TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 6

TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES

EMISSARY BEFORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

UNION COMPANY'S ATTITUDE

Mr. Thomas Ballinger presided at a special meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce held yesterday after* noon, when Mr. Albert Goldie, a representative of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Board of Harbour Commissioners, delivered an address on the aspirations of Los Angeles as a port. After reading a message from the Lus Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Goldie. said that the chief subject he wished to discuss was the proposed advent of a direct line of steamers between Los Angeles and New Zealand and Australia. Hitherto the city mentioned had been known chiefly as a tourist resort and the home of motion pictures, but since the armistice there had been astonishing developments industrially that were nothing short of marvellous. All the organisations and brains of Los An. geles hud come together for the determined purpose of organising a foreign trade bv making the place a big manufacturing centre, a claim that was based on its geographical situation. For instance, it was close to the Mexican border, and was even now commanding a good deal of the trade of Mexico (which was rapidly becoming settled and amenable to safe trading). Los Angeles was 500 miles nearer New Zealand than San Fran, cisco, and was one day's steam closer to the eastern ports of' the United States than tho port mentioned. Its railway routes were all-the-year-round routes) that wasj to say that they were never subject to snow blockades as were the more northerly tracks. Los Angeles was tho biggest centre in Southern California. It had a population of 650,000, and was crowing faster than any other city in the States. Tho country round about produced oil, all kinds of fruits, nuts, olives, and lately its canned fish. industry had grown into quite a big thing. Los Angeles had had its manufactures, but up till recently they had only catered' for local consumption. With, foreign trade movement, however, capital had been forthcoming to assist the manufacturers to build for the export trade, and they were now prepared to export such lines as canned fruits and vegetables, and fish, soap, motor-car accessories, polishes, building materials—the Los Angeles bungalows were the most up: to-date in the world—and various other commodities. In return California could do with all the wool, pelts, hides, flax, and kauri gum that New Zealand could offer, so that the time was unquestionably ripe for an interchange of products. Being the nearest American port, and commanding the best railway'routes to the Eastern States, it would. be' seen that Los Angeles had claims. Later, when they had SO-kuot.steamers running, the port would be only some twelve days' steam from New Zealand.

The paramount question was the direct freight service, and on that point Mr. Goldie read a communication from tlie Board of Harbour Commissioners, aud related how the foreign trade movement had brought a number of weallhv men together. Fifty of them had subscribed to the nucleus of a fund with which to enter into the shipping , business, not necessarily to make money out of tlie ships, but to foster manufactures aud trade out of Los Angeles. That company, known as the Los Angeles Pacific Steam Navigation Company, approached the United States-Shipping Board with therequest to -be allowed to charter some of the ships which had been built for the Government during tho war period. That request was granted, and ten weeks ;go the first steamer, with 7000 tons of cargo, left Los Angeles for the Orient—plain evidence of tho fact that the new port was ready far the export trade. - Thut people of Los Angeles were quite sincere in regard to those countries was further proved that they were prepared to go "50-50" with the people here in providing capital with which to build ships, n necessary, for this' trade. Their object was, ot course, to endeavour to secure full cargoes at this end, and he looked to the members of the various chambers of commerce to assist'them in getting cargoes of .our raw materials. As the question was simply one oi securing tonnage he,had been asked to wait upon tne Union Steam Ship Company, and at Dunedin had held a conference witn the Uficials of that company, pointing out that the Los. Angeles movement xo secure steamers was mure of a patriotic character than anything else, and asking if the company could guarantee a regular service lor the time being. The briicials of the company said Jhey had been looking at Los Angeles for a long time, ana said they would be willing to put on steamers as soon as they were available—they had been held up at Home on accouut of the industrial unrest —if the people of Los Angeles would undertake- to. provide cargoes. Now the authorities at Los' Angeies were. waiting to hear from the 'speaker as to co-opera-tion from this end. New Zealand jiad everything to gain from closer trade relations with the Pacific Coast, as none of tliem knew what would happen iu tho future,

. Mr. S. Kirkcaldie wished to know what building material Log Angeles had for export. Mr. Goldie instanced a new lath, which was taking the place of steel laths, various roofing compositions, and household fittings. Miv*Tiugey asked if glass was one of their products.

The reply was that a glass manufactory had .boen started, and they already had orders from New Zealand.

Mr. Arlbw raised the point about charges, faying that whereas there were only two charges to be met in shipping goods to England there were a dozen in American ports. Why did they not iix standard rates?

Mr.- Goldie said he had no information on the poi.nt, but shippers could rely on being given'every possible concession. The. 6aine speaker asked what f.o.b. would moan in the case of Los Angeles —would it be free at tho terminal point or on the steamer? In the case of New York it was free at the terminal point, and other handling changes then had to be mot.

Mr. E. Grange said that when he was in California, in 1914 San Pedro (the port of Los Augolesl was not a terminal point, but '.was connected with the Santa Fe trunk'line by a privately-owned side-line.

Mr. Goldie thought that f.o.'b. would mean free at tho water's edge. Mr. 11. D. Victory said that there had been a good deal of trouble connected with shipping goods to the States—interminable trouble in the case of butter— and pointed out that wool, 'butter, and cheese were still controlled by the Imperial Government, in some cases up till this time next year. Emissaries 'from Hull and Bristol had lulled round giving schedules of exact charges as compared with those of London, and if Los Angeles could standardise its charges it would greatly facilitate business.

Mr. G-oldio said that at present they should understand that Los Angeles as u port was only feeling its way. The first shin to lotul there had only left ten weeks ago. But the questions asked were valuable, and he would at once communicate wifdi the Harbour Commissioners for more exact information.

Mr. Goldie was thanked for his address, and expression was given to the hope that trade relations would before dong be established on a solid basis between the new port and New Zealand.