LONG DELAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1934, Page 9

LONG DELAY.

WANGANELLA PASSENGERS.

DIFFICULTY IN BERTHING.

The arrival of the Wanganella this morning provided another example of the tedious delays which Auckland port formalities often involve. The vessel arrived in port at 7 o'clock, but it was just on three hours later before passengers were able to disembark.

A combination of circumstances was responsible for this particularly long delav, but they tended to emphasise the worth of the public and official agitation, .which has been intensified lately, for a change in the system of granting pratique to intercolonial passenger ships. The Wanganella had more than the usual number of prominent personalities, and there was a crowd of several hundred assembled on the wharf when the ship drew in to her berth on the western side of the Prince's wharf. _A blustering north-east wind and an incoming title made the task of berthing a ship of this size difficult, her large bulk being exposed broadside to the wind and tide.° The first attempt to manoeuvre | her into the .berth proved abortive, owing to the breaking of the stern line. Another line was made fast, and the vessel was gradually warped into her position. It was a slow battle against tho elements, and it was just on nine o'clock when the gangway was placed in position and the port health officer hoarded the ship. Customs officers, Government officials, who were meeting New Zealand's guests from Australia, and quite a number of other privileged people followed close on the heels of the doctor. The medical inspection occupied the usual period, and many of those waiting on the wharf had disappeared before the passengers tripped off.

There could be no question of blaming anvone for this morning's delay, but it certainly strengthened the argument for the abolition of medical inspection of ships from Australia. To-day, however, the inspection could have ben completed in the period in which the -vessel was manoeuvring into her berth. One optimistic passenger wirelessed for the ser- ! vice car to New Plymouth to be held ■up until 8 o'clock, but his expectations of immediately resuming his travels were soon dissipated.