PORTERS’ FEES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20217, 19 September 1935, Page 5

PORTERS’ FEES

EXTORTION ALLEGED Complaints regarding alleged extortionate charges by porters engaged to carry passengers’ luggage on and off passenger vessels in the harbour were made at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board this week. The board decided to consider in committee the question of taking over the service with its own employees. “From time to time I have raised the question of the unsatisfactory method at present in operation of handling passengers’ luggage on the large passenger vessels,” reported the traffic manager, Mr W. R. Golden. ‘'When the by-laws were last revised we endeavoured by means of 17 by-laws, covering three pages, to so regulate the work of porters as to preclude any unseemly conduct; however, so far as extortionate charges are concerned, the position is just as bad as ever and likely to remain so. “The practice seems to be to overcharge outgoing passengers in the belief that they will not have the time or the inclination to lodge a protest, and this belief is usually correct. Occasionally, however, we have a passenger come forward and make a complaint, but as soon as we request a statement they usually want to let the matter drop, as they are afraid of being detained to attend court proceedings or something of that nature. “The worst feature is that numbers of these people depart harbouring a feeling of very bitter resentment against New Zealand in general and Auckland in particular, and, worst of all, on acocunt of the porters being licensed by us they have an idea that they are our employees. I cannot see any way of carrying on satisfactorily under the present method and would strongly recommend the board to take over this work with our sweepers, except that the present charges should, with a slight alteration, be retained and made by the board.” A London County Council schoolteacher is to bind the Codex Sinaiticus which was bought from the Soviet Government for £IOO,OOO.