ACTIVITY AT GOODS SHEDS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1932, Page 7

ACTIVITY AT GOODS SHEDS

6000 TONS OF OVERSEAS CARGO. NEW PLYMOUTH -STATION BUSY. Nearly 6000 tons of inward cargo have been handled at the New Plymouth railway station in the past fortnight in the rush' of Christmas traffic. Steps taken by the department to cope with the rush ' facilitated the receipt of goods by merchants. The position was relieved to a great extent by.the fact that,the rush of seasonal traffic which last year was concentrated in a few days prior to Christmas, this year was spread over a much longer period. All the cargo has be<=n for distribution in Taranaki, and consisted of 2000 tons of English general cargo from the Otaio, 1600 tons of Texas sulphur from the Port Hunter, sugar and cement from the Hauturu and nearly 1000 -tons of coal and South Island produce from the vessels Rata,- Totara, Opihi; and John. There have been-imports of wheat from Australia. ... The handling of the cargoes has called for the employment of 51 casual labourers in addition to the permanent staff.

On four occasions work was necessary from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The New Plymouth l sheds hold the record for the quickest 'W' handling of Government wheat, even m /’ competition-with Auckland, and. Wellington. Railway officials consider the bulk of . Christmas orders through the port have already been distributed.