AUCKLAND WHARF AND RAIL DEFICIENCIES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 13

AUCKLAND WHARF AND RAIL DEFICIENCIES

WELLINGTON, January 21

Acute deficiences in the railways system in Auckland city and the peculiar financial difficulties of the Auckland Harbour Board are two of the major weaknesses' in the operation of the Port of Auckland revealed by the working party on port and rail facilities. Consisting of a group of Government departmental officers representing the Marine, Railways, Agriculture, Transport and Works Departments, the working party made its report to the Government in December, 1956. The report has not yet been officially released. The working party’s order of reference was to examine the adequacy of New Zealand’s port and railway amenities in handling the increased volume of export produce and to report on measures needed to meet the situation. The report says that efficient loading of refrigerated ships at Auckland is limited to three at a time and that this number is not likely to be increased until new wharves are built. Existing wharves would give improved berthage if they were longer and wider, but shipping is so heavy that it is not possible at present to set aside any wharf for repairs or reconstruction. The report describes the general railway situation at the waterfront as “particularly acute,’’ arising partly from congestion in the main marshalling yard, which is physically incapable of expansion, and partly from the fact that all shunting to the wharves must pass through highly congested Quay street. Marshalling Yards The committee considered that construction of the new marshalling yards at Westfield should be carried out at the earliest possible date. The report is dated December, 1956. An announcement that construction work on the new Westfield yards would start soon was made a few days ago.

There is no serious labour problem, the committee says. The limiting factor to working more

gangs is the inability to maintain sufficient waggons loaded with export produce at the older, shorter, narrower wharves. “We consider the Harbour Board is doing all that can be expected of it to meet the present and future shipping needs.” The committee comments that finance in Auckland is a more difficult problem than in other ports. Dealing with complaints of loading delays at the wharves, the committee says there is a practice of withdrawing empty insulated trucks from the wharves during the forenoon and afternoon. “I? the lunch and tea hours of waterside workers were staggered,” says the report, ‘‘the railways would have a much greater period in which to carry out waggon rearrangement without holding up loading.” Deficiencies The committee details a long list of deficiencies which were reported to it. They include the following:— Wharves: Not long enough t or wide enough. The depth ’for traffic behind the wharves is inadequate. Utilisation: Loading priorities are needed to offset the number of ships discharging. Lighters should be used to relieve congestion. Berth occupation is so high that maintenance cannot be carried out. To assist the Railways Department, the handling of refrigerated ships should be concentrated at the eastern end of the harbour. Poor access: Better provision for road and rail traffic is needed in Quay street and a road crossover is needed on Tamaki drive. Equipment: Cranes are out of date and there are not enough of them. Railways: There is a shortage of waggons and better utilisation could be achieved. The marshalling yards are inadequate. New lines needed: Connexion to the eastern reclamation is needed immediately and rail access to the upper harbour should be made now (1956). Additional lines are needed between the head of the Queen’s and Northern wharves. Labour: Conditions for the handling of lightered cargoes should be revised (This sugges- : tion came from the Harbour' Board).