Increases More Than Savings

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 1

Increases More Than Savings

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 8.

The Export and Shipping Council has not been able to match inflationary trends in shipping costs yet, the secretary of the council (Mr H. P. Smith) said today. The council saved £1 million in 1964, and more than £1 million in 1965, but this was not enough to offset rising costs.

Savings of £2 million in the last two years had been made by various measures. The number of days a ship spent in New Zealand ports had been reduced.

Ships’ loading had averaged 34 days in 1963 and this figure had been reduced by four days in 1965 to an average of 30. The council was trying to improve the flow of cargo to ships to speed up loading and sailings. The Transport Commission was persuaded by the council to investigate the amount of mechanisation in New Zealand ports and had yet to

report on its findings, Mr Smith said. The lines were also to report on the use of containers —shipping cargo in Bft by 20ft boxes loaded entirely by mechanical means.

But in spite of these efforts, the council had not yet been able to match the inflationary trends in shipping costs, said Mr Smith.