CARGO GEAR AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 6

CARGO GEAR AT AUCKLAND

STEVEDORES’ REPLY TO MR LANGSTONE

(New Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND. October 13. Exception of the statement made in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by Mr F. Langstone (Independent Labour, Roskill) that the Port Line was the only shipping line at Auckland that kept its*gear “up to scratch” has been taken by the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores Association. In a statement, the association said Mr Langstone’s remarks, admittedly based on information he had received from one man, were patently absurd. His assertion was a reflection on the Marine Department, which imposed rigorous standards on cargo handling equipment and saw these standards were maintained.

The meat shipping companies had their own gear stores and maintained their staffs in them, said the statement. The Harbour Board supplied only larger items of cargo-handling equipment. Slings, hand-trucks, trays, and a hundred and one other items were supplied by the companies. The suggestion that this was not being done properly aroused a good deal of antagonism among gear store workers, mostly old sailors, who took pride in their work.

“The Port Line owns no gear, as its stevedoring is carried out by the Auckland Stevedoring Association." the statement added. “Mr Langstone’s assertion that the Port Line is the cnly one which has its freight ready to load when ships come alongside is also quite absurd.” Shipping companies relied on quick, economic handling and arrangements to have cargo on the wharves in its correct loading order and in time were made beforehand.