Handling Cargoes At New Zealand Ports

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 151, 29 June 1938, Page 3

Handling Cargoes At New Zealand Ports

INTERESTING COMPARATIVE FIGURES During the course of his address to the Feildiug Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening Mr. A. O. Heany, secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, spoke of the handling of cargo at New Zealand ports. Quoting from the Shipping World an articlo under the heading of “Shipping in New Zealand,” Mr. Heany said that the discharging figures in tons per hour (average for 1936-37) in comparison with Australia were given as follow: Adelaide 22J Auckland 11 Melbourne 23 Wellington 13 Sydney 23 £ Lyttelton 9 Trading figures at Auckland, Welling ton and Lyttelton at per gang per hour were contrasted for the year 1933 with the year 1936-37: — Bales of Wool. 1933 1936-37 Auckland 80 50 Wellington SO 70 Lyttelton 80 G 5 Boxes of Butter. 1933 1936-37 Auckland 700 550 Wellington 700 550 Carcases of Mutton and Lamb. 1933 1936-37 Auckland 320 270 Wellington 400 350 Lyttelton 420 300 Cargo in Tons. 1933 1936-37 Auckland 14 11 Wellington 15 13 Lyttelton 11 9 The figures were ner, after allowing for waiting time, weather delays, etc. The rates of pay were now 33 1-3 per cent, higher than in 2933. Mr. A. C. McCorkindale, in referring to the figures, asked whether any blame was attachable to harbour boards. Were the smaller figures due to a lack ot modern handling machineryT Mr. Heauv was not prepared to express his opinion as to the cause, but said that there might be excellent reasons for the smaller output; on the faco of things, however, it appeared that if the wharf labourers could handle 700 boxes of butter in 1933 the same amount of a similar commodity should bo handled in 1936-37.

It was the general opinion of the meeting that the situation would have its repercussions when fresh contracts were beiDg arranged with shipping com panies, when the present arrangements expired.