HANDLING OF CARGO.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 155, 1 July 1914, Page 7

HANDLING OF CARGO.

THE CARTERS' ASSERTION. REJECTED BY HARBOUR BOARD. A vigorous protest was ma Ie by tbe Harbour Board yesterday at the suggestion that the handling of goods from the top floor of the tJueen's wharf sheds is more costly than handling goods on the ground floor. The matter came up in reference to a circular which the Master Carriers' Association lias distributed among the importers of the city to the effect that the association, "in order to meet the extra cost of handling grain, produce, and manure through the upper storey of the Harbour Board's shed at the Queen Street wharf had resolved to add to the present charge an additional charge of Od per tot. for manures, and 3d per ton for grain and produce. The chairman of the Hoard (Mr. J. 11. Cunson) reminded the members of the circumstances in which the tnp floor nf the shed had first been used during the time of the strike. On subsequent occasions the top floor had again been used, and always with the same successful results—the same expedition in unloading from the ship, and no disability in -any way whatever for either importers or carriers. The carriers con-j corned bad simply taken this opportunity to raise their tariff, and it was the duty of the Hoard to make the position clear. He accordingly moved: 'That this Hoard, having had brought under its notice a circular dated 25th June, and issued by the Carriers' Association, emphatically protests, in the interests nf the consignees of the port, against the suggestion that the handling of goods from the to]) floor of the Queen's wharf sheds is more cosily, and therefore warrants increased charges, and asserts that there is nn reasonable ground whatever for such a course of net inn." Mr. (1. R. Hutchinson seennded the motion, remarking that experienced carters li.ul stated that they preferred using the top Hood. Mr. P. Virtue agreed with .Mr. Hutchinson. His firm handled as much grain as any. and was quite satisfied with the arrangements. The motion was unanimously adopted, and it was further decided to forward a copy of il to the principal importers.