MERCHANTS' APPEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 14

MERCHANTS' APPEAL.

GOODS IN WHARF SKEDS.

RAIL TRANSPORT PROBLEM

Auckland fertiliser merchants appealed to the Harbour Board yesterday through their association, for a 50 per cent rebate on the hea\y demurrage charges levied on imported fertilisers held up in the wharf sheds through lack of railage facilities. They stated that great difficulty had been experienced in some,instances in obtaining railway wagons'.

"Although not so pronounced as in previous years, the inability of the Railway Department to tuke prompt delivery of bulk fertilisers from the wharves has again caused concern to the merchants," said the superintendent of the board, Mr. D. Holderness.

At the same time the superintendent considered that the concession asked for, which had been granted last year, was greater than appeared to be justitic.l this season, and its method of application did not apportion the relief according to. the energy displayed by merchants to obtain transport for their goods. He considered that every effort should be made to cleiir tin- siiecls and so increase the ellUiencv of tin- port. The chairman, Mr. W." B. Darlnw. smKI the hoard must act in the interests of all parties, and the clliciency of the port was the first consideration. Ho suggested that the position would be met if each case for relief in the charges was considered on its meritß.

A decision was accordingly made that consideration be given only to the remission of the penal rate of demurrage on consignments were held up for more than a week.