STORAGE CHARGES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19132, 29 September 1936, Page 13

STORAGE CHARGES

CLEARANCE OF SHEDS SATURDAY TIME LOST NO MID-WEEK CONGESTION Changes in the business hours of firms in Gisborne, necessitated by receut industrial legislation, were quoted by Mr. J. J. Macdonald at to-days meeting of the Gisborne, IJarbour Board, in support, of his, proposal that no storage charges should be levied against incoming cargo left in the wharf sheds on Saturdays. Mr. Macdonald pointed out that when a congestion of shipping oecuvied in the port, it became difficult to clear the sheds in time to avoid incurring storage rates oil some of the cargo, ana he- held that it would be reasonable to eliminate Saturdav as a working day in the pou, so far ‘as the charges were concerned. A fortnight ago, said Mr. Macdonald, the Kaiti basin contained two boats from Auckland, one from Wellington, and the Wainui in addition, all discharging cargo into the sheds on. a Thursday. Clearances were made as last as possible, hut a good deal of cargo became subject to storage fees. the recent changes in hours for Bat ui day work had made things more, difficult for shopkeepers, who could not, in consequence, handle incoming stocks on raitui'day mornings without great inconvenience. Many of the business houses, too, were closed on Saturdays, and cargo could not be delivered.

There was also the point, lie added, that the waterside workers could only work until noon on Saturdays, so that the last day of the week was an ‘ absolute wash-out.ln. consideration of these factors, he- moved that the board altei its system of charging for storage m the sheds, more especially as the buildings were practically empty in the first few days of each week. DIFFICULT ARRANGEMENT sdr. T. Corson seconded the motion, stating that the present arrangement was a difficult .one for carriers and business houses, while it would not mean an\ hardship or hindrance to the boards staff. The board gave a nominal 48 hours’ storage free of charge, but actually the shipping arrangements and business hours combined to rob the consignees ol the'advantages of this grace, Xiie cuan'inaii, Jf Toiqfileson, saiu that the question was not as simple as tiie previous speakers had seemed to make it. The trouble originated in the fact' that No. 1 shed had been built too small. The board allowed free storage for hours oil incoming, cargo, and hau to fiave some space available for outgoing produce and other cargo, hence the necessity lor prompt clearance of the sheds. Many firms, includingi that of Mr. Corson, made use of the sheds as a matter of business, paying the cost of extra storage as a matter of course. It paid them to do so, and the board should not be called on for further consideration. Mr. Macdonald declared that Satur. dav was counted as a whole day, eitliei for free or paid storage, and it provided only three hours in which cargo could be moved.

The chairman replied that the interests of exporters must be considered, and the board should' go very carefully into the matter before making any changes.

The fact was, added Mr. Tombleson, that the carriers coukl not clear the sheds on Saturdays because the firms in many cases would not take goods into their own stores on that day. Mr. Macdonald: The Government will not let them work over the stipulated hours. The opinion tliat there was real ground for the request put forward by Mr. Macdonald was expressed by Mr. 1. J. Quigley, who pointed out that the Iruit and maize shipments outward were seasonal, and' tliat the sheds could be regu la ted then. IN OTHER PORTS The secretary-manager, Mr. H. ABarton, stated that in other ports only one day’s free storage was permitted. The Gisborne board had extended the period from one to two days in consideration of the difficulties created by the arrival of most of the shipping late in the week. If this proposal was acceded to, he said, doubtless there would be further requests for concessions. “People in business in Gisborne arc giving freights to overland carrieis because of this difficulty,” stated Mr. Corson, who [minted out that the board s revenue was down £IOCO for the year already. That was because the goods could not be withdrawn from the sheds conveniently. The chairman replied that on one hand the carriers were in trouble because firms would not lake goods on Saturday mornings, and on the other business people were. complainings according to Mr. Corson, that they coukl not get their goods out. The two things were difficult to reconcile. He moved 1 that the question be referred to the wharfage committee for a careful report. This amendment to Mr. Macdonald’s motion was carried by a majority vote. On Mr. Quigley’s suggestion, it wardecided to secure also a report on the matter of slipping charges, the mover pointing out that the 40-hour week prevented anv work being done on ships on Saturdays, and that charges for that dav could not be sustained.