COASTAL SHIPPING TRADE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 99, 16 June 1911, Page 7

COASTAL SHIPPING TRADE

WHAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN. Conversing on Wednesday with a Now Plymouth “News” representative, Mr. Newton King expressed the opinion emphatically tnat when New Plymouth has been made' a port ; of call for direct steamers, and a transhipment shed was erected .bn the wharf at Moturoa, New Plymouth must servo the small ports from Opunako to Kawhia. At the same time, ho considered it premature to urge the formation of a local steamship company. Local merchants had given the matter their consideration, and lio had received an assurance from Mr. Ramson, manager of the Northern Steamship Company, that when the port was ready Ins company would he prepared to put on some of its smaller steamers to trade between these ports. A local steamship company would not ho able to conduct the service as cheaply as this existing company, and the local merchants could not be expected to put their money into steamers if they could get suitable steamers and a sufficient service provided by an existing company. Failing such satisfactory arrangements, however, Mr. King said they would have no hesitation in putting on the steamers themselves. Mr. King added that the Harbour Board would probably put the transhipment shed in hand within the next few months, and would not await the completion of the wharf extension before proceeding with it.