HANDLING OF CARGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18225, 19 October 1922, Page 9

HANDLING OF CARGO.

POSITION OF THE BOARD.

REPLY TO CRITICISM.

SOME CAUSES OF DELAY.

A statement in regard to the* handling of cargo on the wharves in Auckland was made yesterday by Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, depnty-chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board.

At various times, said Mr. Hutchinson, complaint was made concerning the method of handling and loading export coastwise or intercolonial cargo. Usually these complaints would not be made if the case were investigated, the defects often being traced to causes beyond the control of the shipping companies. There was a surprising lack of knowledge, on the part of those most nearly concerned as to where the authority of the Harbour Board ended, and that of the shipping companies concerned in the handling of cargo commenced. The first duty of the board was to provide facilities for the speedy, efficient and economical handling of cargo iuward and outward. The board did not control the receiving or delivering of cargo from and to ships. The shipping companies, in the case of outward cargo, advised shippers when they were receiving the caxgo, either by circular or by newspaper advertisement. They seldom used the shed accommodadation provided for outward cargo on account of the additional cost of handling. This would ultimately, if practised, become a charge to the public. Occasionally a block occurred through causes beyond the control of the shipping companies. An instance happened last Thursday when the Koromiko, loading for the South after taking in a cargo of sugar at Chelsea Wharf, returned to the King's Wharf at 4 p.m. Extra work on all wharves had caused a temporary shortage of tally clerkß. . The shipping company had advised shippers to forward their goods to the wharf, and a delay occurred which certainly caused expense to merchants, but was unavoidable.- The Koromiko proceeded to load and was loading until 10 on Thursday night, sailing the following day. It required to be clearly understood that these matters were not controlled by the Harbour Board, although it received, very often when there was a hitch, the blamo for them. ' The handling of cargo direct into the ships from the vehicles, takinar same on to the wharf, was, added Mr. Hutchinson, done in the interests of the merchants to minimise the handling cost of cargo. Occasionally ihrousrh broken weather the vehicles accumulated and arrived in advance of the speed at which the cargo could be handled. This, of course, was irritating and expensive to the merchant, but only concerned the consigner and the shipping company. The board did every, thing in its power to facilitate the work for all concerned, even to the extent of sometimes advising the ship to run the last of an inward cargo to more distant sheds, so that the SDace in the shed nearest the ship might be reserved if required for outward cargo. From time to time the board was accused of being autocratic in its methods. As a governing bodv of one of the greatest utilities it considered judgment must carry weieht in tlie interest of all concerned. Both the board and its officials had at all times displayed every consideration for the convenience of the larxre and varied interests which used the facilities provided.