RAILWAY SHED CONGESTION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 9

RAILWAY SHED CONGESTION

Manufacturers’ Help Sought

To avoid congestion at the Christchurch railway sheds, members of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association have been asked by the District Traffic Manager of Railways (Mr E. C. Brittenden) to try to take evening and Saturday morning deliveries. With record shipping tonnages being handled in Lyttelton, his department was faced with the problem of transferring as expeditiously as possible more than 25,000 tons of goods through the Waltham road yard and the shipping sheds, said Mr Brittenden in a letter to the association.

Mr Brittenden expressed his appreciation of the attitude taken by the association’s council at its meeting this week. “It is encouraging to find that manufacturers realise the serious position which, in all probability, will arise in the near future in handling the tremendous volume of goods coming forward from Lyttelton to Christchurch consignees.’’ He had been assured of the continued co-operation of all the local carriers, but it was necessary to seek the help of the association’s members in having deliveries made outside normal working hours, if the congestion was to be kept within reasonable working limits. Mr Brittenden said he was placing an officer in the shipping sheds whose duty would be to advise consignees of goods which it was desired to deliver outside the normal working hours. He felt confident that the association’s members would realise the need to assist in that manner. The calling of a conference on the congestion problems could be avoided in the meantime by the support of manufacturers and others, he said.

The secretary of the association (Mr R. T. Alston) will send a circular to members summarising Mr Brittenden's letter.