Port congestion blamed

Press, 7 May 1987, Page 9

Port congestion blamed

The Lyttelton Harbour Board was not entirely to blame for the recent congestion at the port, said the board’s deputy general manager, Mr Peter Morgan, yesterday. Long delays to trucks waiting to pick up and deliver containers last month was a matter for concern, he said. However, apart from the container' terminal and container freight station, which was owned and run by the board, all other receiving and delivery services were totally controlled by private stevedores.

Mr Morgan said the service to importers had deteriorated sharply since the permanent shed-deliv-ery service was ended

A banner for the Christchurch Catholic centennial celebrations is inspected by its designer, Monsignor James Harrington (middle), with members of the Screen Sign Arts production team yesterday. With him, at left, is the production manager, Mr Ashley Macgregor, and Mrs Carmel Kavanagh, right. The banner, with its distinctive centennial logo, is one of many that will be distributed to representatives of the 50 parishes in the Christchurch diocese at the opening of the celebrations on Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. A giant banner will also hang across the front of the cathedral during the

about two years ago. . It was replaced by a casual pick-up and droplabour system on an “as required” basis. Stevedoring companies did not employ their own labour but hired them from the Waterfront Industry Commission, which paid the wages for all watersiders on behalf of the port employers. The stevedore was paid on a revenue per tonne contract and, therefore, had no incentive to provide service until there was an economic level of cargo in the shed to justify employing a gang for the full day, said Mr Morgan. So, in times of low cargo turnover, importers could face delays ifi the release of their goods or

seven-month celebrations. A centennial Mass, with music written by a Christchurch composer, Chris Archer, will be celebrated in the cathedral on Sunday at 10.30 a.m. Mr Archer, a former assistant organist at the cathedral, will leave to study music at Cambridge University later this month. The Centennial Choir will also give a concert in the cathedral on May 28, at 8 p.m. In July, an art competition will be held for primary and secondary school pupils. A book on the history of the diocese has been written by a Christchurch priest, the Rev. Michael O’Meeghan. It will be published about August

pay an additional fee to cover the extra labour costs. In times of high cargo volume, as happened last month, when work resumed after a strike, delays occurred because there was a shortage of labour. “Pick-up labour for delivery services was virtually non-existent because of labour shortages and higher priority for labour being given to vessels rather than to receiving and delivery activities,” said Mr Morgan. The board’s management had been reluctant to intervene directly, but increasing pressure from carriers and shipping agents meant the board had to become more closely involved, he

said. “Shipping agents are also threatening to use alternative ports unless the level of receipt and delivery service at Lyttelton is significantly improved,” Mr Morgan said. The Port Shed Delivery Committee, made up of shipping agents, carriers and stevedores and chaired by a representative of the Harbour Board, had been endeavouring to rectify the problem, for a number of months “without success.” . A proposal was now being drawn up to allow the board to monitor the service much more closely. An informal joint venture with the stevedores was a possibility, Mr Morgan said.