TRADE OF THE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1920, Page 4

TRADE OF THE PORT.

INADEQUATE SHIPPING SERVICE,

! BUSINESS SUFFERING.

QUESTION OF DIRECT IMPORTS,

The question of the inadequacy of the. shipping service between Wellington and New Plymouth has exercised the minds of the business men of Taranaki for a long time, but to-day the position is worse than it Gas been for a long time. There lias practically been no vessel with cargo from Wellington to New Plymouth since the Kokiri on March 24. This means that not only are the goods not coming forward, but that importers are paying storage charges on them all the time they are lying in Wellington. The Karamu visited the port a week or two ago, but her cargo consisted chiefly of benzine. The Rini came from Wellington about ApriJ 24, with a consignment of coal. .NJie had waited in the port of Wellington for several days in the hope of being able to load New Ply* mouth cargo, but. on account of thd scarcity of labor and the fact that her coal was wanted urgently here she was dispatched without loading anything for this port. The Rosamond was scheduled to load at New Plymouth but has been delayed, and the latest advice as to her movements is to the effect that she will not now be able to leave Wellington before Tuesday next. Representations have been made to tile shipping companies from time to time, and for a short time there was an improvement when tha Mapourika was put on the Lyttelton-Wellington-New Plymouth run, but since she was taken off a little before Easter ehe has not been replaced in this service. At the monthly meeting of the Council of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce yesterday protest was again made against the treatment of the port of New Plymouth and the secretary was instructed to write to the U.S.S. Co., Peking them if they could not do something better than had been done for this port lately. The question of endeavoring to secure direct shipment of cargo to New Plymonth was also mentioned, &nd the President was asked to arrange a meeting of Taranaki importers with a view to ascertaining what cargo could be guaranteed, and if there was sufficient to warrant it representations should bo made in that direction to the shipping authorities.