EXTRA WHARF HOURS URGED AT AUCKLAND TO EASE CONGESTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 October 1947, Page 3

EXTRA WHARF HOURS URGED AT AUCKLAND TO EASE CONGESTION

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 3. A declaration by the Government of emergency periods during.severe port congestion is being urged by certain Auckland shipping companies. They are suggesting that during an emergency period hours of work on weekdays should be extended from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and that meal hours should be worked on a relief basis. The companies also ask that Saturday work should be extended from noon until 5 p.m., and that Sunday work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. should be introduced. The extra hours, they claim, would be sufficient to balance any heavy shipping influx similar to that blocking the port of Auckland at present. Officials with many years’ experience on the Auckland waterfront said they could not recall another occasion in the last 25 years when so many ships waited at anchor for, so long a period. The stream has not been clear of ships at anchor since September 16. Tomorrow morning three ships will be waiting for berths, and the last of the three is not likely to berth until late next week. In the meantime, other vessels will join the waiting queue.