CARGO CONGESTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 145, 21 June 1941, Page 8

CARGO CONGESTION

AUCKLAND WHARVES CONFERENCE DECISIONS A conference convened by the Auckland Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon to discuss the problem of cargo congestion on the Auckland wharves. The chairman of the board, Mr. Hendry Luke, welcomed 30 representatives of interested parties. He said the conference had been called to ascertain if there was any practical wav of improving the work of the port, of easing the difficulties of consignees and generally aiding the Dominion's war effort. Complications had been created, by the war and they desired to overcome these as possible. They must all be prepared to cooperate and to make whatever sacrifices were necessary. Mr. Luke mentioned the recent decision to work overseas vessels day and night and said that the plan might defeat itself if the transit sheds became blocked with goods discharged at night and at weekends when carriers had ceased work and warehouses were closed. . A recent deputation of the Master Carriers' Association had suggested to the board that the sheds could be opened an hour earlier daily and remain open an hour longer in order to effect better clearances from the sheds. "The Harbour Board is prepared to do this and to bear all charges involved in the employment of its staff during those overtime periods, provided shipping companies. carriers, merchants and warehousemen are prepared to cooperate and take advantage of the longer working hours," he said. He suggested that extension of hours, which would only be necessary when ships were worked by night shifts, be given effect to immediately if acceptable to the interests concerned. The board had given consideration to suggestions that there should be some relaxation of its demurrage charges to meet the difficult times, but felt it was not in the interests of the port to do so. The board was willing, however, to consider individual appeals on their merits. Co-operation Promised Mr. Gainor Jackson, on behalf of importers, assured the board that importers would support the proposal for extended hours and he would recommend that warehouses be kept open to conform with the hours worked at the sheds. Mr. L. A. Eady, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Messrs. G. T. Brown and E. J. Bassett welcomed the suggestions. Co-operation was promised by Mr. J. H. Moon, Master Carriers' Association, and Captain R. S. Lewis, Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores' Association. The assistant waterfront controller, Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, assured the board of 100 per cent support of its proposals. Captain Lewis expressed the opinion that the time had arrived for the board to make arrangements for the handling of goods away from the wharves. It might be advisable ,to erect a temporary structure. The ! chairman said he would bring the jproposal before the board. I A resolution was adopted in ! favour of the introduction of longer hours. It provided for the opening of the sheds from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, with an interval from noon to 1 p.m., and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, j Mr. G. S. Reid, district traffic | manager of railways, explained the difficulties of handling goods received after 4.30 p.m., but expressed [the readiness of the Department to i assist. j The chairman said the board ! planned to provide a special area at ja wharf along the waterfront road. This would be taken in hand after the completion of the export wharf. [ A special committee will be i appointed representative of the Auckland Shipping and Stevedores' Association, the Waterfront Commission, the Master Carriers' Association and the board's traffic manager.