PENINSULA NEWS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32898, 20 August 1947, Page 11

PENINSULA NEWS

CONTROL OF WHARF

SOME DISSATISFACTION

CHAMBER CALLS MEETING

ACTION DEMANDED OF COUNCIL

Disagreements and dissatisfaction over the administration of wharf affairs at Coromandel were aired last week when the Coromandel Chamber of Commerce convened a meeting of business people to discuss the matter. Mr S. Strongman, representing the Strongman Shipping Company Limited, was also present. .Mr H. V. Denize was elected to the chair.

Mr Tootell, secretary of the chamber, read two advertisements. One stated that the Strongman Shipping Company refused responsibility of cargo after it had left the company’s slings, and in the other the Coromandel County Council also disclaimed responsibility. The matter, he said, had reached the stage where some solution would have to be arrived at as the local business people were being placed in a untenable position in respect to losses. Mr Denize said it apparently was not so much a question of the wharf shed as to who was responsible for the cargo- after it had left the ship’s slings. Mr Strongman said his company was prepared to employ a man and take all responsibility if the man so employed was given control and keys of wharf shed. The county council up to the present time would not agree to that offer and had engaged a part time wharfinger. A discussion took place as to various methods of wharf management and two resolutions were finally carried. Th.e first was: “That the shipping company is prepared to put goods in shed and assume full responsibility if granted complete control of and have key of wharf shed, the council still to employ a wharfinger if it wished.” The second resolution was: “ That if the council is not preparedto accept responsibility it hand over control to Mr Strongman who is prepared to accept responsibility.” A deputation consisting of Messrs H. A. Rouse, H. V. Denize, P. Lillis, F. Holtom, E. Jacks and H. A. Tootell was elected to wait on. the county council at its next meeting in order to put the resolutions forward and endeavour to come to some satisfactory solution of the question.

DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD

A deputation from the Coromandel Chamber of Commerce waited on the council on Thursday last with suggestions as to how the affairs of wharf administration could be sorted out and so end the deadlock that has occurred.

Mr H. V. Denize was the spokesman and he outlined the views expressed at a meeting of business people and Mr Strongman the previous evening.

■ The clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas, read the Order-in-Council governing the licence of the wharf to the council and also the legal advice and opinion obtained by the council. This stated that the council was not responsible for any losses from wharf. After discussion when suggestions were put forward the chairman, Mr E. Deeble, asked the deputation if they would agree to a meeting being arranged between themselves, Mr Strongman and a committee from council with a view to settling the matter. The deputation agreed and after thanking the council for their reception and hearing retired. A committee consisting of the chairman and Crs. F. H. Purdom, A. J. Denize and A. J. Notman was set up to meet the deputation .and Mr Strongman and was empowered to come to an agreement which the council would accept.