CARGO TRADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 December 1927, Page 5

CARGO TRADE.

AUSTRALIAN SHORTAGE. LONDON, Tuesday. At the annual, meeting of the Orient Line, Sir Arthur G. Anderson, who presided, said that he had little that Avas pleasant to remark about the cargo trade. The number and capacity of the steamers berthed Avas far beyond the needs of the trade. There Avas a lamentable shortage of cargo from Australia, for Avhich the liners Averc designed, and the supply of tonnage seriously cxeeded the demand, despite the 10 percent reduction in freights. Expensive insulated space* in the liners was loft empty, or only carried wheat. He also showed that the passenger traffic avus equally disappointing, far more berths being available than were required on the Home trips, Avhile the Australian Navigation Act prevented overseas companies economically trading on the coast. Thus tire Orient Company’s saloon nceomnipdation Avas being Avnsied for about a quarto? of the liners' itinerary. Referring to the proposed sale o: the CominoiiAvealth steamers, he declared that there Avero too many steamers in the Australian trade.