DIRECT SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1920, Page 6

DIRECT SHIPPING.

(Con (.limed from page four) A communication was read from Messrs. Collett and Co., New Plymouth, agents for the C. and D. Line, as follows: — Oct. 13, 1320. President, Tarannlti Chamber of Commerce,— Sir,—Follow'ni: upon our interview this afternoon the subject of imports from tl-e United Kingdom to New riyinouth witlout transhipment, we now havo pleasure to confirm the statement that our company is prepared to call at this port provided a minimum cars" of sa>' 1000 tons can be secured for discharge here. "As your Chamber of Commerce (in cooperation with other similar bodies in Taranaki), has so actively engaged itself in the matter of imports to New Plymouth, we should be clad to receive from your Chamber any suggestions or recommendations that may assist us to serve tfce interests r.C importers in this province to the best sdvant"Possibly, in ord"r to seeure fro ivc.'ired guarantee of cargo !.t may be ~n\?:i r.coessary to give importers here ample ivn« to communicate with their British it Continental shippers, therefore wo shag. ;wait steps." The New Zealand Shipping Comply wrote as follows: —

"Regarding the proposed d : r-c ; . service from London to New Plymouth, this Is a matter that is entirely in t'n:) h anils of the London office, hut we suggest that the committee should ascertain from importers the quantity of cargo thero will he available for shipment, and the tnonth3 in which it could be shipped. Tills information should then be sent to a representative In London who would communicate, with our London office and make arrangements for its shipment. "Although we are not in a position to commit our company to any stated service, yet we are satisfied ttat if sufficient inducement is offered, our London office will meet the wishes of the importers iu Taranaki."

SECURING TEE CARGO. Reviewing the correspondence, the speaker said his Chamber had not the Brightest doubt that the minimum cargo could be quite easily secured. laranaki was importing* 37,000 tons per annum, and the amount asked for vvas IUUU tons every three months, a total of only 4000 tons. He thought, the shipping companies should arrange between themselves to put on a boat m January — conditions ,at Home being normal —and this would be the starting jiuinl- for the regular service, which ihey hoped to make more frequent, as trade developed, becoming subsequently a monthly service. As Mr. Maxwell had remarked, Taranaki was one of the most productive, closely settled, and most prosperous parts of tu" Dominion, as was proved by the fact that its exports amounted to five millions sterling per annum, or over £SO per head of population, which was almost double the average for the whole of New Zealand, while it could be said that Taranaki had only touched the fringe of things as yet, and must rapidly develop in the near future. (Hear, hear). It was evident that the trade of the province would increase very considerably, providing the facilities were provided.

nOW WANGANUI COULD BENEFIT. Mr. List said he had suggested to a I meeting of the Council of the Chamber |, recently, that the Wanganui Chamber ' might be interested in direct shipping Willi New Plymouth, seeing that they ; were experiencing the same .difficulties as New Plymouth had been, and the Chamber offered to meet Wanganui representative and discuss the matter with them. His Chamber had taken out figures showing that it was to the interests of Wanganui importers to cooperate with Taranaki in the matter of importing. Slag, which was as important to Wanganui as to Taranaki, 'being one of the essentials in greater production, could be railed from New Plymouth to Wanganui station for ISs (id per ton, including wharfage and sorting fees. He did not know the shipping rate from Wellington to Wanganui; but he felt sure that no shipping company would carry slag for 18s (id per ton. Salt could'be railed to Wanganui for £1 5s 6d. According to advices the . country would have to depend more on outside supplies of cement than in the past; this article could be railed to Wanganui for £1 0s 3d. Drapery could be landed similarly for £!1 15b lid. He. pointed out that this class of goods often measured four times its weight, and he contended that in respect of many i articles of a bulky nature it was cheaper for Wanganui to" import through New Plymouth and use the railway, than to'tranship at Wellington for Wanganui. pay the wharfage and storage there, the coastal freight, marine insurance, and the inward wharfage and sorting charges. It was for the Wangamn • people to go into the matter carefully and see if it was to their advantage, as he believed it was, to use Taranaki's port and thereby assist in establishing a more frequent direct service. Taranaki itself was united on this matter, for it realised the great benefits that must follow regular direct shipments, and was determined to carry the proposal through, feeling that it must prove a thorough success from its inception. The toast was coupled/With the names of the shipping company representatives present, and was replied to briefly by Messrs A. L. Humphries (Cunard C. and D. Line), and D. Morrison (Union Company).

