HEAVY HOLIDAY SHIPPING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25363, 10 December 1947, Page 8

HEAVY HOLIDAY SHIPPING

BUSINESS FIRMS TO ACCEPT GOODS CARGO CONTROL COMMITTEE’S DIRECTION Business houses in the city are to be directed by the Christchurch-Lyttel-ton Cargo Control Committee to take delivery of any consignments of goods which arrive during the holiday period. This enforcement of the Cargo Control Emergency Regulations, 1947. has been made necessary by the volume of shipping expected at Lyttelton, which is estimated to be twice the amount usually handled. The chairman of the committee, Mr J. L. Laby, said yesterday that the heavy volume of shipping would last for some time after the holiday period, and he asked for the fullest co-opera-tion of all concerned.

The secretary of the committee, Mr A. E. Benzie, said that the committee had been informed that 14 overseas vessels, containing more than 23,000 tons of cargo, were expected, and in addition there would be about 15,000 tons of coastal cargo. This total of about 40,000 tons w r as twice the amount handled at the same period last year. “There is a terrific congestion at the present time,” Mr Benzie said. “Vessels are being worked only part time, waiting for empty trucks. The additional cargo coming forward will accentuate the corffeestion, and it would be difficult to handle such a quantity, even in a non-holiday period.” The increased shipping would apply to Auckland and Wellington, as well as Lyttelton, Mr Benzie said, and he understood that similar measures were being taken there.

Railway Department’s Efforts The Railway Department would be hampered in meeting the exceptionally heavy shipping by a shortage of staff, sadi Mr W. A. Breach, District Traffic Manager at Christchurch. Every measure was being taken to meet the situation and to get more staff. The department’s difficulties were increased by the demands of seasonal work—the cartage of grain, wool and seeds—and the heavy West Coast coal traffic. The present staff was working long hours, and would continue to work long hours. Already 250 new waggons had been assembled at the Addington workshops, Mr Breach said, and more waggons would be arriving for assembly. Two shifts were being worked on this jpb, and overtime was being worked on urgent repair work. During the holidays, about 150 men would be employed on urgent repairs. Committee’s Instruction The Cargo Control Committee’s instruction is included in a circular letter which is to be sent to business houses in Christchurch. It reads as follows:

“The Aid to Britain National Council has drawn the attention of the Prime Minister to the volume of cargo scheduled to arrive in New Zealand ports during the next few weeks, and the need to make a maximum effort to clear shipments from wharves and goods sheds as quickly as possible to prevent further serious congestion. The council has recommended to the Government that arrangements be made to stagger the annual holidays normally observed at Christmas and New Year.

. “This question has been considered at a special meeting of the Cargo Control Committee when it was reported that the waterfront industry, New Zealand Railways, and the carriers and customs agents would be working throughout the period with the exception of the four statutory holidays. ‘‘The volume of cargo scheduled for Lyttelton, both overseas and coastwise, is estimated to be approximately double the amount usually handled. “In the circumstances, the Christchurch Cargo Control Committee is reluctantly compelled to direct, in terms of the Cargo Control Emergency Regulation, 1947, that all business houses and agents concerned with the receipt of overseas and/or coastal cargo, must make arrangements with the aid of skeleton staff, or otherwise, to accept immediate delivery of any consignment which arrives during the holiday period. “Although heavy penalties are provided under the Cargo Control Emergency Regulations for non-compliance with the directions of the Committee, the committee feels certain that consignees will carry out this duty imposed on them in a public spirited way as their contribution towards the Aid to Britain effort” Individual offenders against the regulations are liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £5O, with a fine of £5 a day if the offence is a continuing one. In the . cases of companies or other corporations, the fine shall not exceed £2OO, with £2O a day for continuing offences.