WATERSIDE WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19247, 12 February 1937, Page 3

WATERSIDE WORK

SHIPPING PROBLEM COSTS IN NEW ZEALAND "Waterside labour provides one of the major problems for solution in the maintenance of economic. -shipping services between Britain and New Zealand," said Mr. John Maemillan, managing director of the Shaw, Savill and .Albion Company, Limited, and the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Lino. Limited, when discussing Dominion shipping services in an interview in Dunedin.

Ifc wasi his experience, said Mr. Macmillan, that the problem was far more acute in New Zealand than in Australia. and Hint any intensification of ifc would have the most serious effects. The cost of work done on the waterfront of New Zealand ports was disproportionately high, and the slow handling of cargoes cost shipping companies huge sums. When it was realised that .the delay of a vessel in port for one day cost from !Cl5O to £2OO, the need "for willing, efficient waterside labour could be appreciated.

Commenting on problems of cargo dispatch from New Zealand ports, Mr. Macmillan said shipping companies were not so gravely concerned by the dispatch of dairy produce from numerous ports as by the present system of meat export, '•'ft, seems," ho said, "as if every port in New Zealand has its freezing works. Generally speaking, the New Zealand shipping trade was a good one, hut Jts operating costs were high, particularly when it wasi necessary to send out a dozen ships in ballast* in the course of a year, and six weeks was spent loading at ports round the const. The really urgent matter for consideration, however, was the labour situation.

Regarding his own company's plans, Mr. Macmillan said it was intended in the near future to build a new steamer of more than 20,000 tons for operation on the New Zealand run, via South African and Australian ports. Beyond stating that the ship would be the last word in design for the particular trade. Mr. Macmillan had no further information to offer.