COASTAL CARGOES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26849, 13 August 1948, Page 6

COASTAL CARGOES

DELAYS EXPERIENCED ‘•‘STOPPAGES AND UNREST” “We have all been hoping that as some of the difficulties were due to war emergency measures, they would by now have been greatly decreased, but a good deal of our executive’s time has been given to the many problems arising from the slow movement of coastwise cargo. The position has not improved much during the year.” This statement appears in tne annual report of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association. During the year, serious delays were experienced by shippers wanting to send goods north ‘ and by those receiving inward consignments from northern ports. “ The Shipping Controller affirms that there is sufficient tonnage to move the cargoes, but the gradual slowing down of the turn-round of ships, compared with pre-war years, has led to congestion at most ports,” the report states. “ This, in large measure, is due to the continued stoppages and unrest on the waterfront in Auckland. Many strong public statements have been made by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, and it is hoped that there will be some decided improvement in the attitude of waterfront labour in Auckland, as the conditions now prevailing are prejudicial to the interests of the whole Dominion.”