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BATTLE OF THE CRANES.

MORE AUCKLAND; VIEWS. (BY TELRGBAPn.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) . Auckland, May 12. The newspaper discussion as to cranes continues, and writers still draw comparisons between Auckland and Wellington in thoir remarks. - - .• Mr. P. Virtue writes as follows: "When addressing the Chamber of Commerce., I ■ timated the working and maintenance of the Wellington cranes as £1500 -j).er annum. I since find £2500 is nearer the mark. Naturally this reduces the net'revenue to £1000. Mr. Wilford, the chairman of the Wellington Board, stated that his cranes, were earning: • grossly £3450 per annum, which* may bo reduced if 'inquired into, as' he v stated i' that Wellington ' blows,' and when 'giving''y6ur;', ' correspondent the.'news they'ni^y .. caught in a zephyr; but,it is. apparent ,tbat .' £950 per annum -is notiwhat you would-call a good return' on an 'investment of say £60,000, without allowing, 'anything for'do-' prestation of the cranes" or their, becominp; obsolete. I think, subsequent-'events'will, prove lam correct. v The Koromiko'is now ■ discharging coals at-the RailwayoWharf-and would have no difficulty .-liii' discharging iinto a third row. of, trucks, , yet a-few nfembers oi our Harbour. Board who .are .not/practical inen suggest providing something. that is -not ■> required at the consumers' cost; which is true philanthropy. I. have asked for per-'. ; mission to give evidence before vtheftGrano - • Committee. M .c; A large importer contributes the following epistle to tne controversy :•>; "I am ".very pleased to notice .that the,. Harbour. Board are beginning to, realise that after.; all is something in the arguments.' of. 'various; . correspondents, and that; they hadVtoettetjTOconsidor the whole question of. electric' cr^nea. beforo they commit themselves by/ r the. full number they previously . Considered were necessary, to' bring the system' of un-■ loading vessels right (up-to-date.: The committee of the Chamber of Commerce', arrived at a very wiso resolution' in ' advising tfie Harbour Board to go . slow, and . order : only "a few at first,, and 'then' it will'|)e Very to'determine whether, a further number are necessary . There is no doubt' that tho Weilington cranes are"not used as much as' Was. 'at first anticipated, and, '■ if .Mr. Virtue's figures are correct, then there is .'a loss of' £3000 per annum on the venture, in addition to which they are becoming more and'-, more obsolete' Gvery year, and it' only a-: ijiatter of, a few years and ] they; ;will •; haVo r , to- bo written, off.. ' Now,,' in '.reference-.,t0, •. -> railways on the; various' wharves;" tl/ere is no doubt that the' Railway Whiirf is required " if only for exporting frozen meat'and'butter,' 1 ■but to think of " .putting rails;' down the." Queen. Street Wharf is'absolutely^absurd. "My firsts argument against this' prpceduro '. is: Suppose the rails were there, where would - you consign; cargci toP'';Ndne'.'oft6e'stores or warehouses have private as is the case at ; Dunedin, Christchurch,' Timaru, . Qamaru, and the Bluff, and from, what I ■■■ can see all cargo would have to' be cartedin the ordinary way. Again, upon discharg- ! ing. any vessel, the cargo as- it. conies, ; gut of the holt} is so mixed up that it' must be sorted in the.sheds before-.delivery caa-;be given, so even if there were ('private . Sidings to every warehouse; the cargo cannot-be ; discharged into trucks but -must be .put km through the sheds. Further, would the Cus- : .;' toms authorities allow cargo to be removed-' from the wharves without the' examination P. I say not, and to do' this' the sheds.must again be.resorted to. Now, outward'.cargo -is a different thing -altogether: If- the.. warehouses were- connected by private sid- ;;-v. ingsj then merchants could-consign goods'..;; direct to a ship -and- save;_cartagef but would tho.City Council 'allow railways to be placod ■ all along->•Custom,;'Commerce; and Qileen Streets, and have 1 the -• streets', continually blocked; with railway-.waggons? ; The-whole idea is absurd in every..-way." V . v.';

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19080513.2.5

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 196, 13 May 1908, Page 2

Word Count
618

BATTLE OF THE CRANES. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 196, 13 May 1908, Page 2

BATTLE OF THE CRANES. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 196, 13 May 1908, Page 2

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