TURN-ROUND OF SHIPPING

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 November 1947, Page 6

TURN-ROUND OF SHIPPING

NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT SAYS THE COMMISSION (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Nov. 26 Comment on the delays to ships discharging antf loading cargoes on the New Zealand coast is contained in the annual report of the Waterfront Industry Commission, tabled in the House ot Representatives today. The report says that overseas vessels which discharged and loaded on the New Zealand coast spent an average of 52 days on the coast during the year ended March 31, 1947 compared with-an average of 42 days in 1939. Overseas vessels which loaded only spent an average of 26 days on the coast last year as against an average of 27 days in 1939. The report also comments on the fact that coastal vessels are taking longer to turn round today then before the war. The all-port average discharging rate for overseas vessels shows a reduction from 12.79 tons a gang hour to 12.15. “This rate is far from satisfactory and there is ample room for improvement." adds the report. “Apart from the efforts of the men there are other factors affecting the rate of discharge—congestion at wharf and railway sheds, a change in the nature of the cargo from measurement to weight etcetera. Congestion in wharf and railway sheds has been brought about mainlv through the handling of cargo on the wharves being carried on for about 59 hours a week while delivery from the wharf and railway sneds is only effected on an average of 40 hours a week. Delays also were brought about frequently through shortage of railway trucks and it was not uncommon at railway ports for labour to be sent home while ships remain idle because discharging or loading operations cannot be carried on until sufficient trucks are made available. When additional trucks which are now on order overseas by the Railways Department arrive, the position will improve."