THOSE WHARF BARRIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7336, 14 January 1911, Page 5

THOSE WHARF BARRIERS

UNNECESSARY ANNOYANCE. AN INCIDENT ON WELLINGTON WHARF. That the barriers which make the- embarkation process so easy on the wharves at Wellington are liable to cause considerable annoyance under stress of circumstances is shown by a livoly exCiuuige of loiters between tho Harbour Board's secretary and a prominent civil servant, following an incident which happened just before the steamer ( Paleena's departure recently, Tho civil servant's wite and sister were passengers by the Pateena. They arrived late- on the wharf with tho civil servant and his son in attendance, ;carrying personal luggago. Hurrying down breathlessly, tiiey got to' the barrier. Tue steamer's passengers were able to go on their way, but their reilntives with the luggago were stopped lon the wrong side ot tho barrier, just at a time wlien seconds were precious, for tho Pateena was nearly ready to' leave. Without the threepenny pasA ithoy must stay wibh the luggago and watch tho Pateena off at a distance, 'i'lie ofi'er of a couple of threepences failed to satisfy tho stern official, who .must have the' piece of paper, so in idesperaliou the civil servant defied [authority, for which ho is supposed to have tho most abounding respect, and "rushed" the barrier with the luggage, iNext day, canio a remonstrance from 'lawfully "constituted authority, couched !in tho following terms: "Dear —As you aTo aware, the. (board lias recently been compelled in the 'interests of the "general public bo take such steps as will ensure the safety and convenience of (hose persons whohave occasion to visit the berths of ves'sels arriving and departing on actual 'business. These powers of control for tho regulation of traffic are fully vested in ■ the board by statute. | "It has been reported to mo that _on Monday, the 9th instant, on the occasion of the departure of tho s.s. Pateena you insisted on passing tho barrier without itho necessary permit and in defiance 'of the board's officer placed there to control tho traffic. "I regret that such, notion should bare .been taken by one holding tho position, in tho. public service which you do. It Iwoidd have been a simple matter, had 'you felt aggrieved, to have made your protest to myself, which protest -would lave received tho consideration which tho merits of your case might haye deserved. "I trust that having drawn your attention to this breach of the regulations there will bo no recurrence of , tho episode. (Signed) "H. E. NTCHOLLS, ; "Secretary." "THE RED-TAPE VIRUS." "I thought Government officials were the only persons in the body politic who were supposed to_bo tied with Ted-bapo, ' commented the civil servant when ho forwarded to the chairman of the. Har.bour Board a copy of an answer to tho> secretary's complaint: "Mr H. E. Nicholls, Secretary, Harbour Board, Wellington. "Dear Sir,—l have your letter of yesterday, which" anticipates one I was about to write you on the same subject. "If your man had behaved with ordinary common-sense, would have .been no occasion ■ for either of us to write. I explained to him as plainly aa it was possible to do it. that I was caiTying the luggage of two ladies, passengers for tho Pateena, and asked him how I was to get the luggage to tho gangway. I did not want to go on board, and said so. There was no possibility of danger to any of the public iby my passing the barrier. Your man I refused to help mo in any way. He 'would not givo mo a pass and he would ! not . have the luggage carried. Tho ladies could not carry it themselves, so il did it. Your man said he would preIvent mo from going. I knew that was monsense and told him bo. If you will ;see that your, officers behave towards the 'public with the consideration that ignorant persons have a right to expect from knowing ones, you will not have to write to me again at loast."