AUCKLAND STILL FULL PORT

Chronicle (Levin), 16 December 1946, Page 4

AUCKLAND STILL FULL PORT

AUCKLAND, Dec. 15. Hopelessly tinable to acljust itself to conditions, tlie port of Auckland tomorroxv begius the third week of Ihe shorter waterfront working honrs. The swiftly monnting repercussions of the waterside workers' decision were temporarily lessened by the diversion last week of an unprecedented umnbei of six overseas ships but failure to reach a settlexnent at tliis week's talks in Wellington, may agaiu build up the number of waiting sliips by New Year. Auckland has so far sull'ered more than any other New Zealand port from the eli'ects of the 40-hour working week on the waterfront and it is reported that the (lovernment is closely watching the shipping as well as the industrial situation here. Twelve overseas ships, including two liners with passengers from North America, are oxpected before the end of the month afid the possibility of the diversion oi one or two of the vessels is already being considered. Only two ships, the Xarbada froni Jndia and .the Kaituna from Liverpool, are due this week and they will almost certainly liave to anchor Qn arrival. The Kaimata which arrived 011 Thursday from London and Port Said, is the only slnp at. present iix the stream and she may berth late in the week following the departure for Wellington of the dis charging Gothie Btar. With the exception of the sugar ship Mount Park, which will leave Chelsea early this week, 110 other overseas ship now in port will sail bel'ore Decomber 31, the provisional sailitig date for the food ships Hororata and Port Hohart, 1 as only two or three days will be worked between Christmas Eve and New Year. The ground is therefore already laid for increased cougestion. Auckland importcrs sharing 2200 tons of general cargo which the Waiwera is carrying on to Wellington, may have lo wait many weeks before all the con signment is transhipped baclc to this •pbrt. , Large.. quantities of eigarettek and pipes and a .shipment of -gih" a're irududed in the Waiwera 's .Auckland inanifest.