THE SOUTH AFRICAN SERVICE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11482, 15 January 1903, Page 5

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SERVICE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED

(special to "the fbess.")

DUNEDIN, January 14.

In reference to the question of the South African Steam Service, Sir J. G. Ward, when waited upon, said he had been aware of criticisms having been levelled at the working of the eervice, and had telegraphed yesterday to the Department for information on tihe matter. In regard to the point with reference to the loading ports, he received the following reply:—"lt is obvious that there could be no time table without a fixed sequence of ports. This was impossible, owing to the number of loading ports in New Zealand." Sir Joseph went on to say that the present time was right between fcbe seasons for grain and meat, and there was considerable difficulty in getting freight. It would, of course, be a very unreasonable thing to order a steamer to come to Dunedin or any other port for lees than 300 tons of cargo. It had been mentioned that a certain firm had inquired for reserved space. That was obviously a wrong thing, as no steamer could be expected to reserve cargo apace while receiving cargo at other ports. The proper course for that exporter would be to buy produce on condition that he was able to despatch it by the steamer.

Then, in regard to the complaint that the steamer ih&d called at Brisbane to disdharge produce there, and load Australian product* for South Africa, he had received the following reply from the Department : —"The Minister of Industries and Commerce has no objection to the steamer Devon calling at Brisbane en route to South Africa, provided it is for no other purpose than to discharge New Zealand produce at that port." Sir Joseph further said that some firms had an opportunity of purchasing New Zealand products from farms in the North Island, chiefly beef, to supply Brisbane dealers, who were eager to obtain some supplies owing to the drought, and a letter was sent to tihe Department askiag if there would be any objection to the Devon calling at Brisbane to land New Zealand beef. He took it that it was desirable always to open up any markets offering for New Zealand produce, and the chance of landing beef at Brisbane was a good one. Permission was given for the steamer to call at Brisbane, on condition that no cargo from Brisbane should be taken on board. The "Daily Times" to-day remarks: — "To itnrther illustrate the inconsistency of the whole proceeding cm the contractors' part, we have it now stated by their manager s at Wellington that the Sussex, which was to have loaded at four North Island porta only, has gone to Lyttelton, where I«M than 50 tone are offering. The fact is that while the arrangements of certain large corporatione in South Africa ensure that subsidised steamers shall obtain at present a certain amount- of oargo in New Zealand, tihe service that is not run to a fixed time table is practically valueless to independent shippers, who are expected to guarantee delivery by appointed dates." The local agents of tihe company state, with reference to the fact that the steamer Sussex will not call at Port Chalmera, that a request that space should be put. under offer for seven.days for 5000 carcases of mutton was the extent to w(hich the offer of meat oargo from this port went, and that so far the company da*t not refused any freight that has been definitely offered at Dunedin.