International operations
Page 59
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Mr E. W. Cheesman, White's Portsmouth manager, who is shortly moving to the Botley premises, spends much of his time supervising international operations. The company reckon to be able to quote customers for delivery to any part of the world, thanks to a network of agents abroad and . the know-how derived from long experience. They find Telex communications abroad invaluable, often, in fact, quicker than the telephone. Messages requiring translation are no problem—a specialist London firm will translate any incoming message rapidly.
As a member of the CETI international removers' consortium, White's appreciate the practical help given to back-load vehicles delivering on the Continent. The CETI organization which began as a primarily European-based concern is now rapidly developing inter-Continental links. Portsmouth, with its traditional Service elements, is obviously well placed to participate in the business of international removals.
The CETI organization, whose head office is in Geneva, invariably offer available back-loads to member firms. They do not just load vehicles regardless. With vehicles or containers there are certain constraints — uncontaminated boxes are essential. White's are concerned to avoid any back-traffic that is liable to undue delay at Customs. Whisky and tobacco are not carried.
Another highly successful operation is the specialized Channel Islands container service operated by White and Co in conjunction with the Commodore Shipping Line's Portsmouth-Guernsey service. Movements to Alderney and Sark are transhipped at Guernsey by local shipping lines. The movement is by no means one-way. A great many prosperous families have moved to the Channel Islands in search of sun, quiet and—to be realistic—a tax haven. But there is a good deal of household furniture from the Channel Islands to Portsmouth, owned by professional people working in the Islands for relatively short periods. White's are so well known for their Channel Islands service that they are frequently engaged by inland operators to undertake the complete movement, collecting from anywhere in the UK. Realizing the fame of Hampshire as a centre for the electronics industry, I was not surprised to learn that the company have developed a valuable side-line in export packing and movement of goods to all parts of the world. One local firm despatched cold room equipment to'—of all places—Antarctica, for installation in a United States observatory.
Land cost factor
Reflecting on the,future of palletized box storage, Mr Elliott said much depended on land costs. He would not be interested in opening a container storage facility in the London area. The new premises at Portsmouth were costing around 50s a foot and racking, containers, etc, added another 50s. Fork-lift trucks costing £4500 each were necessary. Firms unable to face heavy capital expenditure would not be likely to venture into containerization. But the larger firms in the 'industry would, he thought, soon have no choice but to go for the efficiency offered by the new capitalintensive methods.
With five branches and four subsidiary companies in Hampshire, the White organization seems set fair for another century of service. The businesslike approach of the directors and managers and their eagerness to share and deploy to maximum advantage the vast reservoir of experience they are heir to make White's a most interesting phenomenon in a trade sometimes felt to be over-traditional.