COASTAL SHIPPING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 32, 14 December 1945, Page 6

COASTAL SHIPPING

—- .» UNSATISFACTORY LOCAL SERVICE AGITATION FOR MORE BOATS Following the agitation by the Whakatane Harbour Board for a greatly increased shipping service to the port, the Northern Steamship Company has promised to give additional transport as soon as. facilities permit. In the meantime, two vesseis the Clansman and the To a have been employed-taking excess freights to and from the port of Auckland. The matter was first raised when the Harbour Board approached the Paper Mills Directorate, seeking a greater share of the company's freight. In an informative letter the manager of the company, stated that in the past it had been intended to utilise the shipping for the purpose of transferring the. company's products but owing to the steadily shrinking service, and. the limited space available, the trade had shifted from the Northern Company to the rail. If the freights were made attractive and the service more re--9 liable the company could place an outgoing tonnage of 8000 tons annually, with inward cargoes of upwards of 2000 tons, though at present it was, perfectly satisfied with the rail service to Auckland. The Northern Company, in a furthei communication to the Harboui Board stated that the matter had been discussed at a meeting of directors', and as soon as the. new manager was appointed, he would be prepared to make a special trip tc Whakatane for the purpose, of discussing the position further. A let. ter from the Board, in reply to the above, complained, afresh of the completely unsatisfactory service which the company was rendering and pointed out that already manj cargoes had been diverted to the rail for the more reliable transport laj that xneans. In reply, the company notified that two vessels would b( placed on the run immediately. The Secretary later reporteel that Sir Ernest Davies, Chairman of Directors for the Northern Company, had visited'Whakatane in November, when with the* Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, matters ir regard to the inaelequate nature oJ the service were discussed. Sir Ern est stated that as soon as ships were available, he was confident that th< improveel service necessary for Wha. katane. would be given. It was lef 1 to the' chairman, Mr W. .R. Boon, and the secretary, Mr C. G. Lucas to follow the matter up,.-and. to con r fer with the Northern Steamship and the Paper Mills management at the lirst favourable opportunity.