WATERSIDE DELAYS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 December 1948, Page 6

WATERSIDE DELAYS

press AssaczatiorJ

Figures Show Auckland As „ 3 Slowest Port

(Per

WELLINGTON, Nov, 30. ' ' Tho all-ports average rate oi work t'or the loading of overseas vessels, has been maintained during the year but there was a drop in. the rate of loading overseas vessels at Auckland," says Ihe report of the Waterfront Industry Com mission for 1947-48, tabled in the House of Representatives today. The rate of loading butter at Auckland fell from 7S0 boxes per gang per honr for 194(5-47 to 742 boxes per gang per liour for 1947-48 while the rate of loading niutton and lainb fell from 7GS oarcases in 194(5-47 to 729 in 1947-48. The all-ports average rate of discharging overseas ves'sels increased slightly from 12.15 tons per gang-houi in 1946-47 to 12.53 tons .per gang-hour for 1947-48. This rate cannot be con sidered satisfactory and thei'e is plenD of room for improvenient. The low rate of discharge^ however, is not entireiy due to the men as there are otlier factors involved sucli as congestion of wharf and railway goods sheds, multiplicity of marks, etc. The all-ports average rate of hand ling Coastwise cargo for 1947-48 \vu> 13.6 tons per gang-hour for Uniou Steamship Co. vessels and 15.94 tons for otlier coastal vessels compared vvitli 13.54 tons and 16 tons respectively toi the previous year. There has been a falling off in tlu rate of handling coastvvise cargo al Auckland during the last three year.^ and at Wellington last year. Tlie rate of work at Auckland eompares unfav ourably with the rates of work u:i LTnion Conipany vessels at otlier maia ports. o It is gratifying to record a niarked improvenient in the rate of handling coastwise cargo at Dunedin vvliere the rate of work 011 vessels of tlie Uniou Steamship Co. increased from 13.3 tou.per net gang-hour in- 1946-47 to 14.75 to us in 1917-48 wliile the rate for otlie; coastal vessels increased from 15.4u tons to 1(5.84 tons per net gang-hour. The Coiumission 's (igures for tlnrates of work are ealculated aciording to times when loading or .unioading operations are actually proceeding. Times occupied in removing or repia, ing hatches, in shunting operations uiiu 1 iu weather or otlier delays, are iiot taken iuto account. Unfortunalely ui Auckland and Wellington and to a less exteiit in Lyttelton, there appours to be a toiideney for the times so occupied to increase with the result Lliat the amount of work done per paid liour is less in proportiou to the work done per liour tlian forinerly. Congested Sheds. The report says that during the calen dar vcar 1947, a total of. 8, 112,009 ton.of cargo was liandied at New Zculand ports whicli is 729,000 tons niore tinui for the previous year. The increase in berthage spaee and shed accommodation lia.H bcen insufiicient to ineel ihe hugincrease in cargo handled. The result has been tlie congestion of wharf shed aiul overloading of port facilities an . railway aervices. The port of Auckland where the maiu increase was handled, liad in particular been congested aud apart from delays through niajoi dispules, the shortage oi' berthing spaee was a factor in vessels lying idle 111 tlie stroma. The congestion of wharf aud. railway goods sheds necessilated the rc introduction of tlie Cargo (Jontro Kmergency Regulations- in October 1947 Ou a number of occasions al railwa.v ports it was impossible to work over lime on discliarging jobs due to tln shortage of wagons. The Kailways Iv liaitinent had ordered additional truck.overseas and as these caiue to hand th position would iinprove. Coastal Shipping. While coastal vessels wero taking much longer to tuni round today, Ihe,, were all handling full cargoes and com pared with 1939, there was a 50 per cent increase in tlie average tonnage .ainlled per round trip. This, howevei. was insuifieient to oiTset Ihe additional time taken in tlie tuni round. Too Many Marks. The report says the multiplicity oi' marks of cargo dlscliarged is u niajor

cause of shed congestion. The commisi -hui has taken steps to deal with this as far as potato shipmcnts were con.cenied niu! the Chainlier of Commerce had been asked to reduee the number if marks of staiulard packages. Disciissing disputes whicli occurred during tlie year, tlie report says tlie per centage of nian-hours lost through disputes involving stoppages, was 1.J8 compared with 2.64 per cent for the pre vious years. The average of nian-hours lost during Commission control from 1941-4S, was .95 compared with .80 per cent for the four years beforc Cominission coiiutrol. Of a total of 221,0:W nian-hours lost during 1947-48, 212,780 man-liours were lost at Auckland.