Container decision

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 12

Container decision

“ The Press ” rejects the charge by the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) that, in complaining of delays in reaching a decision on container ports, the newspaper is conducting a campaign to support parochial interests. The subject is too important to the welfare of the whole of the South Island and, indeed, to the efficiency of the whole country’s transport system. Sir Basil is undoubtedly taking this view himself. This newspaper, while impressed by the claims for a full container service at Lyttelton, will not try to deflect him from taking a broad view of the question. He has complained that his explanations for the delay have been ignored. They were not ignored: they simply did not impress us. The harbour boards’ appeals were to have been dealt with in two months after the Ports Authority had made its recommendation. It now appears they were not dealt with in that period. The shipowners are certainly important to the success of any plan: but New Zealand authorities,, which have been confounded by the. shipping companies’ shifts and changes of policy on containers for far too long, should be able to decide what is for the greatest benefit to the handling of New Zealand cargoes, and they should best understand the potential of our own ports. The whole appeal procedure appears to have taken twice as long as expected. Sir Basil is undoubtedly conscientious in his difficult task: it must be hoped now that when he takes his decision to the Cabinet, the decision will be delayed no further.