UNION COMPANY.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1922, Page 4

UNION COMPANY.

SDAGK TRADE' AND IDLE SHIPS. EVIDENCE", BEFORE ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON Aug 30. At the Arbitration Court to-day/' the hearing oiXthe shipping dispute was continued. The principal witness • was Norris S. Falla, general traffic manager for the ' ■ Union Steam Ship Company. Mr W .G. Smith, to witness: Can you tell the Court what the position of the company’s trade is Is it slack or otherwise? —At tW present time it is very slack. Are "there many ships laid up ?—At the present time, speaking from memory, 24. Ships that you cannot find employment for —Yes. It is impossible to find employment for the steamers at the present time as far as we can ascertain.

Of the ships that ai;e running, are many of them geting full cargoes or only part cargoes?—That varies in different services. In general, the steamers that are engaged'on timetable services are unable to obtain sufficient cargo to fill them.

"There dire other ships running oil port cargoes?—Yes. Have you any requests from merchants and -traders in regard to reduetious in freight?—Yes we have been waited on during the last month or two by a number of deputations and individuals pressing for reductions. They have made representations to you that if freights were reduced it would improve 'business?—They have said so. You 'have no reason to doubt that statement?—No. I think their contention in ninny cases is reasonable. The company is not in a position to reduce freights unless it can get its running costs down ?—Yes. There is no margin at present?— Speaking generally no. With regard to the effect of competition on the company’s trade, is some of the trade being held at a loss? Yes, the steamers engaged in several trades arc being run at a loss.

Witness said there w/erC certain tracies in which the company had been unable to engage tonnage by reason of the competitive- rates which the company were not able to meet owing to running costs under present conditions.

It has been stated here that tho company lias a monoply of tho Kai-■pora-Austva'lian trade. Ts that correct?—The few calls we make at Kaipara arc to discharge coal. His Honour: I suppose there is so mo kauri left?—l am not aware of any timber export from Kaipara, hut Parker-Lab steamers and others still trade from Hokiniiga to Australia. Mr Young: Oari) you tell us 1 tho posi turn of the Dunedin, Lyttelton, East Coast and Auckland trade? Mr W. G. Smith: While the witness is prepared, if the Court desires it, to give any information to the Court in confidence I submit that under Section 183 of the original Act, fie must not disclose details of the lomjuany’s business.

His Honour: Is there any objection to the company giving that information ?

Mr W ,G. Smith: If such information is disclosed, it might be a direct incentive or otherwise to our competitors coming into that trade.

Mr Young: My question is a simple one. I ain not much concerned whether the company answers it or not. His Honour: The company i s entitled under the Act to make the objection that has been raised. Mr Young: Very well. I will not press the point.

To witness: How many of the 0010oany’s ships are laid up now?— Twenty-four.

Witness gave the names of the vessels. He also said that the company had disposed of the Wellington-Neisoii trade and the vessel formerly employed in that trade was now idle.

Mr Young: Most of the ships laid up are old vessels?—l do not know the proportion. Many of them are old vessels.

Are you not trying to get rid of those ships in order to acquire more modern ships a.nd ships of greater carrying capacity?—l cannot answer that question precisely. Witness said lie thought roughly speaking the tonnage of ’ the company’s ileot was about the same as.it was in 1914.

After further questions Mr \oung aliked if the conipanv made a profit of £93.000 in the course of twelve months, would it not seem practicable to make a reduction in favour of freight without encroaching upon, men’s wages?

Witness: 1 have no opinion to express upon that. George Howard Norman, employed in the olfiee of the Union Company, gave evidence as to the accuracy of the returns in regard to wages and overtime. * Mr Smith thereupon closed Ins case. In view of the length of the proceedings he said he would not cal! his remaining witnesses hut would reserve the right to reply for the Union Conipanv at a later stage. . Mr Young proceeded to address the Court n't length tracing the conditions of seamen since the 1912 award. Ho intimated that he would present his case which occupies .51 typewritten foolscap sheets, to the Court on the resumption tomorrow morning.