Chaos in goods sheds alleged

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 14

Chaos in goods sheds alleged

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening agreed to “protest strongly to the Minister of Railways (Mr Gordon) regarding the unwarranted delays in the movement of goods through the goods sheds, and to ask that he give immediate authority for additional staff to be employed.”

A report by the chairman of the chamber’s importers’ committee (Mr C. F. Whitty) was read to the meeting by

the secretary (Mr P. L. Bush) in Mr Whitty’s absence. Mr Whitty said that in the last few days he had received a number of complaints regarding the chaos that had developed on the railway siding and in the goods sheds brought about by a very busy port and the unrealistic attitude of either the general manager of Railways or the Minister of Railways. The problem was .a shortage of railway staff and the fact that overtime was voluntary. .

Mr Whitty said that the district traffic manager (Mr A. D. Campbell), who tried to do his duty for all, should be given the authority to engage extra staff and to make overtime compulsory to ease the congestion. Alternatively, the Minister should agree to let private enterprise carriers—move goods from the ships to the city. “Why should businesses, manufacturers and the public be inconvenienced and expected to wait as long as three or four weeks for goods to come through the railway sheds,” asked Mr Whitty. STATE OF CARGO He gave the state of cargo from four ships recently at Lyttelton:— The Delphic completed unloading on July 13. Goods were still working through the sheds. The Alaric unloaded two weeks ago. Goods had just begun to move. Cargo from the Hurunui took three weeks to move. The Manapouri was unloaded 10 days ago, but there had been no movement of cargo. With the congestion in the sheds it would take about four weeks for delivery. As well as writing to the Minister of Railways, the chamber agreed to ask the transport committee to pursue the matter.'