“N.Z. Ports Slowest, Most Expensive”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30451, 27 May 1964, Page 3

“N.Z. Ports Slowest, Most Expensive”

(New Zealand Press Association) ■ . ELLINGTON, May 26. The master of the Japanese freighter Nankai Maru, Captain Shiro Sogoh, said today he considered New Zealand ports were the slowest and most expensive to work in the world."

The Nankai Marti is loading wool, bonemeal, scrap metal and timber at eight ports. It is her first time on the coast. For the last 13 years she has traded from Japan to Far Eastern ports, Africa, America and the Persian Gulf. Captain Sogoh said he had talked with many other Japanese captains who shared his opinion. They considered New Zealand watersiders worked too slowly, were extremely concerned with safety, and that there were too many stoppages.

“In India and America, the men bring lunches. On some the ship and part of the gang carries on while the others stop and eat,” he said. “The

ship does not take long to discharge. “Here the men cease work when it rains slightly—and it adds up to the cost.” He also criticised the placing of double plates over the cargo as an extra safety measure for men to walk on. The Nankai Maru has called at Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Bluff, Timaru and Lyttelton. Conditions were similar at all ports, he said. To load she had taken nearly a month and had still to call at Napier and Mount Maunganui. Captain Sogoh predicted the ship would be away from Japan on the round voyage about three months.

“This is much too long,” he said.