IMPROVED SHIPPING POSITION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 17, 15 October 1943, Page 6

IMPROVED SHIPPING POSITION

New Zealand And America REVERSION “IF BIG PUSH

COMES”

Dominion Special Service. NAPIER, October 14.

“I am happy to state now that the shipping position between New Zealand and America is very much improved, but if a big push comes we will have to go back to our previous unhappy position,” said Mr. R- • Alarshall, director of the New Zealand supply mission in Washington, when addressing the conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation. “Until the arrival of the liberty ships, there was a period of six months without a vessel leaving from the Pacific coast for New Zealand,’’ he added. “Our first preference, of course, at the time was military requirements, as we thought the people would rather see tanks and guns coming in than some commercial goods. Now defence requirements are lessening and for the last nine months the policy of allotting 750 tons for private commercial orders has been followed. This has had the effect of materially clearing the goods piled up in America. ' From now on, unless something drastic happens, the shipping will be able to carry the essential goods needed in New Zealand and the long delays of the previous periods will not be necessary.” Mr. Marshall outlined at length the nunincr in which Icnd-lcnse had been brought into being and the method of proeurement of supplies from the tune orders were placed and requisitions went through several organizations from New Zealand till contact was made with the American supplies, which sometimes tom£ between six weeks and two months. "Actually,” he said, “we have iu AVashing’ton now the bulk of New Zealand’s orders for 3.944.” _ It was difficult, he continued, to say what the final position of leiid-lease would be. The final winding up remained for the future. Mr. Nash had said that the slate would be wiped clean, and if New Zealand was on the credit side that sum would assist in the payment ot her war account. . . Dealing with the annoyance.which importers had experienced in shipments of goods reaching New Zealand without details of the contents of the shipments being available, Mr. Marshall smd thaefforts to speed up the documents of this country were meeting with success. Mr.‘Marshall also outlined tue functions of the AVar Production Board and associated bodies, through, which were assigned manufacturing priorities. lou must bear in mind that the Americans are statistically-minded and they like to know requirements for a long way ahead.” Mr. Marshall also issued a warning that firms using paper should go very carefully with supplies, as the position was going to be critical owing to the shortage of manpower in the forests. “The United States is no longer a great warehouse where you can pick things off the shelf,” he added. Oyerseas requirements had to be manufactured. and so it would be about six months before New Zealanders received replies to their orders. Mr. J. D. Simpson, who has been associated with the mission, also gave an outline of the work which the New Zealand representatives in AVashington were carrying out. . Numerous questions relating to supplies were answered by Mr. F. R. Picot, Commissioner of Supplies.