PORT BERTHAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 3

PORT BERTHAGE.

TOURIST STEAMERS. "FACILITIES ARE LIBERAL" I RESPONSIBILITY TO SHIPPING. The chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. C. G. Maeindoe, in reply to statements made about shortage of berthage accommodation at Auckland wharves, and the berthing of overseas tourist steamers at King's wharf, said to-day that there was 110 port of importance in the world where the delay of a few hours in the berthage of vessels was not a matter of more or less regular occurrence. Mr. Maeindoe said statement? that had been made were likely to convey a wrong impression, particularly to people further afield than Auckland. A harbour authority which provided facilities 011 a scale which would ensure berths being immediately available for each arrival regardless of how the working of vessels already in port had been delayed by bad weather or other circumstances would impose such a heavy burden in charges on shipping and the community that it was to serve that its name would become a by-word. With reference to passenger vessels berfhing at the King's wharf, Mr. Maeindoe said that the facilities there were equal to those at any of the other wharves. These were not surpassed in any other port in New Zealand, or any port of its size in the world. The port recently had been very busy, but it had not been congested, nor had any passengers been inconvenienced. ' The board was keenly alive to its responsibilities to shipping and to passengers arriving at or leaving Auckland, Mr. Maeindoe addled, and the board could be relied upon to add to the existing port facilities in plenty of time to prevent any state of congestion arising.