USEFULNESS PAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26904, 16 October 1948, Page 8

USEFULNESS PAST

CONTROLS ON COASTAL SHIPPING HARBOUR BOARDS’ MOTION The opinion that the present control of coastal shipping should be discontinued was expressed in a motion carried at the annual conference of the Harbours Association of New Zealand, which was concluded in Dunedin yesterday. A number of speakers expressed the view that the control was a war-time measure, which should now be removed, and that it was operating to the disadvantage of smaller ports. Mr E. A. Millward, chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, said that his board was particularly interested in the coastal shipping question. One particular shipping company had had ships built for the Wanganui trade, but they had been diverted to other runs. Cargoes were now shipped through Wellington and railed to Wanganui. Referring to the accumulation of cargoes and the handicaps being experienced by merchants in fulfilling orders, Mr C. B. Tapley (Bluff) said the coastal programme could well be left in the hands of the shipowners, who had handled affairs quite satisfactorily before the control was instituted. Cargo filtering to Wanganui through Wellington must be a serious handicap to merchants and, although the control had served a good purpose, its period of usefulness had passed. Overseas Shipping Mr T. J. Guthrie, Oamaru, said he considered that the time was opportune to take up with the Minister of Marine, Mr Hackett, the need for the decentralisation of overseas shipping. A resolution was passed that the association should discuss the matter with the Minister, and that representatives of overseas shipping concerns should be invited to be present. Officers Elected All the office-bearers were re-elected for a further term. They are:—President, Mr W. H. Price (chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board); vicepresidents—Messrs J. Melling (chairman of the Auckland Board), C. W. Tyler (chairman of the Lyttelton Board) and W. R. Clarke (chairman of the Otago Board); executive—Messrs T F. Doyle, M.L.C. (chairrpan of the Bluff Board), E. J. Herrick (chairman of the Napier Board), A. R. Kingsford (chairman of the Nelson Board), J. L. Campbell (chairman of the New Plymouth Board) and R. S. Goodman (chairman of the Timaru Board); auditor Mr B. Roberts (Wellington).' It was decided that the next conference should be held at New Plymouth in October, 1949.