PORT CONGESTION AT WELLINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26634, 21 January 1952, Page 6

PORT CONGESTION AT WELLINGTON

FOUR SHIPS WAITING IN STREAM WHARF SHEDS PACKED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 19. There are 10 overseas ships at Wei* lington, awaiting discharge berths, and four are in the stream,, unable to tie up at the wharves because of lack of space. There is an acute shortage of labour on the waterfront. However, shipping authorities say the congestion has been caused by consignees who have failed to empty the wharf sheds fast enough. More cargo cannot be unloaded until shed space becomes available. It is the first time at Wellington that lack of berths has forced overseas ships to lie out in the stream. Shipping men say that the glut of shipping Is an aftermath of the waterfront strike last year, and that the position would probably take several weeks to correct. Priority for discharge is being given the GarryVaie, which Will arrive in port to-morrow with grain /rom Port Lincoln, Australia. Grain is becoming so scarce in the North Island that the Government has ordered priority for the ship. The Waitemata, which arrived from Auckland on January 6, has been idle the longest. She carries about 2000 tons of general cargo from the Pacific Coast to be discharged in Wellington.