UNITY OF THE PROVINCE. In proposing "Visiting Chambers," Mr C H. Burgess said that in Taranaki they had not always been agreed upon all'matters, and there were many things which affected the whole of the province on which they should stand solidly together to get their dues. He expressed pleasure at the unanimity encountered by the 'Taranaki Chamber when putting forth the recent proposal* warding a direct service. It was. he pointed out, not the New Plymouth but the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and its members were anxious to live up to the title. The function that day was commemorating a notable event, and the representative assemblage was very "ratifying particularly the attendance of visitors from as far as Wanganui. (Applause). On behalf of the ITawera Chamber, .Mr. Mills returned thanks lo the 'J'arniiaki Chamber for the splendid day given visitors, and said he thought it was an excellent idea that the representatives of different districts should meet on inch an occasion. rnfortumUely it was common for the centres to be jealous of one another, which was a great pity; there was no room for jealousy, but plenty of room for friendly rivalry whieli always did good.

Touching' on the progress of the port. Mr. Mills recalled that about thirty-eight years ago he landed at New Plymouth from the Hawea by surfboat. Times were very different nojv, L and some rather significant events hail happened in the meantime. He hart always had faith in the harbor, and said he was rather surprised at a Taranaki

said Taranaki could not load one Home boat in a year. He had a different opinion. Indeed, he forecasted that the province would have a monthly direct service before long and emphasised that the trade and production of Taranaki must grow, seeing thai there was a great deal of its area yet undeveloped. | " The Chairman: About a third of Tara- ! naki is still undeveloped. j The cutting up of tile larger farms and i adopting of scientific farming methods ' would make for greater production and : closer settlement, and this meant greater j trade. i

"TARANAKI'S PORT." Mr. J. B. Richards replied on behalf of Stratford, and following on Mr. Burgess' remarks anent the Chamber of Commerce being designated "Taranaki" said he thought it would be also fitting if the port of New Plymouth was called the "Taranaki'' port. There were a number of people who did not realise the benefits of the port. As had been pointed out, there was ample trade to warrant shipping facilities, but at pros- ; ent it was divided up into various channels, and needed gathering up and diverting into the Taranaki port. The Stratford Chamber had circularised all ! members on the question of direct imports, and one man had shown the j speaker hjs letter paper containing a j phrase which well might be the slogan j for the Taranaki Chamber; it was i "Ship all goods via New Plymouth." Mr. ; Richards mentioned that the Cardiff j Dairy Company was conferring with his I Chamber in connection with a proposal to get all. the Company's requirements l through the Taranaki port. I Mr. Bridger, Eltham, remarked that j New Plymouth had a live Chamber of j Commerce, and the town was no doubt feeling the benefits of its efforts. J:; was fortunate the commercial interests were being looked after by such an active body. The efforts put forth were going to benefit the whole of Taranaki, and the business people of Eltham fully appreciated the possibilities which lay ■in the development of the port. MODEST REQUIREMENTS. Mr. Winficld said the community of Inglcw»,nl looked to New Plymouth, and to the harbor with very great interest. Personally lie was rather surprised at the modesty of the requirements of the shipping company in asking a minimum of J()00 tons, and also at" the modesty of the Chamber in requesting a threemonthly service. He believed his dis-' frict could take the lot. (Applause.) Mr. Winficld said New Plymouth had merchants capable of handling trade. As a retailer he had found Now Plymouth prices compare favorably with those of Wellington even with the extra coastal freights and other charges. "With direct importation," lie said, "we will he expecting even letter prices; from our friends in New Plymouth." (Laughter.) 1 In calling on (he Wanganui representatives, the president expressed the • pleasure felt by the Taranaki Chamber ■ at the friendly feeling shown' by the ! Wanganui Chamber in being represented at that day's function.

