SOUTHLAND PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2504, 3 July 1915, Page 3

SOUTHLAND PRODUCE

congestion at bluff tJNION-S.S. COMPANY'S EXPLANATION ~™""""" i .(By Telegraph.—Press Association.). Dunedln, July 2. ■ Last night Mr. Massey sent a telegram to tho Union Conipaiiy.AntH reference to,the>cbhgestiqn 'pf produce at the Bluff for Australian- ports, and asking if the company' couli arrange for, one of its steamers ,to be put on and relieve the •inconvenience andloss to morchants and producers, i : ,■ v . . In the courso of a lengthy reply, Mr. Holdsworth states:—"Tho unexpected demand for conveyance from New Zealand'to, Australia, of a' great quantity, of flight tcargo-in.-the' shape, 'of •;straw and ; chaff has given us much concern, and we are doing everything possible to.meet 'the.positibn.::. For .niauy years the shipi; nients.'of ,E«)diK!eit;o' ; Aiistr(Jia'have-l»een ! - practically'a negligible' quantity, •• kit 'there is this year- ail{abnormaland im-: prececlented ! cairfor : space.for straw and' chaff, 1 : which are of; a bulky, nature. A steamer' which' could; carry SGOO tons of ordinary, dead-weight cargo can lift'only. some: 1.200, t0,1300. toils- weight of straw" l'and; cliaff. Even. if our. full fleet :.Was available we could ,not cope- with , the' abnormal' call on us to lift within tho. spabo.of itwo to ithree, months this erior-' 'mous ; quantity of (light: cargo,; and while sympathising with' tlie position of ship-, pere <we: would respeptfidly.'submit..that it ;is" hardly/ reasonable to -:expect that shipowners can ..make provision; practically without notice" to meet a demand of such an unusual nature. , .-";•'■ '■'Th'e . complaiht. from , the Bluff - that other, ports have .received' preference-is incorrect.;:: To' relieve' the'pressure; we were'successful in chartering the Pliysa, 6500 .tons 'dead-weight,' and this vessel will load entirely .Bluff' next week. When we foresaw that a sudden aM unexpected demand, would: be' made ■upon 1 us to lift ' light produce. we' immediately communicated with our London .office,-to, charter outsido ionnago to assist-,' but owing to/ tho,. World-wide shortage' of; .ships; this, was impossible even vat ra-tes which would havo been equivalent to 2-J- to three times. the\e'xistiiig;,schedui© rates, of. freight: we are receiving. .-. ' "Standing instructions for some time to all -ports 1 have been to .work day and: night, - and - spare no' expense in the shape, of..overtime to' securo the' dispatch for'steamers and more, -them: round as quickly ''as. iiobsible with the view to ; the position; Wo ! haye five smallVships out of commission, but thoy are small passenger, 1 yessel3 with; such limited cargo capacity that they i would, be; useless .for the purposo rcyuired." ,• : ■ ,