Requests For Goods Declined

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 1

Requests For Goods Declined

Railwaymen yesterday declared black any goods that had not been placed in goods sheds or delivery sidings in Christchurch.

The district traffic manager of railways (Mr M. R. Leineweber) said that there were about 230 waggons of inward goods in the Christchurch and Middleton yards for delivery in Christchurch.

He said that the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants would not agree to owners of the goods crossing railway tracks in the yards to take delivery direct from waggons.

“The department regrets that it is therefore not possible for any such goods to be delivered to the owners,” said Mr Leineweber.

“We have had requests today from a dozen owners for such goods, mainly for cement and steel. Unfortunately they all had to be declined.” Mr Leineweber said that no shunting engines moved at Christchurch or suburban station yards yesterday. Waggons at Lyttelton were moved along the wharves by capstan ropes. A waterfront observer said

that there was nothing to stop owners of cargo from going to any wharf at Lyttelton where they could get into position without obstruction to pick up cargoes. This applied to the Lyttelton inner harbour, normally serviced by rail or road. Truck owners would also be able to continue to pick up cargo from Cashin quay, which is mainly serviced by road.

Today’s Road Services bus from Christchurch to Waiau would leave 30 minutes later, at 8.30 a.m., said the district manager in Christchurch (Mr E. W. J. Grigg). Services tomorrow to North Canterbury had been cancelled except for the bus from Hawarden to Christchurch and return. It would leave Christchurch at 4.45 p.m. Some Buses Buses from Akaroa to Christchurch and return would be halved—only one bus leaving Christchurch at 4 p.m. today, tomorrow and Thursday. Mr Grigg said that local workers’ buses would continue to run all this week from Governor’s Bay, Dunsandel and Motukarara. From today the Christchurch Railway Station din-ing-room will not open till at least 7.30 a.m. It will close about 5.30 p.m. instead of at the normal 7.30 p.m. All Canterbury workers managed to get to work yesterday without much trouble. The secretary of the Lyttelton Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr R. Fergus) said that watersiders pooled their transport resources and all were available for the normal morning call at 7 a.m.

Christchurch taxis will meet the inter-island ferry at Lyttelton this morning to carry the 900 passengers to Christchurch. No Restriction While the strike is on the 40-mile restriction on carriage of goods is not applicable according to the district officer of the Transport Department in Christchurch, Mr D. L. Hogan. “The Licensing Authority is not granting licences to carry from one district to another, except in unusual cases. During the strike owners can take their goods from anywhere to anywhere, but carriers can only take goods within the terms of their licences.”

At present, the Licensing Authority was not granting licences for the carriage of goods that would normally have travelled by rail. About 50 inquiries investigating the legality of carrying goods that would normally have been transported by rail have been received by the Transport Department in Christchurch since Friday. Temporary regulations were gazetted yesterday permitting transport by motor car of persons who normally use railway passenger services. Mr Hogan said these regulations would exempt such carriage from transport licensing, from a certificate of fitness, from a passenger service drivers’ licence, and from payment of passenger service third-party insurance premiums. “This means anyone can pick up any passenger, and charge a fare if they wish, anywhere where they would normally have travelled by rail,” he said. “These regulations will cover the strike period. “In doing so persons will be fully covered for third-party insurance," he said.