OBJECTIONS TO BERTHING ARRANGEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 26184, 20 August 1947, Page 3

OBJECTIONS TO BERTHING ARRANGEMENTS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, August .20. Strong protests against the suggestion that the Theseus should be berthed at Princes Wharf were received by the Auckland Harbour Board from the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee, the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, and the Waterfront Industry Commission. All three organisations urged that, berths suitable for overseas 6hips should not be made idle during the visit of the Theseus. 1 A telegram from the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee said it had to lodge the strongest protest if the report was correct that the board proposed to berth the Theseus at Princes Wharf, thereby immobilising two working berths at a time when the port would be acutely congested. The committee’s representations were strongly supported by the Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, which stated that if the Theseus was bertiied at Princes Wharf it would be more than probable that food ships would have to anchor in the stream to await berthage accommodation. The Waterfront Industry Commission stated that if the Theseus were berthed at Princes Wharf the general public would cause considerable inconvenience to other vessels working on the western side of the wharf. The board decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and the deputy chairman.