SHIPPING FACILITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1926, Page 4

SHIPPING FACILITIES

DUNEDIX - CO.MPLA I NTS. DUNEDIN. June 23. It is announced that although the passenger service between New Zealand and Melbourne has been temporarily suspended owing to the withdrawal of the Manuka to undergo annual survey and overhaul, Dunedin merchants will be catered for as regards the carriage of freight from Australia. The Karetu will load at Sydney and Melbourne next week for Wellington. Lyttelton. Dunedin and Bluff. The Waikouaiti will load general merchandise and produce at Wellington, Lyttelton, Tiniaru. Dunedin and Bluff next week for Melbourne and Sydney. About the middle of July the Waikoauiti will load at Australian ports for Bluff, Dunedin, Lyttelton and Timaru. Tim Manuka’s overhaul will probably occupy only two or three weeks, and she should therefore take up her former running in the Melbourne service some time ill Julv.

Commenting on the above statement this morning, a Dunedin importer who is in a large way of business, said:—‘‘The cargo service hitherto, maintained by the Karetu and Waikouaiti between Sydney and South Island ports has turned out very useful and lias been much appreciated, and J, in common with merchants generally, feel deeply disappointed at the news that it is to be spoiled, for it will be spoiled for us if these vessels are to extend their voyages so as to include Melbourne and an occasional call at Wellington. It will be noticed, that the occasional cal] at Wellington is being initiated 'promptly. The Karetu is to lake in Wellington on her present trip. The lengthening of the tour means, of course, that South Island merchants will 'li awe to wait a longer time for their goods. Even under the arrangement as existing before this announcement, wc were under a serious disadvantage as compared with Wellington and Auckland merchants, for those ports enjoy a regular weekly service by steamers that run to time-table, and in any case, the run between Sydney and Auckland or between Sydney and Wellington, occupies only four days. What are we to expect in the matter of delivery now that the Ivaretu and Waikouaiti are to steam between Melbourne and Sydney 'i We shall be lucky if we get our goods in ten days from loading in Australia. Probably we in:iv count oil ten days to a fortnight. The position is quite unfair to the South Island, and all the worse because nobody can think of a workable remedy. Some persons think that Dunedin is rich enough to buy and run vessels of its own. So it is. Wc could get the necessary steamers. The question to which no answer is forthcoming at present is whether we could stand up to the cutting competition that would be sure to be used in reply.”

Another prominent business man of this city, asked if he had anything to say on the subject, made these remarks :—“ We were promised a fortnightly service after fighting hard for it. I don’t undervalue the service that the Karetu and iho Waikouaiti have given us. but it has not been a fortnightly service. I have by me a complete list of the arrivings and departiiigs, and I (ind that from June last year to June this year the shortest period between the arrival at Dunedin of these Sydney steamers lias been fourteen days, and the longest period thirty-three days, whilst the average for the fifteen trips been just on twenty-one days. That is not a fortnightly service. I am dismayed when I think of what it will lie when the two vessels named arc on the extended route.”