Shipping Pressure Likely To Continue

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30898, 3 November 1965, Page 1

Shipping Pressure Likely To Continue

Ships were expected to arrive at Lyttelton at the present high rate until Christmas, and the rate could increase between Christmas and the end of January, the Harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) said yesterday. “That is the usual trend,” he said.

It was impossible to say how much cargo would have to be unloaded from them, as berthing dates were too far in the future, Captain Champion said.

The general manager of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr A. J. Sowden) said the influx of shipping depended to some extent on the weather in other New Zealand ports. Because of that and also because of the congestion in other New Zealand ports it was not possible to predict accurately the tonnage which would have to be handled at Lyttelton before the end of January. Waterfront work yesterday was hampered by showers. 312 Men Needed At 7 a.m. an additional 312 men (20 gangs) were needed. The Moanui and Waikare were idle, and the Fremantle Star, Saracen, Abel Tasman, and Parera were shortmanned. However, the Prima Maru,

Maranui, Main Lloyd, and Squall sailed, and the Haparangi berthed after being in the anchorage since Sunday afternoon. Road transport expedited the discharge of copper from the Kaitoke, which was fully manned, and today road transport will be used to take bananas from the Chilean Reefer when she arrives from Guayaquil (Ecuador). At Cashin quay, the intercolonial freighter, Koraki, has been berthed since last Thursday. It is expected that she will complete the discharge of 1000 tons of Australian cargo and sail today. The next vessel to use the quay may be the Union Steam Ship Company’s Wairimu, which has about 1000 tons of Eastern cargo for discharge. The Wairimu, due at the week end, will be on her last voyage as an Eastern trader, and will load about 150 tons of cargo for South Australia. She is to be replaced in the Eastern service by the Wainui later this month. If the weather remains settled, there are some indications that the congestion will ease by the week-end, in spite of the expected arrival of more vessels. MANUFACTURERS’ VISIT The president of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association (Mr C. W. Mace) and the association's secretary (Mr R. T. Alston) yesterday inspected facilities at Lyttelton. The fytteion Harbour Board’s traffic manager (Mr J. Graham) and the District Traffic Manager of Railways (Mr M. R. Leineweber) accompanied them, and discussions were also held with Captain Champion. Mr Mace later said it had been agreed that direct arrivals at Lyttelton from overseas would ensure an even spread of shippng and so eliminate the peaks which Lyttelton experienced from time to time. There was also every likelihood that Cashin quay would soon be used to a greater extent. That would relieve railway waggon congestion and would give importers direct access to the new transit shed on the quay. The main difficulty was an acute labour shortage at peak periods in both the railways and on the waterside. “IMPRESSED” Mr Mace said that he and Mr Alston had been impressed to see the port being worked by watersiders in atrocious weather. Mr Mace said his associa-l

tion was considering talks on the congestion problem with other bodies, including the carriers’ association and the Port Employers’ Association, both of which could and did play a vital part in meeting the congestion problem. Manufacturers had to co-op-erate with the railways, and if necessary their storage would remain open over the Christmas period to receive goods from the Christchurch railway sheds. However, labour was the key. The expected influx of university students to the railways after their examinations should meet the situation to a considerable extent. FREQUENT TALKS

“The association has decided to continue to have frequent meeting with the Harbour Board officers and the railways, probably weekly," he said. “The situation will be judged on a day-to-day basis, especially over the Christmas period."

Mr Leineweber said there was a backlog of waggons from the wharves waiting to be cleared, but more staff was needed. The department had been advertising and was getting “a few” but could employ 50 casual workers.

The railways usually got a “good drag” of university students, but he did not think that even a full staff could clear the existing backlog before Christmas. However, it was hoped to make a big hole in it.

“More ships are coming in all the time,” he said. The Christchurch railway goods sheds would be working over the Christmas period on the days on which watersiders worked. CARRIERS’ PART

The chairman of the Christchurch Road Transport Association (Mr N. S. Bidwell) said yesterday that his association would give its fullest support to the appeal Mr Mace made on Monday to the business community for the urgent clearance of goods from railway sheds. “Carriers are already doing their part in the clearing of goods from the goods sheds. Ability to expedite delivery naturally is affected by the availability of cargo and the shortage of labour at the sheds,” he said. “Carriers are working extended hours from the sheds, but require the co-operation of manufacturers, importers, and warehouses to extend their hours for the receipt of cargo to enable full advantage to be taken of the extended hours of work at the railway goods sheds,” he said.