COAL FROM OVERSEAS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 255, 23 July 1919, Page 8

COAL FROM OVERSEAS

SEARCH FOR TONNAGE

EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT

THE RED FUNNEL FLEET

Doubts have been expressed in various quarters recently as to whether every possible effort had been made to. secure bottoms for the carriage of coa.l from overseas, and also in this connection whether there should not have been more of the Union Steam Ship Company s vessels available for this purpose, bi regard to this matter a reporter interviewed the Hon. Arthur it. Myers, .Minister in Charge of Coal Distribution, who stated that he had .repeatedly had conferences with both the general and traffic managers of the company referred 10, and every, effort had been made to place vessels where they could be utilised to the best interests of all the essential industries of the Dominion. It had to be remembered, however, Mr. Myers pointed out, that notwithstanding the regulations which were gazetted on June 17, 1917, giving the Government control oyer the movements of vessels registered in New Zealand, all oversea ships arriving in tlm Dominion during this period were under Imperial instructions,_ and it was not possible to make regulations governing their movements in. New Zealand He had alreadv fully outlined in a recent statement the unremitting fiffc.rts made by : his Department to secure tonnage for coal-carrying purposes. As an indication of how the Union Steam Shin Company's fleet had been commandeered by the Imperial authorities and the Australian and New Zealand Governments, and the.manner in which other vessels of the company were engaged in essential services during the period of the war, Mr. Myers gave the following detailed information: Union Steam Ship Company's Steamers Chartered io Imperial Government Navy Control for Various Periods throughout the War. Waihora Aorangi Waipori Wannka Komata ' Waitomo It u row Kaiapoi Katoa. Ivarori Kamona Avenger (in Home Wahine waters). Union Steam Ship Company's Steamers Chartered to Imperial Government for Various Periods for the Transport u!' Troops and Cargo. Tahiti AVaitematn , Maunganui Waikawa Willoclira Waimarino Tofua Waihemo Union Steam Ship Company's Steamers Chartered to New Zealand Government for Varying Periods for the Carriage of both Troops and Cargo. Tahiti . Navua Maunganui Warrimoo Willoclira Waitomo Aparima Mahenu Tofua Marama Waitemata Mokoia Waihora Also for Transport to the Islands several Trips. Moernkl Talune Monowai To Anau Union Steam Shit) Company's Vessels Chartered for Varying Periods to the Australian Navy. ICoromiko Kauri Eakanoa Whangape Kanna Ivatoa Te Anau Aorangi Waihora Komata Kaitunw In connection with the foregoing services, it will 1)0 noticed that some ships were enip'.oyed in several different services,'but this WHS brought about by the changing conditions throughout the war period. San Francisco and Vancouver Services, Immediately preceding tho war tho Vancouver and San Francisco services were carried on by the six mail steamers Niagara Tahjti Makura Moana Marama Willoclira with the assistance of at least five largo cargo carriers and frequently large chart, cred tonnage, and in the early stages of the war tho Waihemo, Waimarino, Wairuna, Waikawa, and a little later the Waitotara, wero all engaged in the Pacific trade. The five carriers just mentioned were all subsequently commandcered, and wero all lost with the exception of tho Waimarino, which was recently returned to these waters. During tho bulk of the war period the Vancouver mail service was carried on by tho Niagara, and Makura, and the San Francisco trade by tho Moana and the Maitai until the latter was lost, and later by tho Moana and Paloona, the cargo service being only indifferently catered for by tho Ivurovr, Ivatoa, and Karori, with an occasional trip of other small carriers. . l'he goods imported from America and carried on the above consisted ot news and other paper, volatile oils, electrical material, chemicals, agricultural tractors, motors, and other machinery, foodstuffs and fruit, builders' and other trade requirements, and general merchandise. , . . Tho Calcutta trade in pre-war days was mostly provided for by the Aparima and Waitomata, but both of these vessels wero lost while engaged in war service. The Waihora and Waitomo have in the main maintained the service during the war. Tho imports by these vessels consisted of cornsncks, woolpacks,, frozen meat, cloths, and other jute goods, vegetable oils, pig iron, bouemeal, kapok, tea, tapioca, pepper, sago, and other Eastern foods. J[r Myers suggested that the full information he had given.should sufhee ,to dispel any reasonable doubt as to whether tho Government had done its liest to secure tonnage for overseas coal.