Committee To Investigate Cargo-Handling Methods

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 24

Committee To Investigate Cargo-Handling Methods

The practicability of the shipment of New Zealand exports and imports by the container system, and other advanced techniques of cargo handling, is to be investigated immediately by a committee of experts appointed by the British shipping lines serving the New Zealand trade.

This was announced in Wellington today by the chairman of the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee, Mr J. H. Cook, He said the committee consisted of five members under the chairmanship of Mr W. Molyneux, a director of a leading firm of chartered accountants of London with world-wide associations. The others were Mr G. Dawes (New Zealand Shipping Company), Mr T. W. Watson (Shaw Savin Line), Captain E. W. Allen (Port Line) and Mr P. Waymouth (Blue Star Line). Mr Cook said Mr Molyneux, who was already well known in New Zealand, was secretary of the committee headed by Sir Henry Benson, which produced the streamlining report on the New Zealand shipping and export trade in 1964. in association with a New Zealand committee. Mr Watson was assistant general manager of Shaw Savill in New Zealand. The

other members were resident in London.

The committee had Its inaugural meeting in London last week. It was expected to spend considerable time in New Zealand in discussions with all interests concerned in external trade, and would ’ also consult organisations ! elsewhere with experience in i modern cargo handling pro'cedures. It was expected to 'report back to the British Lines by the end of the year. The exports and shipping council would be kept informed of developments. Mr Cook said the committee’s terms of reference were: To examine and report to the shipping companies on the present methods of assembling. loading, carrying, unloading and delivering the cargoes carried to and from New if and how these methods can be improved or altered to the advantage of importers, exporters, the shipping companies or others involved in New Zealand’s overseas trade.

In particular, the committee is requested to examine and report on whether all or part of the cargoes could be handled more economically or efficiently: (a) in containers: (b) on pallets: (c) in standard loads or packs: (d) in any other manner such as mechanical handling. It is also to take into account the trends in the volume and direction of New Zealand’s overseas trade on

the basis that New Zealand’s exports will continue to be marketed through the same channels as those now existing. The committee had been asked to approach any person or organisation in New Zealand and throughout the world able to provide Information or assistance, said Mr Cook.