SHIPPING HOLD-UPS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 January 1947, Page 8

SHIPPING HOLD-UPS

N.Z. Press Association's Snecial

British Firms Alarmed At Delays In N.Z.

(From

Corre^nondenL, lfl. G. Webber.) Beceived Tliui'sday, 7.20 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 16. Bepresentatives oi' British shipownmg firms engaged in the New Zealand trade are dee-ply coneerned by the deterioration in the waterfront position in New Zealand, not only as a result of the present action of the watersiders in restricting working hours" but beeause of the general slowing down in Ihe handling of ships since the end oi* the war. They point out the current shoiTage of tonnage, and particularly of refrigefated tonnage, is being greatly accentuated by the present labour disputes and that serious delays in turning round ships necessitate the provision of more vessels to carry the same amount of cargo. I This added to the tremendous increase in the "eost of shipbuilding- and Ihe cust of operating ships is creating- a most difficult situ- ! ation which is considered here as i'ikcly to have serious 'effects upon 1'n'oducers in New Zealand and upon the eeonomy of the Dominion. It is eontended that these holdirps are a definite danger to the British rationing system which is entirely dependent upon the pi-ompt de'livery of cargo from all parts of tiro world. It is eonsider- j ed that if deliveries from a major supplier sueh as New Zealand con-i tinue to be restricted and disturb- ' ed the British IMinistry of Food which has the responsibility for' \ictualling- Bi'itain mav be em-| bairassed in its efforts to maintain the ration scales in Britaiu. • iUoreover, shi]>s which carry ex1 torts from Xew Zealand to the