WHARF EXTENSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 16

WHARF EXTENSION

PASSENGEK FACILITIES NEED REALISED BY BOARD DECISION TO BE DEFERRED Various schemes designed to effect improvements in the berthing facilities for passenger vessels have been considered in committee by tho AucklandHarbour Board during the past few weeks. "In view of the fact that certain information has been made public without the knowledge of either myself or tho board's officers," said the chairman, Mr. C. G. Macindoe, yesterday, "I will announce at this stage that the whole question will probably be deferred for six months." Mr. Macindoe said that ever since tho improvements in the Pacific and Tasman shipping services, together with the inauguration of cruises between Australia and the Dominion, the board had realised the necessity for providing special facilities for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. It was the object of the board to make tho port equal to any in the Southern Hemisphere. Reports had been prepared by the engineer, Mr. D. Holderness, the Captain H. H. Sergeant, and the traffic manager, Mr. W. It. Golden. Various Echemes had been discussed, but it had not been decided which one, if any, would be adopted. Next Tuesday the board would consider a recommendation that the question should be deferred for six months, pending further investigations. . : ,• ' . The discussions in committee, the chairman continued, had eventually centred around proposals for the improvement or the extension of Queen's Wharf, as against the extension of Central Wharf or the construction of another wharf. The estimated cost of the proposal to alter Queen's Wharf for passenger requirements was £144,000. In this scheme provision was made for tho alteration of the top floors of the two outer cargo sheds to make them available for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. The construction of ramps would enable motorcars to park on a level with the gangway. Passengers would be able to move from the ship's side to these cars under shelter. Cargo unloading would be carried out on the ground floor, thereby resulting in no inconvenience. The second scheme for Queen's Wharf provided for tho extension of tho pier 100 ft. to allow three liners and one smaller vessel to berth. At present, Mr. Macindoe said, the wharf provided more accommodation than was necessary for two large vessels, but not sufficient for four.-" Tho existing facilities would also be brought up to date. The estimated cost was £187,000. which would include special facilities for cargo handling as well as for passengers.