OTAGO HARBOUR WAS NEVER IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN NOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26963, 24 December 1948, Page 6

OTAGO HARBOUR WAS NEVER IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN NOW

“It was my pleasure to announce recently that the maximum draught for vessels negotiating the Victoria Channel had been increased from 23ft 6in to 24ft 6in. I have just had a report from the harbourmaster stating that the draught has now been increased to 25ft.” announced the chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, Mr W. R. Clarke, at a gathering in the Harbour Board office yesterday, when members of organisations connected with the working of the port were entertained. “At Dunedin, we have a depth of 27ft at low water at the Victoria, Birch street, and lower Rattray wharves,” he said, “ while at Port Chalmers we have three berths with 33ft at low water. These facts speak for themselves and show clearly that the harbour was never in a better condition than it is to-day.” The chairman said that the shed accommodation was also being increased and, allowing for stacking up to a height of sft, subtracting 25 per cent, for alleyways, the trans: mately 17,000 tons of cargo

it sheds could accommodate approxi-

“ Notwithstanding what has been said about our antiquated port, we have handled the cargoes without trouble or congestion,’’ Mr Clarke declared. “ These cargoes have taken a lot of handling, but there has been no serious delay, and, as far as the carriers are concerned, their help has been available when it has been required.” The ports of Auckland and Wellington had handled millions of tons of cargo, he went on. Those ports had the equipment, but he could not say that there had been no delays. ‘‘We have handled it swiftly af this port,” he added, “ and we have valuable space for cargo coming in over the holiday period. Provision for Larger Cargoes

The fact that a draught of 25ft was available at Dunedin meant that larger cargoes direct from overseas could be handled, Mr Clarke said. It was imperative to land the cargoes as close as possible to the warehouse doors. To increase the depth by 18in had been a big job. A depth of 25ft had been obtained, and the board hoped to hold it.

Otago wharves had greater storage capacity in proportion to cargo handled than any other port in New Zealand. In regard to the completion of the new shed at Birch street, it had been wondered what would be the arrangements for loading and unloading, the chairman continued. At present there was a width of 50ft, but provision for 100 ft would be made when the board secured control of the land at present under lease. It was the board’s intention to confine the shed to outward cargoes. Only on rare occasions would it be used for inward cargo. In this case, mechanised gear would be used.

Mentioning the record cargoes which had been handled at the port during the past year, Mr Clarke said it was the first time on record that the total had topped the 500,000-ton mark. The port records established were:—Highest yearly total of coastal and intercolonial imports, 212(000 tons: highest yearly total of overseas imports, 168,000 tons; highest yearly total of all imports, 380,000 tons: highest yearly total of overseas exports. 86,000 tons; highest yearly total of cargo handled at the Port of Otago, 546,000 tons. The chairman said it was pleasing to note that the board’s equipment had been' steadily increasing over the past three or four years, and now at Dunedin they had two five-ton cranes at Birch street, two three-ton cranes at Victoria wharf, one three-ton crane at Rattray street, five mobile cranes ranging from one to three tons, with one north-west crane as an emergency, and five tractors, while at Port Chalmers they had two five-ton cranes on the George street pier, one 15-ton crane at Otago dock, one 80-ton sheerlegs at the docks, and four tractors. It was hoped to increase the board’s mobile gear. Mr Clarke expressed the opinion that no doubt in a few years, when the Otago hydro-electric schemes were operating, the port would experience great progress. Touching on freight by air, he said that goods had to be brought as close to the city as possible.

When he first became a member of the board in 1931 the harbour draught was only 19 feet, said the deputy chairman of the board, Mr F. E. Tyson. “At the present time, better work is being done on the waterfront here than anywhere else in New Zealand.” he added.

The secretary of the Dunedin branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr S. B. Macdonald, said he was pleased to see that the efforts of* the men were recognised by the board. His union had its difficulties the same as everybody else. Mr Macdonald said the election of a practical chairman of the board had met with the approval of 99 per cent of the waterside workers. “If I had known that this function was going to be so elaborate we would have turned out with our band,” Mr Macdonald declared. Improved Facilities

Since 1931. the wharf facilities had improved out of sight, said Mr L. H. W. Jones, on behalf of the overseas shipping companies. “When Goat Island is blown up and excavated, we will get larger ships, and consignees will be gratified,” he added. It was good to hear the chairman saying something in favour of the board, said Mr J. F. Poole, on behalf of the coastal shipping companies. There was too much “ running down ” of the harbour and it was “ high time that someone said something good for it.”

So far the drivers had carried on without strikes, and it was hoped that that state of affairs would continue, although things were not too rosy at present, said the secretary of the Drivers’ Union, Mr J. P. Rees. Mr W. J. Winefield said that the work at Goat Island would be undertaken in the near future and there was great hope for improvement.