CARGO OPERATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 102, 26 October 1929, Page 10

CARGO OPERATIONS

WASTE OF TIME ALLEGED

(By Telegraph.)

(Spoclal to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

Dissatisfaction with the lengthy periods spent by overseas vesstls in carrying out cargo operations i-n the New Zealand coast was expressed in a report presented to the council- of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce by Mr. T. C. Webster to-day. The question was considered by a sub-committee which drew up tho report. . The report stated that tho time spent by overseas vessels in unloading and reloading on the New Zealand coast appeared to bo unreasonably long, averaging approximately 39 days for each vessel. In somo cases vessels had spent up to 80 days iu New Zealand waters. f It appeared that much -time could be saved if each vessel were restricted to not moro than three ports each voyage. Considerable overlapping and waste running seemed to occur, especi ally in the case of steamers which had arrived at Auckland, proceeded to Wellington, returned to Auckland, and then gone to Wellington again before leaving Ne-w Zealand. From this it appeared that a large economic waste was occurring in tho running ol the present overseas shipping services and that the attention of the Meat and Dairy Produce Board hould be called to the state of affairs before pntering into further freightage contracts. Mr. Webster said he understood the boards referred to were now considering entering into new contracts He did not want it to be thought that tho last word had been said on the question. Further investigations would be made, and a report brought down. The report was adopted.