DIRECT SHIPPING TO AUSTRALIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 43, 6 March 1937, Page 6

DIRECT SHIPPING TO AUSTRALIA

Preas Association.)

Southlana Deputation to Minister

INQUIRY PROMISED

tBy Tele?raph—

INVERCARGILL, Last Night. A request that the Governmenf should do all in its power to institute a direct shipping service between gouth Island ports and Australia, was made to the Miuister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) by a deputation at Bluff this morning. „ Colonel J. Hargest, M.P., in introducing the subject, said he had seen the p'ossibilities of a direct service between Bluff and Tasmania and Melbourne. The lack of such service was a serious handicap to Southland, he said, and he instance'd the case of South Australian fruitgrowers who were willing to take Southland timber if it could be imported direct. " As a representative of Bluff HarBour Board, I firmly believe the service should be a contmuous one," said Hon. T. F. Doyle. The Marama, he added, was an old vessel with accommodation not perhaps of the best and the Government and TJnion Company might be able to do something in the way of putting a modern vessel on the service. It had been well patronised in the past both from a passenger and a cargo point of view but Southland was at a serious disadvantage through lack of continuity in the service. "I find myself substantially in sympathy with the request and understand the difficulties afflicting the South Island- through the lack of a direct shipping service," said Hon. Sullivan. If was not only the service but there were other difficulties too. The Islaud was outside the circle of international communication and this must contribute largely to xetarding its development. He would like to see this rectified. Of course, there were practical difficulties from the viewpoint of the shipping companies xegarding the value of the trade they were already doing and the companies said the service was uneconomical but he had not had the opportunity of studying the figures they had supplied to see whether they could be substantiatad. "I appreciate the position and I have (been interested in it for mapy years," ;said the Minister." Now I have the figures- 1 will ask my department to investigate the-n thoroughly and report 'on the effect a contiuous service would have on trade. The Government hesitates to burden itself with subsidi'es for you never know where they will end."