Seek Direct Timber Shipments From South

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1945, Page 6

Seek Direct Timber Shipments From South

Four gangs of- labour, equivalent to between 60 and 70 men. .would be necessary before timber for butterbox manufacture from Grey mouth could be landed at the Whangarei harbour, wrote the general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company to the Whangarei Harbour Board, which met today. The amount of timber would be 450,000 feet, which would require to be handled every three months, the ship completing discharge with coal at Portland. Before going further, he would like to.learn whether labour would definitely be available to enable discharge to be carried out expeditiously. The engineer (Mr W. M. Fraser) reported that he had obtained the services of about 30 men. For the balance, he had approached the Farmers’ Union, from which no response had yet been received. The Whangarei box-makers who had undertaken the work informed the board that the first delivery of timber was expected this month by rail from Auckland. It was desired to stack timber alongside the siding to Port Whangarei wharf and permission to do so was requested. Place of Manufacture. That it had been unfortunately impossible to arrange a direct Shipment of timber to Whangarei, was stated by the Timber Controller, who said that the Shipping Controller had advised him that it was thought direct shipments wculd be impossible. If the board maintained its attitude regarding a site for the stacking of timber, it would be necessary to arrange for the manufacture of the boxes in some other factory, unless the box-maker concerned was able to find an alternative site. Little or no inconvenience would be caused in making available the required site, reported Mr Fraser, who recommended that, although the board should not lease the property, no objection should be entered and that the board should endeavour to bring about the shipping of butter-box timber or any other timber available from the South Island, direct to Whangarei. Classing the transhipment of timber from boat to rail at Auckland, thus incurring additional cost, as “national waste,” Mr R. H. Allan moved (bat. the board write to the Minister for Transport (Hon. J. O’Brien) to inquire why labour bad not been made available before the ship sailed. "Probably the Minister knew nothing about i(,” he commented. On the suggestion of the chairman (Mr E. L. Whimp) he agreed to add to his motion that a copy of the letter be sent to Mr A. J. Murdoch, M.P. for Marsden, “provided,” he said, “political propaganda is not made, out of it.” Mr H. E. Hewlett said that he thought Whangarei sub-branches of the Farmers’ Union would be able to muster 20 men ter labour in unloading timber. Mr S. Oidcorn moved an amendment that the engineer's recommendations be adopted, this being carried and becoming the motion. It was decided to incorporate Mr Allan’s suggestion in the motion, pointing out the apparent national waste involved. The motion was carried .