WHARF SHEDS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 191, 10 May 1941, Page 12

WHARF SHEDS

Measure To Relieve Congestion DELIVERY OF GOODS

Where Documents Have

Not Arrived

To ease congestion in wharf sheds, special provision has been made by the Customs Department to facilitate delivery to importers of goods arriving in New Zealand ports before the documents relating to them. In a letter to the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, the Comptroller of Customs. Mr. E. D. Good, says:— "Where delivery of goods is authorized on condition that they will be held intact pending production of documents necessary to enable entry of the goods to be completed, and where the importer is prepared to arrange for the goods to be examined by a Customs officer and a complete inventory made thereof in his presence, collectors of Customs may, upon being satisfied that the revenue and any other provisions of the law are safeguarded, authorize release of the goods from the condition mentioned.”

Since the war began, with its disruption of shipping and of ordinary commercial practice, large quantities of goods have been arriving without documents. Importers have been able to obtain delivery of such goods only on condition that the goods arc kept intact in their possession till the documents arrive. Firms with sutficient warehouse accommodation have taken delivery on this condition to avoid paying wharf storage charges, but others, lacking the necessary room, have been unable to do so. In some eases the bold-up has been prolonged because the documents have been lost at sea. In addition the ship’s manifest is sometimes missing, delaying identification of cargo and adding to congestion. The decision of the Customs Department to waive the condition will do much to clear wharf sheds and commercial warehouses, and, incidentally, will no doubt release to the consuming public large quantities of goods urgently required. Recent Conference. in April the Wellington Harbour Board called a conference of representatives of shipping and commercial interests to discuss ways of relieving congestion in the wharf sheds. Au advisory committee was appointed, with Mr. A. L. Wall as chairman. Yesterday Mr. Wall said that the committee had met. twice and bad thoroughly investigated the causes of congestion. All parties—banks, waterside workers and shipping companies—were co-operating to ease the situation, and suggestions were soon to be put before importers as to ways in which they could assist.

“I am convinced that the solution lies in every importer doing everything in his power to find out whether there are any gooffs belonging to him in the sheds, and then, if there are, to get them out,” said Mr. Wail. “The merchants must realize that the wharf sheds are not storage sheds.” The action of the Customs Department in waiving the condition applying to delivery without documents indicated that it was prepared to help and it would be appreciated by the commercial community. Procedure Explained. In his letter to the Associated Chambers, the Comptroller of Customs said. “While every endeavour will be made to meet the convenience of importers, it will be understood that examination of the goods can be made only at a time suitable to the department, having regard to the other duties devolving on officers. It Is possible, therefore, that any such examination may have to be made outside ordinary office hours. It will be understood also that entry of the goods must be completed immediately the necessary documents are available. This procedure will be applicable to all ports.”