SHIPPING PROBLEMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16865, 31 January 1929, Page 9

SHIPPING PROBLEMS

LONDON OR OUTPORTS? CASE TOR CENTRALISATION Advantages claimed to be derived by the shipment of overseas produce direct to the port of London in preference lo making use of the outports of Great Britain were set out in 'a letter read at yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, from Captain A. \Y. l’earse, Austru.ian and New Zealand representative of the Fort of London Authority. Tho letter was as follows: ' "Several representatives of the various outports of Great Britain have been recently advocating direct shipment ot produce to their local centres and on dcavoring to show that a large saving would be made in costs if such were done. It lias been already shown over and over again that the merchants of these outports are not prepared to take a risk and lodge definite orders for Australian produce on a e.i.f. basis. On the other band, the whole of the risk lias to be accepted by the producer, who must- he satisfied to allow his goods to take their charm on the open market. “London undoubtedly offers the best opportunities for marketing goods, is the opinion of the merchants. Shou.d there 'be a possible glut on the London market —which is unlikely—the surplus produce is sent to the provinces, where it finds an outlet. If .produce is shipped direct to the outports, however, and there is a glut on any of these markets, produce lias to he sent, back to London at a big expense, and it is then found that it is very difficult to dispose of it. In any case, the return -to the Australian producer is very unsatisfactory. “Moreover, it is never mentioned lint rail charges would have to be made even from these outports to outlying districts, but that is of no importance anyway : the shipper of produce does not pay these charges, all he is concerned with is Ihe price he will receive at the port, and on an average of years London prices are higher than at any of the outports. Merchants know best where tlie’s- can make the most money and send thfeir goods to the ports where their returns are most profitable. The letter was received.