HANDLING CARGO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3573, 24 February 1914, Page 4

HANDLING CARGO.

COMPLAINT BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HARBOR BOARD DECIDES TO CO INTO THE QUESTION.

Tlie dissatisfaction which exists regarding the handling of cargo at tue wharf was again brought under the notice of the Harbor Board yesterday. Mr W. Hamilton Irvine, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, wrote stating that he had been instructed to bring under the notice of the Board the much-vexed question of handling of inward cargo at the wharf, which was causing great inconvenience <.» consignees.' There was much evidence of great want of care exercised in storing and stacking, with the result that goods get damaged, and then the difficulty of the consignee was to sheet the damage home to the responsible authority. The Chamber felt sure that the Board would use every endeavor to bring about a more satisfactory state; of affairs. Tlie Chamber suggested that the Board should shoulder the responsibility of the cargo after leaving the ships’ slings, thus having compete control of the sheds. At present it would unfortunately appear that it was no one’s uuty to attend to the matters—a state of which falLs hard on the importer, who. after all, was paying for this attention.

The Chairman explained that a subcommittee, consisting of himself and Messrs Brown, Corson, White, and Smith, had been set up to go into this matter. Mr Smith was at present absent in Auckland, and on hts return a meeting would be held. Mr White said the committee should have met long ago; the matter was an urgent one and should be attended to. There had been a complete block in the shed as lately as Monday last. Air Corson explained then that when the Petone liad discharged her cargo on AlontLay, there were a number of inexperienced men working and thev had got the floor of the shed covered before they knew what they were doing, and the shed had been blocked ever since. Air Humphreys said the Board should deal with the matter as soon as possible. The suggestion that the Board should take over control of the cargo was a most important one. It was decided to refer the letter to the sub-committee, with a request to report to the Board as soon as posible. The names of Dr. Collins and Mr Humphreys were added" to the committee. A meeting of the committee was held at 3 o’clock, when after the matter had been gone into carefully, and the sheds had been inspected, it was decided that the Board should put men on to see that the cargo was stacked in the sheds with seme thing like method. This, it was considered, would do away with the grounds for complaint which at present existed. It was decided to leave the receiving and delivery of the cargo as heretofore in the hands of the shipping companies.