DIRECT TRADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20014, 3 December 1927, Page 6

DIRECT TRADE

PROSPECTS FOR WANGANUI PORT PARTICULARS FOR HOME STATESMAN One of the chief matters occupying the attention of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce is that of establishing direct shipping trade from ports of the United Kingdom, to Wanganui. At the reception by the Chamber to the R : t. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary of State for the Dominions, on Friday of last week the importance of the matlcr was stressed by Air A- E. Rankin to the statesman, who asked,’ for particulars which he could place before Lorid Inchcape and other members of the shipping combine. The Chamber’s Letter

Given below is the substance of a communication made on Thursday by Air John Coull, president of the Chamber of Commerce, to Air Amery.

“The position is that Wanganui has built a fine harbour, which has no dif- 1 ficulty in accommodating vessels up to 6000 tons. For some time past our Harbour Board, the Chamber of Commerce and individual importers have been endeavouring to induce the shiping combine in London to load direct steamers at United Kingdom ports for Wanganui direct. We have not met with any success, although at one time tho combine promised to consider putting on a vessel for Wanganui, if the importers would guarantee 500 tonfc of cargo. Afy Chamber promptly replied, guarantecring 1500 tons if necessary, buv nothing eventuated. “United States shipping agenc.es became interested and placed steamers on the berth in New York and loaded . direct for Wanganui ami this has been , going on for some three .years now. Canada has followed and last month a ( direct steamer discharged cargo here, which was loaded at Vancouver and four ; ports in California. We also are receiving regular direct steamers from the Gulf of Alexico carrying sulphur, and from Ocean Island with phosphates, for a very large fertiliser works was recently established here; also from ports in Australia, it means that we are getting direct steamers from every important port in Canada and the United States, and the steamers arriving here from the eastern ports on the American continent, arc mostly ownod; or controlled by the shipping combine in London. < These vessels invariably go from United Kingdom ports to Canada and the United States in ballast anid yet the combine will not load direct cargo in a United Kingdom port for Wanganui. Question of Tonnage “We quite appreciate the fact that most of thn vessels coming to New Zealand from Great Britain run from 8000 to 12000 tons, and therefore cannot work our port, but the combine control plenty of vessels which could easily be berthed l here. “The result at present is that orders which importers here are most anxious to place with manufacturers in Great Britain, are going to Canada and the United States. A recent arrival here from Canada in addition to other cargo, discharged about 4po tons of heavylines like steel, wire, nails, tubes, etc., and all these goods could have been purchased in Great Britain at competitive prices, could, importers have secured a direct loading. “Our Chamber feels now that this is a matter for the British Government and Lord Inchcape to decide and we much appreciate your interest in the matter. Wanganui importers like those in other ports of New Zealand, do not want to put any business past Great Britain, and once we get direct steamers to Wanganui from United Kingidjom ports, our business with great Britain would materially increase. “We desire to tender you our best thanks for the courtesies extended to us by you on your recent visit.”