CONGESTION OF CARGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17141, 22 April 1919, Page 3

CONGESTION OF CARGO.

POSITION AT WELLINGTON. Wellington shipowners have been sen. ously handicapped for somo time past owing to an acute congestion of cargo on the waterfront. One shipping representative stated that a regulation had recently been imposed preventing the chipping of cargo from America through to other Now Zealand ports. This meant that all cargo was landed at Wellington, and later had to be transhipped to tho porte to which it was consigned. When two or three vessels from America arrived at the one time all the cargo waa stored in tho Harbour Board sheds on top of the cargo already accumulated. Later further cargo was stored on top of the American cargo, and naturally, when the time for transhipment came, it was little wonder that the cargo to bo transhipped was difficult to locate. Wben asked if there waa any remedy for such a congestion, the representative said that the suggestion had been made by the shipowner that the vessels arriving from America should be delayed until the sheds were reasonably clear,, and ready to receive further cargo. It was difficult to say, howover, whether this was a feasible suggestion, for it would mean that trade would bo held up, and that was to be avoided if possible. "It would appear to me," said the shipping man, "that the one remedy „>„ for the congestion would be to build more sheds in which to store the cargo." Other shipping people were unanimous in the view that something would have to be done shortly to relieve the congestion.