IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26621, 18 November 1947, Page 2

IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS

The monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Importers' and Shipping Association was attended by Messrs W. E. Earnshaw (president), S. F. Aburn, A. de Beer, J. H. Edmond, J. Elvidge, J. G. Jeffery, J. C. Somerville and W. J. Winefield. Mr C. J. Darracott was welcomed to a seat on the executive. The secretary reported that he had seen Mr W. A. Stables, secretary of the Hardware Association, strongly urging that arrangements might be made with each local importer of iron and steel from Australia that they should arrange a special brand for each firm, to be reserved solely for them, thus greatly facilitating the stacking of each importer’s iron separately on the wharf, and avoiding the delay and extra work involved in picking out each consignment from a general stack as at present discharged on the wharf. Mr Stables had since advised that he had passed on the suggestion, and that it had been agreed to by those interested. It was decided to obtain, .if possible, a programme of the sailings of the various lines from Canadian ports and from the United Kingdom, to be included in a circular issued by the association to all its members. . , In response to an inquiry from local agents for Dominion coasting steamers regarding the efficient port marking of coastal cargo, replies were received that there was little fault to be found with such markings of cargo shipped in Dunedin for northern ports, but that this was not the case with cargo shipped from other ports destined to Dunedin. Tlie secretary reported‘that he had had a very heavy claim brought before him during the month. In this case valuable cargo had entirely disappeared. While the owners of the vessel involved had met the claim, it was decided to remind all members that when they had similar valuable cargo coming from overseas ports such value must be specially declared at the port of shipment and extra freight paid accordingly, and also that every care must be taken to arrange adequate insurance cover,