SHIPPING CONGESTION

Southland Times, Issue 17486, 29 July 1915, Page 2

SHIPPING CONGESTION

POSITION IN. DUNEDIN. RELIEF FOR SOUTHERN PORTS. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, July 28. Regarding the shipping congestion in Dunedin, the Prime Minister stated in the House of Representatives to-day, that he had sent the following wire to Mr C. Holdsworth, Managing Director of the Union Steamship Company:— “I am Informed that the position In Dunedin in connection with shipment of produce to Australia is becoming more acute, and I shall he glad if you will advise me whether there is any chance of an improvement being effected in the near future. Any information will be appreciated.” He had received the following reply, dated, July 28: —“Prior to the receipt of your wire wo bad fixed and announced that the Kaitangata (500 tons, dead weight), would load produce at Dunedin for Sydney next week. We have also arranged for the Koromlko (4000 tons) to lead at Dunedin and Timaru, commencing about August 11. Further fixtures for the various ports are as follows: —Kauri (5500 tons) loads at Oamoru and Timaru for Sydney next week; Waitemata makes a special call at Lyttelton this week, and lifts 5510 tons for Sydney; Whangape (5000 tons) will load in the middle of the month at Oamaru, Timaru and Bluff for Melbourne (by arrangements with the Federal Line). We are filling at Bluff next week for Sydney the balance of space (4000 tons) in the Somerset. The foregoing fixtures will give relief to the extent of nearly 200,000 sacks, and, as far as possible, space has been equitably allocated between the produce ports. You may be interested to know that between the end of April and the middle of August we shall have carried tile equivalent of just on one million sacks of light cargo and produce to Australasian ports. We think we. may claim this as noteworthy, particularly in view of the present exceptional pressure on shipping, and when it is remembered that during the last ten years no cargo of Ibis description lias been offering, and we had no reason to anticipate such a sudden and abnormal demand on our resources.”