THROUGH THE CUSTOMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 121, 14 February 1908, Page 6

THROUGH THE CUSTOMS.

IMPROVED : METHODS WANTED.

"If '|s : "hssh - time some change in the' ponderously crude methods adopted by ' tlio • Customs Department -in tlio hand-, ling of baggago oil the arrival of the direct boats from : Sydney.. . Tho'proceduro present favoured is even worse than.fit. used to b6 before the Customs clearing 1 shed at the foot of-the Queen's Wharf existcdj as then it was tumbled into tho shed nearest the stcanier,' and'' was overhauled there ,-akl then as it was dropped by the vessel's stewards, and the passenger stood. of getting, his luggage passed - in. reasonable time.: .' But ;we move backwards. 'Now.a huge lorry backs into the shed alongside tho stcauior, and the best ijpart of. an hour i 3. taken in loading it up with luggage from all parts of the ship, and when fully loaded it is driven to tho Customs shed and laboriously , unloaded) and .. inspected as quickly as the v two or. three. - officers can manage. .The ■ failure, of the system .to satisfy a fair-minded travelling.'pubhe is be-, 'yond doubt. Peoplo do not mind. having -their, luggayo -passed" or .even.' examined. . (which is;rarely;done),, but what is resented loudly every week is .-that tho-man who is tho smartest in getting his luggage away from tho .ship is usually longest in geU tine it "through 'tho Customs, ..because it -is first on and last off the lorrv. It is suggested that a clearance would bo. ettcctea m better time'if a ,couple of expresses wero employed to carry tho bags to tho examining, shed, so that while one express was .on its way to thd shed,' the other, could be. Imdimr and the work of examination could procoet evenly, instead of a full lorry-load congesting the place.. • ■■