A SHIPPING PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1929, Page 8

A SHIPPING PROBLEM

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT TRADE. i DIFFICULTIES OF MULTIPLE ' ‘ PORTS. One of the important problems as sociated with the export trade of the Dominion is that of the multiplicity o' “direct” loading ports at which over seas steamers have to call in the course of a single voyage. Not infrequently big ships after discharging their outward cargoes at three or more main ports, have to call at as many as eight or nine ports, involving much steaming and often delay to load a homeward cargo of frozen meat, wool, dairy produce, etc. One aspect of this problem is discussed in a circular just issued by the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board concerning the shipment of butter to Halifax If or the Eastern Canadian market, under the board’s freight contract with the shipping companies. The question of shipment to Halifax under sale contracts, winch call for shipment during specified months, has been discussed by the board’s representatives with the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee. “ Shippers in this Dominion,” remarks the circular, “ must all be conjVersant with the many loading difficulties encountered on this coast, over ■some of which the shipowners exercise no control. Inclement weather and Roadstead loadings are two such problems bearing upon any vessel’s adherence to time-table date. For the last season, shipments to Halifax called for space allocations to as many as nine .ports *in the Dominion in one steamer, all for loading during one particular calendar month.”

SHIPPING COMPANIES’ CONDITIONS. While the Shipowners’ Committee will, as usual, endeavour to meet all the requirements of the trade, the board considers it advisable that shippers should' not enter into contracts guaranteeing shipment.in any particular month, as under the circumstances pientioned shipowners cannot undertake to have vessels available at every port during each month. Contracts {should, therefore, if possible he made giving a range of two months during which shipment may be made. For instance, a clause should he adopted giving right olf shipment during November and/or early December. Shippers would thus be protected in the case of, say, the November ship not being able to load at some port or ports until early December.

The board expresses the opinion that if exporters acquainted their Canadian clients of the conditions governing shipments in this Dominion and point out the difficulties of catering for all the trade, also that as far as shipping space is concerned all exporters are placed on an equal basis (no special concession being available- to any one exporter) and a]so that at least one steamer a month will cater for this trade, the difficulties of all concerned will be greatly reduced. „ Applications for space reservations wnl be handed to the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee for consideration and when confirmed by them it will be a privso that space booked is subject to the conditions enumerated above, that is to say, that every effort will be made to give shipment in the month desired, though no guarantee can be given that shipment will be available at any paticular port in a specified month particularly so when exporters are making sales and applying for space several months ahead. This arrangement will apply also to forward sales for Great Britain, -though on account olf there being so many steamers loading each month for this destination, the difficulty of meeting shippers’ requirements is not so great. Selling factories, however, are reminded that when calculating what dairy produce they may have for sale for shipment in any one particular month, butter and cheese must be at least four clear days in cool store after grading before shipment can be made ; and, further, that a percentage of the make in the flush months of the season is delayed in shipment for perhaps five to six weeks after grading. That is in accordance with the decision olf the board relative to regulations of shipment, and further that the system of shipment to London according to grading date must he strictly adhered to irrespective of whether the produce is sold or to go forward on consignment. Sold produce cannot claim priority of shipment merely because certain quantities are required to complete contracts.