To the Editor of the "NortH-Cuva Dary News"
Si—Local traders who have occasion to ship cargo to Tientsin may find it advisable to ship only by steamers which are destined to dock on the Bund in that northern city and profit from the unpleasant experience of one of the foreign firms here.
The said firm neglected to ascertain whether the 4feamer in which the shipment was made, was due to go up to the Tientsin Bund or not, and it happened that the good ship went only as far as Tangku where she discharged her cargo overside into lighters for transhipment to Tientsin.
On receiving the -consignment, the consignees found the cargo ina terrible condition—packings broken, contents short or damaged, The worse is yet to come. The cargo was a re-export lot and insured for the voyage to Tientsin by a different company from that which had covered it for the voyage from abroad. The present underwriters Fepudiated responsibility on the ground that according to established insurance practice, re-export cargo—unless examined before reshipment—can only be insured under FPA, terms exclusive of such extraneous risks as theft, pilferage, breakage, chafing, water damage, ete., it being impossible to determine at final destination whether the loss or damages' sustained had occurred while the cargo was covered under the old policy or under the new policy. 8 It is particularly unfortunate. that the importers of foreign goods whose business has dwindled much because of the hostilities, should be further subject to these unforeseen additional losses which could be obviated if the shipping companies would make it a point to bring their ships alongside the wharves at port of destination, at Toast for the time being. The unsettled conditions now existing make it easy for wilful pilferage to be perpetrated but dificult to prevent.
Kao Kwok.
Shanghai, Dee. 16.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.