IMPORTS DELAYED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22110, 4 June 1937, Page 8

IMPORTS DELAYED

MORE COMPLAINTS MADE SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS BLAMED Imports from overseas are still delayed between the ship at Lyttelton and the railways sheds at Christchurch, according to allegations made at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night. The Railways Department was blamed, it being said that a shortage of trucks was the major reason. It was also stated that the building of the proposed new shed will relieve the recurring congestion considerably. The ship Pakeha arrived at Lyttelton on May 27, and the goods were not discharged into the sheds at the Christchurch railway yards until Wednesday of this week, said Mr R. W. Midglej With imports increasing at the rate shown in recent months, the prop jsed new sh.-.d was needed urgently. The frequent delays were another argument for the tunnel road and access to the wharves. The recent delays were attributed by Sir Cyril Ward to the shortage of trucks. The railway offlc rs at Christchurch, he said, had been doing their best, and the shipping companies had now approached the head office of the Railways Decartment. Since the depression inward cargoes from overseas had increased enormously, and there was also greater traffic to th.3 West Coast. He referred to trucks ot potatoes which had been stood aside by the graders before being shipped, and which had not been discharged, thus ;eping the trucks ccc-ied. "The ncv shsd in +he Waltham yard," Sir C>.il addea, "will be of great benefit to the city and to the port. There has been an increase in the rolling stock, but it h'.s not kept up with the growth of tr?de." "If we advocated more -hed accommodation the Railways apartment might prrvide it," remark. l he president (Mr V. E. Hamilton), 'and that might be used as another weapon against the f unnel road." No motion was put to the council, and the discussion lapsed-