CONGESTED WHARVES

Evening Star, Issue 23881, 10 May 1941, Page 6

CONGESTED WHARVES

CUSTOMS CONCESSION MADE [Pku United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May <J. To oa.se the congestion in wliart sheds, special provision has hem made by the Customs Department to facilitate the delivery of importers’ goods arriving in New Zealand ports before the documents relating to them. In a letter to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the New Zealand ■Comptroller of Customs, Mr E. 13Good, says: “The delivery of goods is authorised on condition that they will be held intact pending the production of the documents necessary to enable the entry of the goods to be completed and the importer is prepared to arrange for, the goods to be examined by a Customs officer and a complete inventory made of them in his Collectors of Customs, upon being satisfied that revenue and any other provisions of the law are safeguarded, may authorise the release of goods on the condition mentioned.” This procedure will be applicable to all ports. In April the Wellington Harbour Board called a conference of representatives of shipping and commercial interest's to discuss ways of relieving the congestion ,in the wharf sheds. An advisory committee was appointed, with Mr A. L. Wall as chairman. To-day Mr Wall said the committee had met twice and had thoroughly investigated the causes of the congestion. All parties —banks, waterside workers, and shipping companies—were co-operating to ease the situation, and suggestions would soon be put before the importers about ways in. which they couldi assist. “ I am convinced that the solution lies in every importer doing everything in his power to find whether any goods belonging to him are in the sheds, and then, if there are, to get them out,” said Mr Wall. “The merchants must realise 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. In a letter to the Associated Chambers of Commerce the Comptroller of Customs also said that while every endeavour will be made to meet the convenience of importers it would be understood that the examination of goods could be made only at a time suitable to the department, having regard tb the other duties devolving on its officers. It was possible, therefore, that any such examination might require to be made outside the ordinary office hours. It would be understood also that the entry of goods must be completed immediately the necessary documents are available. This procedure would be applicable to all ports.