FIRST PORT OF CALL

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 57, 1 December 1926, Page 12

FIRST PORT OF CALL

AUCKLAND OR WELLINGTON" The Wellington Chamber of Commerce received, at its meeting last evening, a strongly-worded complaint from a local mercantile firm, regarding the adverse treatment the port of Wellington was receiving at the hands of the oversea shipping companies in connection with the first port of call The writers stated that the excess of steamers going first to Auckland was most marked, and would only be altered bv the chamber bringing pressure to’ bear on the shipping companies to give alternate vessels from London and Liverpool Wellington as the first port of call It was added that the unfair conditions were more noticeable at this time of the vear, on account of the shipments being greater Merchants were paying cash in London for goods, on sight drafts, tnanv such drafts being met two or three weeks before the shipments arrived, thus costing the Wellington merchant a higher percentage to land his goods. , It was further mentioned that the total arrivals m Wellington .of English and foreign shipping from i September 1 to November 14 were The expected arrivals to January 2 were 25. Of the total, 58, there were six direct vessels with cargo for Wellington. five direct vessels with passengers, carrying cargo for other ports* and three direct Frisco mail steamers, 41 vessels .via Auckland, and two via the south The letter was referred to the importers’ and shipping committee to report on to the next meeting.