“INCOMPETENCY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1924, Page 3

“INCOMPETENCY”

ALLEGED IN GOODS SHEDS.

Allegations that the railwaymen employed in the Greymouth Goods Sheds are incompetent, were made at last evening’s meeting of the Grey- , mouth Harbour Board, when Mr J. McLean ascribed to this cause much of the delay which is being complained of by shipping agents; he further stated that the alleged incompetency was admitted by the District Traffic Manager, who blamed it on to the classification system of the Department. Captain Pearson, master of the s.s. Orepuki, wrote complaining of delays in unloading general cargo when arriving at night with benzine aboard. The Harbourmaster (Captain F. W. Cox) reported that no undue delay had been caused. The Harbour regulations had been properly observed. The Chairman (Mr J. Steer) moved that a copy of the report be forwarded to Captain Pearson; also that unloading operations be facilitated as much as possible within the provisions of the regulations. The motion wa? carried. Mr D. Tennent said that there had been many instances of delay in the handling of goods, and something should be done at once to effect an improvement. He suggested that the Board should co-operate with the shipping agents and form a combined deputation to the Railway Department, protesting against the inadequate shunting facilities on the wharf, which appeared to be the chief cause of the delays. The Board, he .said, would have to go “eyes out” to keep its trade and could not afford to have any complaints. Mr J. McLean said that the way the Railway Department handled goods was scandalous. He had visited the Goods Sheds, and considered that some of the railwaymen there were not competent. The thing was a farce. He had personally complained to the Traffic Manager, who .stated that the trouble was due to the Railway classification scheme, whereby good men were removed elsewhere. The Board, said Mr McLean, was being blamed for delays Which were really caused by the Railway Department. The Chairman said that complaints had also been made to him recently. He moved that the Board write to the shipping agents, with the object of forming a deputation to the Department. The motion was. carried.