GOODS CONGESTION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 10

GOODS CONGESTION.

CONSIGNEES TO BLAME.

AMPLE SHED ACCOMMODATION,

An inspection of the railway goods sheds was made yesterday by Messrs P. R. Climie, representing the Chamber of Commerce, and H. Chapman and G. Drummond, railway of'ficials, in connexion with the cargo congestion at the sheds. Prior to the inspection, a conference was held in the 'frame Manager's office, when Mr P. H. Harris, who represented the Marine Underwriters, was present. Mr Chapman said the reason he had brought the matter under the notice of the officials was that, in the past, the ' Eailway Department had been blamed for not giving immediate delivery of goods in the sheds. It was, however, not the railway, but the consignees themselves ,who were responsible for the delay. "A start was made on January 10th with the discharging of the Remuera s cargo," said Mr Chapman, "but not one of the consignees applied goods before the 17th, and then only a small proportion was taken away. Normally, the cargoes are .ready for delivery at once, but the 3000 tons of cargo was not at all appreciably diminished until yesterday. This left the shed too full to hold any more consignments, and then came the cargo or the Trevorian. The 'C shed was used for the overflow from the coastal boats, with the result that the latter cargo had to be held in the trucks for Several days. It is plainly not the fault of the railway if the consignees will not take away their consignments. This affects the whole of the shipping and railwav arrangements.'' Mr Climie: Is there a lack of storage? Mr Chapman: We do not pretend to be warehousemen. We are carriers, and we would have had ample room if the consignees had taken possession of their goods. . Replying to a questipn regarding the Wellington and Auckland accommodations, Mr Drummond said that he had had a good deal of experience in handling cargoes at both the ports in question. There; the Harbour Boards took over most of the business.- The Wellington sheds were far bigger than the Christchurch ones, but the Christchurch sheds were ample enough. In reply to a question by Mr Climie, Mr Drummond said that the Wellington sheds were about ten times as large as the Christchurch ones.

"If the consignees had only lifted their goods, we would have had enough room to handle a consignment four or five times as large," added Mr Drummond. Mr Climie said that he had been informed that most of the trouble had been caused by the goods arriving bofore the invoices. Consignees apparently did not appreciate the quickness of the transport through the Panama Canal. The Remuera, beinp a direct boat, had caused the trouble. Mr Drummond: Carrying agents told me a few days ago that the invoices had arrived, and that their lorries had been idle. The Customs Department also agreed that the invoices had arrived some time previvously. "The Chamber of Commerce lias often. ■ impressed upon consignees the absolute necessity of having the-neces-sary documents forwarded by the same boat as the .goods," said Mr Climie. "Is it not a fact that some of the smaller dealers have to make arrangements with their banks P", 'Mr". Chapman: "That is something: I do. not know about, but there have been several cases ,of delay through the late arrival of the documents." To Mr Harris:,"Some haWsaid that the underwriters' have been responsible for the delays." ■ Mr'-Harris >'■ I deny that. The damage done on the Remuera was confined to the locker. The damage was very small, only a few cases of spirits being damaged. The goods are not held up whilst the underwriters fix the general average. "The bills of lading, not the invoices, come with the cargo," said Mr Drummond in reply .to u question. Mr Chapman said that although the Department charged storage, it was not an adequate recompense. The Department wanted to get rid of the goods in store, but until approached by the owners with -their documents they did not,know to whom the goods belonged. "This matter certainly needs investigation,", said. Mr Drummond. "The clearing agents state that their documents have been with the Customs for five days." "Our information has been to the effect'that the delay has been caused through the striking; of a <reneral average of the loss," said Mr Chapman. "The nosition of the sheds, whether in Lvttelton or Christchurch. would not affect the present position." An insnection of the "B" shed was then made by the narty. The sheds were found to be full, and a long lino of trucks with cargo from the Essex awaited unloading. \

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD.

MEETING AT WELLINGTON. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, January 19. A meeting of the Dairy Produce Control Board was held to-day, the principal business being the consideration of a report by the chairman (Mr W. Grounds). on the results of his recent visit to London. /

No announcement regarding the Board's business was available to the at the luncheon adjournment.

SHIPPING MEAT.

MARKETING CHARGES. [THE PRESS Spocial Service.] WELLINGTON, January 19. The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board has been asked to publish estimates of costs of shipping meat on owners' account. The following coatings should be of help to farmers who are contemplating sending forward parcels of meat on consignment. The costings are computed on the basis of: lamb 341b average, nTutton 561b average, etook killed at a freezing works in Hawke's Bay or AVellirigton district, and based on the killing and freezing charges at present ruling in these districts. Skin values are esti•mated only, and are based on the average amount of woolsliped from January, killings, and the values are dependent on the trend of the wool aid pelt market:— Lamb. Mutton. . per lb. ber lb. d. d. Killing, freezing, etc., and placing f.o.b .. .. .638 .523 Bailage and droving on live , stock to works or frozen meat from inland works to port, say Gd per head lamb, 9d per head mutton .. .176 .161 Freight to.London .. .. 1.167 .997 Insurance, interest, exchange, etc. .. .. .. .303 .193 •2.281 I.BSO London charges, including port dues, storage for 28 days, cartage, market' toll and selling commission .. .517 .{35 " 2.80 X 2.315 Less value of skin and fat, estimated at .. .. 1.313 ' .973 Total cost •• _ .. 1.583 1,312.