SURCHARGE ON CARGOES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27384, 9 May 1950, Page 6

SURCHARGE ON CARGOES

Imposition Deferred EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PORT WORKING PA CHRISTCHURCH. May 8. The imposition of the 7£ per cent, surcharge on freight rates on all cargo discharged at Auckland from the United Kingdom and Europe has been postponed until July 1. This was announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, this afternoon. He had had discussions with the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee, said Mr Holland, and was pleased to announce that the New Zealand Tonnage Committee in London had agreed to his request to postpone the imposition of the surcharge. This action had been taken in the hope that steps could be taken to achieve an improvement in the position on the Auckland waterfront. “ I would emphasise,” said Mr Holland. ‘‘that it is only a postponement of the date on which the surcharge will be levied and not a cancellation of the surcharge that has been effected. A sustained effort will have to be made to effect a considerable improvement in loading, discharge and clearance of cargoes on the Auckland waterfront. I want to make it •clear that there are many contributing factors in the unsatisfactory state of affairs on the Auckland waterfront. There is a tendency in some quarters to lay all the blame at the feet of the waterside workers. That is neither fair nor justified. “ I have already had discussions with the Minister of Labour, Mr Sullivan, who spent some days in Auckland last week inspecting facilities and methods in operation in Auckland. Mr Sullivan has reported to me that he received the utmost co-operation in his investigations from all concerned in the operation of the waterfront. Mr Sullivan has arranged for conferences of all interested parties to explore further the possibilities of improved operations.