PORT OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 6

PORT OF OTAGO.

DEPUTATION TO THE UNION.

STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

At a recent meeting of the Harbour Board the following motion was unanimously adopted:—"That the Chamber of Commerce, Employers' Association, Manufacturers' Association, and Expansion League be asked to form a deputation to wait upon the Union Steam Ship Company to request that the company, when readjusting its intercolonial timetable, bring the weekly Sydney steamer on to Dunedin, in order that importers may be able to get shipments from -Sydney landed direct, thus obviating to some extent the great delay now experienced, also the extra handling and loss of time occasioned by goods having to be transhipped at Wellington." The motion met with the approval of a number of local bodies outside those mentioned, and when the deputation took definite shapo on Monday, 31sfc ult., delegates were present from the Harbour Board, City Council, Employers' Association, Trades and Labour Council, Manufacturers' Association, Farmers' Union, Otago A. and P. Association, Chamber of Commerce, Expansion League, and the Fruit Importers' Association. The deputation (which was introduced by Mr H. L. Tapley, deputy chairman of the Harbour Board) was received by .Mr C. Holdsworth (managing director) and Mr D. A. Aiken (general manager). Messrs H. C. Campbell, H. K. Wilkinson, J. B. Shaddock, E. C. Hazlett, A, E. Usherwood, P. C. Triggs, S. B, M'Donald, 0. E. Reilly, and W. Hayward spoke on behalf of the deputation. The points which were stressed by the speakers related to the delay in respect to forwarding transhipments owing to there being no direct service from Sydney to Dunedin. It was also, pointed out that the overseas companies for some time past had carried cargo to ports of only, leaving the forwarding of transhipments to be arranged. The speakers- also stated that they recognised the many difficulties the company had to contend with at the present time, but they asked it to endeavour as far as possible to give the importers in Otago some relief in the direction indicated.

Mr Holdsworth, in reply, expressed his appreciation of the .fair and temperate manner in which the deputation had put forward its requests, and promised that they would receive the fullest consideration by the company. He explained that although the war was over, war condition* still continued to a large extent, so far as the company was concerned, inasmuch as several of their steamers were still under requisition by the Imperial Government. He hoped, however, that the shipping position would shortly become easier, and, as showing that the company was anxious to afford every facility and convenience to its clients, he might state that the company was obtaining new tonnage. . Two new steamers—the Wairuna and Waitemata—had been purchased in England despite the high prices : for tonnage, and these would be delivered next month. In addition, three other steamers had been bought, and these would be taken delivery of before the end of the year. Mr Holdsworth further stated that arrangements were already under way to provide for a direct cargo service from Sydney to Dunedin, and that the direct connection would of .course be kept up with Melbourne. He also made the very important pronouncement that it was hoped in the near future to arrange for a call at Dunedin from time to time by; cargo steamers from the Pacific coast. Mr Tapley thanked Mr Holdsw'orth for the sympathetic manner in which they had been received, and the deputation then withdrew. v