§ Sir John Hallasked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he is taking about the increasing difficulty in shipping export goods due to delays at the ports and particularly to the shortage of containers.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe provision of container services for exports is a matter for the carriers. I have received a number of representations about the position on the trades to Australia and the Far East.
My Department has discussed the matter with the Australia Conference Lines. They cite an unprecedented volume of export cargo coupled with delays to ships and containers in overseas ports as reasons for the difficulties which some exporters are experiencing. The lines tell us that they have been able to improve the situation to some extent by chartering additional ships but that there are very few suitable vessels under any flag which are not already fully employed.
The attention of the Economic Development Committee for the Movement of Exports has been drawn to the situation. Exporters themselves can help by maintaining contact with the Conference Lines through their associations and by forecasting their requirements for space well in advance.