'Amongst' the problems arising directly from the Shanghai incident were those connected with shipping, Jdeviated cargo, insurance and inaceessibility of godowns and stocks in the northern area, Immediately on the outbreak of coal hostilities all normal business ceased, vessels in the harbour, discharging or loading cargo, hurriedly took their departure and those en route to Shanghai were diverted to other ports with the result that con siderable quantities of goods were discharged at ports of refuge from [Singapore to Dairen.-—- 'The problem created by this deviated cargo was constantly before your committee, but though certain cargo' urgently wanted was brought) forward by coastal vessels at con~ signees' cost, the bulk of necessity had to remain at ports of refuge until Shanghai was declared safe for Jnavigation and the loading and discharge of ocean vessels. Storage at. ports of refuge was naturally a charge for which consignees were liable, but the question of liability for on-carry-Ing freight from ports of discharge to Shanghai was a matter of serious moment to importers, The shipping companies have in the meantime agreed to make an all round charge of 13/6d per ton to cover charges incurred by them for landing, storing Jand delivering at ports of refuge and at Shanghai and including cost of reloading, no charge being made for freight from port of refuge to Shang-hal, and now that ocean going ves sels have resumed their normal schedules most of the deviated cargo' has been brought forward, A Tribute One cannot dispose of this problem of shipping without paying a tribute to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company (Messrs, Jardine, Matheson Ca.) and the China Navigation Ca, (Messrs. Butterfield & Swire) for maintaining their coastal service throughout the hostilities and thus rendering an inestimable service not only to the commercial community ut to the whole Shanghai _community, whose communication would otherwise almost have been cut off completely, Of equal importance to commerce was the question of the insurance cover on deviated cargo, in connection with which it has not been possible to obtain a uniform adjust ment on account of the varying interests covered and the number of individual companies operating, Your Commitice felt that as the policies. Issued provided insurance cover from port to port, the insurance companies were not justified in charging extra premia, beyond a small addition, to cover the'risks incidental protracted storage at the refuge port, and that additional charge [should not be made either for marine for war risk from port of deviation to final destination, In connection with this matter your committes has been Jand is still in touch with the London Chamber of Commerce and the [Federation of British Industries, and itis hoped that some adjustment may bbe obtained which will enable merchants to recover a part of the addi tional premia already collected.
Though not directly attributable to the Shanghat hostilities, the decision of insurance companies not to cover: war risk on goods until they are jioaded on ocean going vessels creates difficult situation for exporters who fare thus unable to secure war risk cover from warehouse 10 warehouse, Te seems unreasonable that war risk cannot be covered for cargo from say' }Hankow to Shanghai if shipped by river steamer or from Shanghai to Woosung by river craft, though were the goods shipped by ocean vessels Jor coastal steamers for the same: voyage such cover could be readily Jobtained, 'This matter is being taken up with' London as the ruling seems unreasonable and it is hoped that representations may secure some modification more favourable to exporters,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.