STEAMER EXPRESS WHARF

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27165, 8 October 1953, Page 13

STEAMER EXPRESS WHARF

Railways Blamed For Delay In Repairs “NOT HARBOUR BOARD’S FAULT” The Lyttelton Harbour Board was not responsible for the delay in the completion of the inter-island steamer express wharf in time for the arrival of the Maori 111 and the Christmas rush, said Mr F. W. Freeman at a meeting of the board yesterday. “I would like the public to know that it is not the harbour board’s fault, but the fault of the railways themselves,” said Mr Freeman. “Two years ahead a warning was given that the Maori was going to be built, and there is no stable ready for her. It is the railways who are to blame.” “The public are now aware that the wharf will not be ready. This can be pin-pointed to the fact that the wharves are dual-controlled,” said Mr G. Manning. “The weakness is that the wharf is not under single control.” Mr Manning’s remark initiated a discussion on the control of the wharves, which had been mentioned earlier in the meeting. e The chairman (Mr J. Halligan) had said in a report that the principal matter affecting the board at the Harbours Conference at Timaru last month was a statement by the chairman of the-Railways Commission (Mr W. E. Hodges) about harbour boards at railway ports “taking over the control of their ports.” . . “Judging by the impressive Ministerial display, it must have been a very important conference/’ said Mr Freeman. “The Minister of Railways (Mr W. S. Goosman) was there with his under-secretaries and the whole Railways Commission. I regard it as rather ominous.”

“The less said the better, I think.” said Mr Halligan. About 90 per cent, of' the renewal of beams and decking for the steamer express wharf (No. 2 east) had been completed, said the engineer (Mr J. A. Cashin) in a report. Last month 10,000 square feet of decking had been laid, 22 piles were driven, and 60 fitted, and new mooring piles installed. Two new cargo-handling railway tracks had been laid. The passenger track had yet to be renewed.