IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21980, 15 June 1933, Page 5

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

ASSOCIATION’S MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association was held on Tuesday evening. There were present the chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell) and Messrs S. F. Aburn, J. L. Gardiner, J. E. Macaseey, H. L. and C. V. Smith, and J. C, Somerville. Before proceeding with the business of the meeting the vice-chairman (Mr Somerville) took occasion on behalf of the executive to congratulate Mr Campbell on his recent appointment as chairman of the Harbour Board, and expressed the feeling of all present that the appointment would prove of benefit not only to the association but also to the general wellbeing of the port of Otago: Mr Campbell, in responding, also took the. opportunity to welcome Mr C. V. Smith to a seat on the executive. The first matter considered was the effort made recently by the Importers’ Federation in Wellington to secure a reduction in inward freights by oversea vessels, and it was noted with interest that it appeared probable that some modification in favour of importers would be secured as the result of representations made in London. The secretary next advised the result of the questionnaire submitted to all members for an expression of their views regarding matters to be laid before the present Tariff Commission, such having been forwarded to the federation in Wellington as a guide to the organiser recently appointed to lay the case for importers before the commission. The next item was the suggestion from a member that in assessing the value for duty of foreign importations from countries with a depreciated currency, such should be on the basis of the “ par value ” of such currency in relation to sterling. After consideration, it was decided to defer further action pending the outcome of the deliberations now taking place at the Economic Conference with particular reference to this subject. A further suggestion laid before the meeting was that when once a rate of duty has been decided upon by the Government, it should not be arbitrarily modified either by the Customs Department or by Order-in-Council, pending any variation by the Legislature as a whole. Further, that it would appear to be of little use appointing a commission to advise Parliament on this question if, after their recommendations had been adopted or otherwise by the Legislature, such should not be allowed to remain permanent, until altered as the result of full discussion by Parliament. It was felt that this was a question that could be well taken up by the Importers’ Federation, and it was resolved to ask that such be given its early attention.

[ The chairman next detailed the efforts he had recently made to secure the connecting up ’of the rails now laid on the Victoria wharf with the railway system, emphasising that it was very necessary that adequate connection with the railways and the wharf should be available. He pointed out that while this could at present be made with the Birch street wharf, at the same time this wharf was badly in need of repair and other expenditure to make it thoroughly efficient, whereas in the Victoria wharf they had nil the necessary facilities provided it were connected up, and this would not involve any very heavy outlay, in view of the fact that the sidings now in operation with the oil installations brought the rails very near to those on the wharf in question. The chairman added that the objection had been raised that haulage of goods from Victoria wharf would have to go through the passenger station and so bring about a congestion in traffic. He contended that such an assumption was quite unfounded, for, ns a'matter of fact, all goods arriving from the north passed via the back of the station to the yards, and instanced that nt times there were two or even three vessels discharging inward cargoes at Port Chalmers, all of which had to be taken through the goods yard and thence to the discharging shed, but that no difficulty had hitherto been

reported. It waa resolved that every opportunity be taken to urge the desirability of rail connection ■with the Victoria wharf.

The secretary advised the result of inquiries made, as suggested at the last meeting, regarding export trade to South American ports, in view of the large number of vessels now proceeding Home via Cape Horn in preference to the Panama route. Information was given that some fair lines of potatoees had recently been shipped from Timaru in this direction, but that the business had been handled by Wellington suppliers. In view of the difficulties in negotiating the business at present, owing to disturbed exchange conditions, it was considered that export arrangements could best be negotiated on the spot by _an accredited representative from this side, and it would probably be worth while to arrange accordingly. The present certainly seemed a favourable opportunity to re-establish connections with _ South American markets, which at one time had proved of no little benefit to Dominion exporters all the year round. The secretary gave some particulars as to imports of Russian goods shipped at Continental ports for transhipment in London to vessels to New Zealand. A case was reported where, although “clean" bills of lading had been issued at the original Continental shipping port, yet on arrival in London a defective con-. dition had been observed and noted on the captain’s copy of the bill of lading, in accordance with the over-riding clause in all such transhipment bills, thereby precluding a claim against the vessel landing the goods here. As this naturally placed the consignee in difficulty in securing redress, it was suggested that importers of Continental gopds should take every precaution- to avoid such an unfavourable position being forced upon them. : • .

A further matter 'mentioned a® having been brought before the association by several members was the inconvenience caused by the Customs Department insisting on deposits being paid in connection with declarations as to the country of origin. The difficulty arose out of the four words usually printed in italics—vil, “either wholly or partially” where the two words "wholly” and “partially" have inadvertently been left in instead of one being cancelled, la mob oases

deposits have still been demanded, despite the fact that the face o i the invoice had- definitely declared the country of origin. It was considered that the matter might be referred to the Importers’ Federation. In regard to claims, -the secretary re : Eorted that although negotiations had een somewhat protracted, there was every prospect of an early settlement of the only outstanding claim in the association’s hands.