COMMITTEES BEING SET UP “Cargo cult” to speed port flow

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32707, 9 September 1971, Page 2

COMMITTEES BEING SET UP “Cargo cult” to speed port flow

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 8. Measures to increase the flow of cargo at New Zealand ports are being taken by the Exports and Shipping Council. Cargo-flow committees are being established at all export ports, and the first will meet at Lyttelton on September 21, the chairman of the council (Sir John Ormond) said today.

Sir John Ormond said in Wellington after a meeting of the council: “If you like, this is a cargo cult—a determined: effort to involve every-! one in a vital problem to! New Zealand.”

He said the committees would try to identify and remove snags at all points from the load out to the ship’s hold. “Delays in the last export season have cost New Zealand s4m. plus an incalculable sum in the loss of good will with customers,” he said. “This is just something we cannot afford any longer.” “Full surveys” A council member at the conference, Mr G. Hunter, who represents shipowners, said a full survey of cargo flow at each port and the facilities available would be made. “The committees will be looking at the problem both inside and outside the gate,” he said. Sir John Ormond said he expected the committees, which would report to the council, would be permanent and would help to create good will. There was no objection to flow many people would be on the committees or who they were, but he agreed they would be, in effect, a microcosm of the council. “We have just about everybody on the council today,” he said, “we have Tom Skinner, everybody. . . Union participation Sir John Ormond said that “no real thought” had been given to specifically inviting unions to be represented, but it was not the council's intention to specify who should be invited on to the committees. He agreed union participation would be vital. ■ “A special effort will be made to get everybody on,” he said. “We are not going to interfere with anybody.” He said the general

I managers of harbour boards were likely to be appointed ’ us chairmen of the various committees, which would be • concerned with the flow of | j imports as well as exports. ! The committees would have (no powers as such, but they | would report back to the 'council which could take any matter further if necessary.

“Permanent bodies”

I Sir John Ormond said that he saw the committees as permanent bodies, and be did pot think they would clash with other groups involved in ports and shipping, such as the National Ports Authority. A report critical of the turn-round of shipping at New Zealand ports from the council's port facilities and transport committee will be

referred to the various cargoflow committees.

Committee disbanded

The council disbanded its clearance and distribution of imports committee. The committee reported it felt its work was now of such a limited nature the minor matters could be handled by other committees of the council. ' "During its five-year term the committee sponsored a number of measures to facilitate the clearance and distribution of imports, and it can now be reported that substantial improvement in cargo flow from ports has been achieved,” the acting chairman of the committee, Mr J. O’C. Ross, reported to the council.