BIG RISE IN WHARF HANDLING CHARGED IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 January 1948, Page 4

BIG RISE IN WHARF HANDLING CHARGED IN WANGANUI

It was announced yesterday that a 350 per cent, increase in the handling charges made by the Wanganui Harbour Board on all cargo which enters the Castlecliff wharf sheds has been approved by the Price Tribunal and is now in operation. The increase from 2s to 9s raises the total cost of unloading a ton of cargo at the port from 6s 5d to 13s sd.

Mr. I. Hedditch, secretary to the board, stated yesterday that the board had been forced to apply for the increase because of the employment of waterside labour in the shed. While the town wharf was In use a limited amount of waterside labour was employed in the Castlecliff shed, but this did not affect the board greatly, as most of the cargo shipped to the city was unloaded from a vessel at the town wharf. Since the concentration of port facilities at Castlecliff. however, the employment oi more waterside labour had beep necessary and the Increase was needed to cover the new costa Mr. Hedditch emphasised that the increase applied only to goods handled through the Castlecllff shed; It did not apply to coal or any other cargo unloaded directly on to the wharf or to goods transhipped to the* town wharf sheds. He added that whenever possible the board would divert cargoes to the town wharf and thus escape the new charge, since the board intended to keep the town wharf storage facilities operating.