IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 6

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE The monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association was held on Thursday last, when there were present—Messrs J. D. McKechnie (president), S. F. Aburn, A. de Beer, W. E. Earnshaw, C. H. Johnstone, J. C. H. Somerville, and W. J. Winefield Mr Aburn expressed the congratulations of the executive to Mr McKechnie on his election to the presidency, and to Mr W. E. Earnshaw to the vice-presidency. Both members' suitably returned thanks. The correspondence included a statement by a member of the association detailing the difficulty and heavy extra costs incurred in handling goeds landed ex overseas boats at Auckland for forwarding to Dunedin. A full discussion followed on a circular recently issued to all members detailing the serious alterations from an importer’s standpoint in the amended Sea Carriage of Goeds Act. whereby the liability of a coasting steamer for any one package was reduced from £IOO to £SO. Moreover, when goods from overseas were transhipped at northern ports, although they had come out under the Imperial Act, which stipulated for a maximum of £IOO, immediately they were transhipped coastwise the liability of the on-carrying steamer was only £SO. It was decided to congratulate the chairman of the Otago Harbour Board on having secured a decision to improve the approaches to the Upper Harbour, including a substantial widening of the channel at Gcat Island. It was decided to advise the Mayor that the association was strongly in favour of immediate steps being taken to provide an up-to-date air pqrt for Dunedin, suitable for all modern conditions, and that it heartily commended his decision to call a public meeting to further the proposal.