WEST COAST TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1924, Page 4

WEST COAST TRADE

WELLINGTON’S SHARE. WELLINGTON, April ib The following letter from the Westland Shipping, Company was received by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at its meeting yesterday afternoon: “It has been brought under our notice that the Wellington merchants- have been at a disadvantage in sending their gcods to the West Coast through not having a regular service, and to obviate this grievance we have decided to place the s.s. Tees, in the Wellington-West Coast trade, and if possible, to Tim a weekly service. . . . Our 'present time-table will l;e:—Sailing from Grey-' mouth every Wednesday, Wellington every Saturday, arriving here on Monday mornings. We find the cargoes front this end, but the difficulty has been the return freights from AYcilington. 'Phis vessel is specially suited for this trade, and class AT at Lloyd’s, and an average speed of 10 knots. QUESTION OF FREIGHT. A letter was also received from the Westland Committee of the Canterbury Progress League, thanking the chamber for making representations to the shipping companies as to the need for a better steamer service and chenpcr freights. “The question of freights (added the. letter) will in most cases determine the matter of trading relations between the various centres, and tlie cheaper freights now olTeiing will doubtless retain to Wellington a measure of the traffic of which in the past that port enjoyed practically a monopoly. This committee fully appreciates vour chamber’s efforts, and offers its co-operation in matters where it may assist.” MILTJNG-SHIFPING COMPANY. From Okarito, Mr James Donovan, wrote saying that the trade of the district could he diverted to Wellington if they had an auxiliary vessel with sufficient power to carry timber, the district, being, be claimed, the best timber country in Westland. Did the chamber, he asked, think that the AVelliugton people would join in forming a milling and shipping company, with a capital of, say £Booo—the vessel to carry timber to Wellington and take hack merchandise for the district. To this the secretary of the chamber bad replied that company promotion was outside tlic scope of its activities. but suggesting that Air Donovan should write to the timber firms in the city (names supplied), who might possibly discuss something in that line. The president of the Chamber (Air J. Myers) said that the Chamber of Commerce had done what it could in the matter of West Coast trade, ami it was now up to the merchants to take advantage of the facilities offer-