantages under which the southern portion of., the Dominion laboured, and promised their support in any steps that might be taken to remedy the same.

The next matter considered was a letter from the Otago Harbour Board relative to the coming election of a member of the board specially representing the payers of dues on goods. The arrangements proposed, it was considered, quite met the case. A further letter was submitted from the local agents of a Japanese lino of steamers relative to the forthcoming Empire Fair, to be held in Hongkong in May next, when a special opportunity would be afforded for exhibiting Australian and Dominion products, advising further that any such exhibits would be carried at half rates.

The executive also noted with satisfaction a letter received from the Canadian Minister of Railways, Ottawa, in reply to a cable sent by the association some little time ago protesting against the reported withdrawal of the Canadian National Steamers trading to Now Zealand. The letter stated that the Government of Canada had not seriously considered such a proposal.

Correspondence was read with the re-cently-formed New Zealand Importers’ Federation, Wellington, in regard to its success, in conjunction with other commercial interests, in organising an elective protest to the Government against any interference with the exchange rate.

It being the last executive meeting for the year, the chairman wished all present the compliments of the season, expressing the hope that despite the unfavourable outlook at the moment, the coming year might prove much better thgu anticipated.