OVERSEAS SHIPPING REVIEW

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1946, Page 5

OVERSEAS SHIPPING REVIEW

BRITISH MUST HURRY TO COVER N.Z. TRADE WELLINGTON, August 29. Tf British sliipping Jiues were not covering the New Zealand-East Coasl of Ainerica trade, I'uited States liner would p ro baldy seize the openiiig in a bid to ciipture New Zealand trade, saic .Mr. E. W. Spite, New Zealand managei of the New Zenlaud%ihip]iiiig Coinpany on his return from a visil to tlie I'nitec Kingdoni, Cnited States and Canada 1 It; added that as loug as New Zealam shipping inet ihe requirenieiits of tlu trade, there should be no chance fo. conipet it ion from Ainericun lines. Tlu Mont real-Aust ralin-New Zealand Lint had hui It up trade before the war but tlie ships used on the roule. had been laken uver by ihe Ministry of Wai Transport. They were slowly beiiu lianded baclt to ihe company and iu tlu menntime shi]i.s were being eliarleret. for service and tlie company nu.s doing Ihe ln-st to meet reipii remerit s. '•I'rovidcd we reeeive sutfii-ien! notice uf requiremenls in advaiice we will cover tlie trade,'' A1 r. Spite de cla rcd. Aske.d to commenl on the arrival of ships J' ro in Brilaih in bnllast, Alr. Spiusaid this was due tu physical condiliomin Britain. Ships sueh as ihe ltaiigi tata and Dominioit .Monarch were still under War Transport jun'sdiction and not under tlie eompanies ' eonlrol. He ceutlv the Himutaka had had to lenvc Britain with space for about .''.11)0 muri loiis of cargo. Tlie shipping coTtqianier were doing their best to get cargo awa\ and he theughl tlie posilion would right itself. Tlie New Zealand Shipiiing eompanv and associated eompanv, tlie Ee.derai Steam Navigation Company, should have a total of 14 new vessels in eoin mission by April, 19I.S, -Mr. Spite said The spaee on rliese ships should be with in mcii.su ra ble distanee of the eom panies' prewar tonnage. The two eom panies had lost during the war, 19 in stilaled ships previously in the New Zealand-Aust ralian trade. They had in eonimission seren ships built during oi siuce ihe war and the eiglith, the Somerset, was now eoinpleting. Fivt vessels were to be delivered by the shijibuilders during li)47 and in April, 194.S, two others were to be delivered, including the passenger sliiji Hangitoto which would replace the Rangitane sunk by u raider near the New Zealand coast. -Mr. Spite added that. son.ie oi -these ships - required-. alteratjipns' -tuni' qther.ysfiips -rii c.oniiiussiyii- due' foj. oVerhahn' - •- \ J '* | . :