DIRECT SHIPMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3509, 27 April 1912, Page 11

DIRECT SHIPMENTS.

BETTER SERVICE REQUIRED. WHAT GISBORNE CAN OFFER. The question of obtaining -a direct service with shipments from Home to Gisborne is a subject that has occupied the attention of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce for some time past. s A communication from the shipping companies trading between England and. New Zealand, which has already been published, stated that they did not consider that at the present time there was sufficient inducement to inaugurate the system. Recently, however, Mr W. E. Cederwa.ll and the secretary (Mr Hamilton Irvine) interviewed the principal local importers to ascertain the amount of Home, goods brought to Gisborne during a year. Mr Irvine, in consequence, reported to yesterday’s meeting of the Chamber' that about 5320 tons of goods came into Gisborne during the year. Besides this there were a number of firms who got their goods from their head offices -which, if the' direct system of importation was inaugurated would come straight to Gisborne. If the steamers were monthly all the drapery would also be forwarded by them. The figures submitted showed a good increase on those presented to the shipping companies previously. The chairman (Mr J. W. Bright) said that he thought that this information quite warranted the Chamber in rc-opening the ease with the shippin o- companies. They might be able to make a counter-proposition of a boat everv alternate month. Mr O’Meara pointed out that there was an arrangement at Napier whereby the goods were transhipped at a small cost and if Gisborne could got a similar arrangement it would be eaCederwall said that the Tyser lino was the only one that took goods direct to Napier. The chairman said that it looked ns though there would be 6000 tons of cargo per year. Fertilisers, tor instance, were not included, and they would form a good item. •, Mr Kirk said that he thought that the Chamber should follow up the matter and should again approach the shipping companies, they had nan a certain amount of encouragement from the letters previously received, and if the service was only it would be something. He moved : “That the data gathered by the secretary he forwarded to the shipping companies with further representations from this chamber. The chairman: It would not be a bad scheme to go into details. Mr Anderson -. It would strengthen the position. The secretary: If' the company ■would put a boat on sav six months from now and give it a trial the local importers could advise their London agents to ship by it. The motion was seconded by Mr Anderson and earned.