OUR WHARF ACCOMMODATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 6 September 1893, Page 2

OUR WHARF ACCOMMODATION.

RECEIVING AND DELIVERING GOODS. ?

DEPUTATION OF IMPORTERS,

A special meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering the question of the receipt and delivery of goods on the wharves. There were present: The chairman —Mr W. Crowther. Messrs R. Farrell, M. Niccol, A. Porter, C. V. Houghton, E. W. Allison, W. Napier, T. Henderson, mombers of the Board ; and B deputation consisting of Messrs M. Clark, A. Bell, G. Harper, G. W. Owen, T. E. Hall, E. A. McCorquodalo, Captain Nearing, A. H. Nathan, Macfarlane, Butcher and Co., Cammei, Smith, W. S. Laurie, Grainger (Hurst and Co.), SanderBon, Morpeth, and several other gentlemen. Tho chairman said he was pleased to see no many gentlemen present. The Board thought ib was time something was done to make things work more smoothly on tho Btawf. The secretary read the correspondence leading up to the present conference, all of which has boon already published. Mr Niccol said the trouble was mainly with the direct ehipment from London. The grain merchants handled their cargoes in a manner that left no reason for complaint. Ships could unload as quickly here as anywhero else, bub goods wore shunted into the sheds and were nob cleared out quickly enough. Mr AH3OII said they were met to hear bhe views of bhe parties interested, and to see what could be done.

Mr Napier did not understand that the grain was excluded. Mr Niccol said the Board could nob with advantage take over tho handling of grain, and do it aa well as it was done at the present time. Mr Morpebh said the receivers were quite willing to form a company, bub they required some protection. Mr Nathan said this was no new question with the Harbour Board. At first ib was said they had not enough shad accommodation. Hisideawas not to interfere with carting at all. The Chamber of Commerce had urged upon the Board that something must be done. Ib aeemod that the receivers wanted a monopoly. All tho Chamber of Commerce asked was that merchants' goods should be placed in the wharf sheds, and the consignees would cart it themselves if necessary. The trouble was in the shed. A receiver would, of course, only remove the gooda for his particular clients. One man with full control could expedite delivery materially. Where mixed cargoes were received tho Board should certainly take ovor the receiving. With grain cargoes, of course, ib was different. At present there were, eight or ten receivers making incomes out of the work. He thought the Board should have one head receiver, with' several deputies. Receivers had ample opportunity in the past to show what they could do, and they Lad nob done anything. Ha thought, therefore, that the Board would be fully justified in taking over tho receiving for the benefit of all. The chairman considered Mr Nathan was fully justified in his remarks about receivers. Mr Alison thought they should hear the opinions of each section present, and then listen to what the receivers had to say on the subject. It was often said that one cause ofdelay was the Customs officers. THE COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS OPINION. Mr Rose said he had no right to bo present officially, but he had attended at the request of the Harbour Board. Complaints had been made with regard to the delivery of cargo from the Te Koa. Tho same cause of delay existed 25 years ago. What waß requisite was^eibher one company of receivers or else that the Harbour Board 6bould take the matter up. Tho main difficulty was in the sorting of the cargo. With these large direct steamers, tho Customs Department gave every facility 50 that vessels should not ba delayed. The goods were rushed into tho sheds, bat fcheie was no person in supreme control. The Harbour Board had been generous in tho matter of providing sheds, but what waa wanted was someone in supremo control. If the receivers formed themselves «.nto a company and sorted out the goods they would also require control of the carting. They could nob sorb out cargo so as to geb at it immediately. There must necessarily under tho present system be somo delay. Whatever was ready to be taken should be carted away irrespective of the owner. If the merchants paid so much per ton for receiving aud carting the evil would be remedied. It had been said that the Customs caused delay, bub he would be glad of suggestions from anyone who knew their business as wall as they did themselves. With their prosent taritl" there must be examination, for consignees were more easy upon the question of Customs dues than anything else. They had not much to complain of regarding the delay of Custom house officials in Auckland. With regard to the Te Koa, she brought 2,500 tons of cargo and was discharged in practically two and a-half days. All the goods were clear of the Customs within that time. The goods should be sorted in the sheds and the carters should take the goods that were ready to go and forward them to the consignees. Any delay ho was prepared to inquire into, bub where ib was requisite for fair trade, and care of the revenue, ho would be firm. Mr Harper said the grain merchants did not require any further legislation. They were able to handle their own goods and clear the sheds in two days. Mr Porter moved the discussion in reference to receiving cargo be confined to goods from England and foreign countries. With regard to grain, manure, coals and timber, the Board would not think they could do the work cheaper than it was at present done. Mr Farrell suggested that the Harbour Board should listen on this day, and deliberate afterwards amongst themselves. Mr Napier agreed with Mr Farrell, and Mr Porter withdrew his motion. Mr Alison said he had never before heard that the grain merchants should be dealt with separately. Mr Rose said his suggestions were only applicable to lanro direct steamers, and nob at all to the intercolonial trade. Mr Alison paid tho whole issue was whether or not the Board should undertake the receiving of cargo. BOARD'S AID NOT WANTED. Mr McCorquodalo said the grain importers were there to protest against the Harbour Board attempting to interfere with their particulnr business. Tho Union S.S. Company had an admirable system for discharging their cargoes that could nob be improved upon by the Harbour Board. They resented interference .from the Harbour Boards. If the Board stepped in between the imrjorters and the steamship companies it would cause difficulty. He questioned whether the Harbour Board would increase the revenue very much from receiving. Besides, the Board could nob do the work any bettor than he could himself. If the Board decided nob to interfere with the produce they would be thankful. A RECEIVER'S IDEA. Mr Morpeth (receiver) said thab if the tfmdUh cargoes were sorted like bhe Union Company did S then the whole difficulty would bo at an end. Mr Winstone said thab was the grievance. Why should nob the English eteamers > M as tfce Union Company did.