IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23991, 14 December 1939, Page 5

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the executive of- the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association, was held on Tuesday afternoon, when there were present Mr S. F. Aburn (president, in the chair), and Messrs W. E. Earnshaw. J. H. Edmond, J. D. McKechnie and H. L. Smith. . Further correspondence with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce retarding the great and increasing hanicap under which importers were suffering. owing to the drastic restrictions imposed by the Government, especially for the first half of 1940. was considered. It was felt that owing to the war and all its implications in regard to trading, it was inopportune at the moment to take any very drastic action, but rather to watch the progress of events, with a view of joining with northern centres in adequately impressing upon the Government the deplorable position in which it had u placed many importers, a position that' tended to grow worse, rather than being relieved by the passage of time. A letter was received from a member of the association regarding the prospects of steamer connection with Sydney, in view of the recent loss of the Waikouaiti. The secretary reported that he had been adviseu by the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., that it had arranged for a steamer to leave Sydney for Dunedin before the end of the present year, and a second steamer to follow in the first half of January. Satisfaction was expressed at this information.

The secretary reported that in accordance with instructions received at the last meeting, he had taken up the question as to why the Waipawa, although drawing only 20ft 4in had discharged at Port Chalmers rather than at Dunedin. Lengthy correspondence had resulted, the chief reason given being the length of the vessel, 51(3 feet, whereas the limit set by the Associated Shipping Companies was 494 feet for vessels navigating the upper harbour. In reply the secretary had pointed out that the annual report of the Harbour Board for 1938 showed that vessels exceeding this limit had safely navigated the channel. It was felt that every effort should be continued to get as many vessels as possible up to Dunedin wharf, in view of the heavy expense saved to consignees, while as a matter of fact it was also a decidedly cheaper proposition to the vessels themselves. The next matter considered was the report of the annual meeting of the New Zealand Importers’ Federation, held in Wellington towards the close of last month. The outcome of the meeting was a resolution, unanimously approved, calling the attention of the Government to the grave- concern felt at the state of financial and commercial chaos into which the Dominion had drifted, and was still drifting at an accelerated pace. It further urged on the Government the imperative necessity of taking the leaders of political, financial and commercial life into its confidence, and of accepting their full co-operation in devising means to meet the present financial and commercial crises, to reinstate the credit of the Dominion overseas, and to place the country in the best possible position to assist in the prosecution of the war. The resolution further called attention to the fact that, after two periods of drastic control of imports under the licensing system, the restrictions were having a devastating effect on the commerce of the Dominion, unemployment among the staffs of distributors was rapidly increasing, and the community was fast becoming intolerant of the shortage of commodities for domestic requirements. ■ The federation also enclosed a copy of correspondence with the Comptroller of Customs, Wellington, regarding the question of goods originally manufactured in Germany, but bought in some cases by English or Australian merchants some time prior to the outbreak of war. and which had since been sold to New Zealand firms . It appeared that the consent, of the Public Trustee for delivery had first, to be obtained before local importers could get possession. While a definite