BOATS FOR BLUFF

Southland Times, Issue 19590, 11 August 1922, Page 5

BOATS FOR BLUFF

PROGRESS REPORTED BUSINESS PEOPLE’S EFFORTS Some fifty local business men assembled yesterday at the monthly luncheon of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce heard with keen attention the Report of the chairman, Mr R. Strang, concerning the progress that had already been made by th? Chamber in its efforts to have. Bluff reinstated as a direct and regular port of call for overseas shipping services. Mr Strang quoted a letter received from N.Z. Paper Mills which concluded by stating: “The co-operation of your Chamber is welcome and appreciated.” The information contained in the letter was that tiic firm had large con-ignments of machinery on order and all the manufacturers had been instructed to.take every advantage of boats sailing to Bluff. In lhe firms interests it was not likely that they would run to the expe.i:•/ of transhipment. The new paper malting machine weighed over 400 tons ami t ght saving <M that item alone war c limated at 30/a ton at least. Other miwhinery orders would be delivered by direct ship. “When our new mill ftarts,” the letter continued, “we will make e\ory possible use of Bluff both for pulp and machinery import?. This is not due to any pious regard for ibe port of Southland We are tiunking of our own pockets and in a lesser degree our own convenience. I believe that the opening of the new mill will also mean the diversion of several «*hip*» lo Bluff that have not so far been calling there At least I have an undertaking that provided individual orders from us approximate 500 tons, boats will call at Bluff to discharge for us and this will mean of course that other importers take advantage of direct .shipments L.. these steamux. “Moreover we ho|>e to ship the greater portion of our manufactured stuff from Mataura via Bluff und < rt.’ i’ ly the whole of the North Island good.- will go through the Southern port." In his preliminary address Mr R. Strang, chairman of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, said the executive had been busy and had kept him busy. The pressure for better shipping services had resulted in a boat being .•■cheduled to leave London in October, and another ship was being arranged to leave the West Coast of England. He appealed to all the business j>eople of the district to remember these boats. He also quoted a letter promising that cabled advice would be sent from a certain New York firm in advance of t-he sailing of boatp that would call at it would be seen that the Chamber waa accomplishing something. (Applause).