WANGANUI'S CONGRATULATIONS. S Mr. 0. A. Brown (president of the | Wanganui Chamber), said the Chamber ' had been unanimous in its deiir? that representatives should come ani congratulate New Plymouth on its achievement in the matter of an overseas service. They in Wanganui did not expect to have a harbor for some time to come. He referred with appreciation to the cordial references made to Wanganui during the speeches. Taraniki had the advantage of a fertile soil, hail developed the dairy industry, and also <-at wed in some directions for the tourist j traffic, and now had a harbor. j "The thing that has impressed me i most in my visit," said Mr. Broivn, "is not only what you have done, hut the spirit of unity and progress shown in pushing things along; it is most refreshing to see the thoroughness with which all seem to grasp the progress of the port." Mr. Brown said he had been interested in the figures referred to by the chairman, but was not competent to discuss the details with him. He had gathered from Wanganui commercial men that on the shipments through New Plymouth the railage charges would kill any business as far as his town was concerned. They were out. to do business, however, if the quotations compared in any way favorably witl( those of Wellington. The feeling was that any trade thit. could legitimately be put through New Plymouth would come this way. "One day.' 1 said, "Wanganui will have a port, and possibly by that time your trade will have grown to such an extent, that vou will not need our business."

WANGANIU'S OPEN MTND. Mr. A. Harris thanked the Taranaki Chamber for the hearty reception given the Wanganui representatives. This was manifestly real and not formal. Regarding the matter of his district trading through Taranaki's port, Mr. Harris said he could say that as far as tie Wanganui Chamber was concerned tie proposal would be received with open minds. Their own harbor was somewhat in the clouds at present, but it was a long lane that had no turning. From

a cursory glance at the New Plymouth wharfage rates, he thought they were just about the same as Wanganui's. With regard to thai chairman's fijgm-es, in which rates on drapery were quoted at £3 15s lid per ton railed to Wanganui, he expressed the opinion that if these "oods .were curried by coastal boats the rate would be nothing like this ligure. No doubt, however, a number of lines could lie profitably shipped via the Taranaki port to Wanganui with advantage to both parties. He congratulated the New Plymouth Board most heartily on the success achieved, and for the opportunity given him of seeing the liner lying safely at her berth. No doubt they would like to see oil gushing out of the bores, but they had "struck oil" in another direction. "I am jealous of New Plymouth's latent power," said the speaker, "which you are about to generate from the snows of the mountain." He proceeded to state, as one with former shipping experience, that the success of 'a port as far as j the owners of vessels was concerned I largely depended on the desgatch they ; got, and one of the greatest factors in ' helping New Plymouth to develop its facilities would be the hydro-electric power which was being harnessed. He wished the Board every success.

The chairman explained that drapery would probably measure four times its web'ht. As sea freight was based on measurement and railway charges on weight, it followed that the £3 los lid weight would be cheaper than sea freight at £1 or £1 lis per ton measurement, plus all the various wharf, sorting and other charges. -^ A TOWER OF STRENGTH. The toast, "The s.s. .Mamari and Officers," was proposed by Mr. J. S. Connett. In referring to the. illness of the chairman of the Harbor Board, the speaker said Mr. King had been a tower of strength in the development of the port, and was responsible for securing the visit of the first overseas boat. The Mamari was the twenty-fourth liner to come here, and he forecasted a bigger trade in the future. Taranaki had in the past been divided, but"this element was disappearing, and he believed it would not be long before the whole of i the shipping interests would centre their ; efforts on the port of New Plymouth. I Evidence of this was given in the loading j of the Port Fine, which took consignI ments from all parts of the province. j Mr. Connett stated the present was the j third occasion on which the Mamari had visited New Plymouth, and they were beginning to look on the ship' as an old friend. They hoped to sec the vessel many more time in the future. The toast was replied to by Captain Summers, who expressed best wishes for the success of the.'movement for direct service to New Plymouth. At the conclusion of the function, a number of the guests were motored tc Pitkekura Park and thence proceeded to "Brooklands" and "Maranui." ft should be mentioned that the luncheon passed off most successfully due in a great measure to the splendid arrangements made by Mr. Home, proprietor of the White Hart, who is tc be congratulated upon the results of his I work.