DELAYS AT PORTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21329, 23 November 1934, Page 8

DELAYS AT PORTS

BAD IMPRESSION FOR VISITORS "RED TAPE" METHODS The red-tape methods of the New Zealand authorities in admitting overseas visitors to the ports of the Dominion were criticised strongly yesterday by Mr P. W. D. Hall, of Christchurch, who has just returned from a trip to Australia. "The delay and annoyance perhaps does not matter so much to New Zealanders, who are used to it, but to visitors from overseas it must certainly appear foolish," he said. Before arriving at Australia the ship's medical officer on the vessel containing Mr Hall sent a radio messago assuring a clean bill of health among the passengers, and so at Sydney there was no inspection. Forms required by the Customs Department were circulated long before the arrival. Passengers filled these in, they were collected by the stewards and handed to the purser, who was responsible to the authorities for their collection. On arrival at Sydney, passengers wore thus able to walk off the vessel without any delay. They went into a very long shed for luggage examination, where the arrangements were very complete, and there was an absence of congestion. On the return to New Zealand, however passengers had to assemble in a queue and pass before the shin's doctor, although apparently no sickness was suspected. It was purely a formality, the doctor merely glancing at passengers as they Tiled past, but much time was lost in the process. Forms. exactly similar in the questions asked to those issued before reaching Australia, had previously been handed to passengers. But instead of the stewards collecting these, the New Zealand customs authorities reauired that they should be handed in by passengers personally. So, after walking past the ship's doctor, passengers had to form up in another aucue in another part, cf the vessel and file past an official who collected the forms. Uach operation occupied anything up to three-quarters of an hour. Eight passengers had wirelessed Wellington booking passages in the Tamahine for the Wellingtorf-Picton crossing, but because of the time they were held on the Wanganclla after arrival Ihey missed the connexion by five minutes. The arrangements tn the customs sheds in Wellington did not compare with those in Sydney. In Wellington only a portion of the shed was utilised by the customs officials, with the result that there was congestion and delay. Mr Hall did not get clear of the shed until about two hours and a half after arrival.