Action Against Wharf Charges Deprecated

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 18

Action Against Wharf Charges Deprecated

(New Zealond Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 17. If a proposed action to prevent the Waterfront Industry Commission from collecting wharf handling charges were successful it could only result in increasing costs and wharf handling charges payable by shippers and consignees at Auckland and other New Zealand ports, said the Waterfront Industry Commissioner (Mr A. E. Bockett) in a statement today.

Last week the Auckland Harbour, Board and several firms filed proceedings in the Supreme Court claiming that the commismission did not have the power to collect the charges.

Mr Bockett said he was at a loss to understand why this action should be taken. When wharf handling charges were discussed at the harbours’ conference last March in Whangarei, delegates from harbour boards, including those from the Auckland Harbour Board, had been given the reasons why the commission had agreed to collec the charges, Mr Bockett said. He had suggested that harbour boards carry out the collection as he had considered the boards collecting wharfage on cargo from shippers and consignees should be able at the same time to collect wharf handling charges on behalf of shipping companies and thus avoid a duplication of work. In view of the explanations given to the Auckland Harbour Board delegates, Mr Bockett said he was at a loss to understand why the Court action should be taken. Inquiry Requested Further, at the request of Auckland interests and by agreement with the New Zea-land-European Shipping Association, the Government had asked the Transport Commission to inquire into the principles and structure of wharf handling charges. “It is surprising that before

the inquiry is held, certain interests in Auckland should publicly propose to take court action apparently with the sole object of upsetting the arrangements made between the commission and shipping lines,” Mr Bockett said. The commission had agreed to collect charges to help shipping companies and to avoid any increase in the cost payable by shippers and consignees. . A statement has also been issued by the chairman of the New Zealand-European Shipping Association, Mr J. H. Cook. He said today his association was concerned at the re-

commendation made by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that merchants should not make payment of accounts received from the Waterfront Industry Commission relating to wharf handling charges before consulting their solicitors.

Mr Cook said the new basis of wharf handling had applied at all New Zealand ports from January 1, 1966, and shippers and consignees had already benefited by a freight rebate exceeding £50,000.

The association could not accept the position that payments should not be made because legal proceedings had been taken to test the rights of the commission.