TROUBLE ON THE WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 649, 28 October 1909, Page 7

TROUBLE ON THE WHARF.

' PASSENGEBS SERIOUSLY INC»NVENI.' t ::'-'y?- ■'•'.'■ -.FENCED.;,;;,; .-;-' : V. ■"" >; "Well,-I've'' travelled' a good deal in' my time but I've never struck anything eo I strong as tbis," said a passenger by the Moeraki, as lie stood by his luggage at the ship's'side between noon and !• p.m. yesterday. /"What's flie trouble?" iosked a Douiinox: representative. '■'Trouble; yes, that's it-hero we've had our .luggage put;:put, and we.have to squat" on it until 1 o'clock, because the Custorasslied is not open. Further than that the porters won't carry it down the wharf, because tie Customs officials will not let it pass the barrier. This lsthe sort-of thing that gives visitors such ? i»W™ impression of' God's Own Country! ■ And, a.'very satiric tone marked each sentence as the. speaker delivered it.j-■'■". Inquiries were made, and the force of the | eomplAint became only too apparent. ;■ It: appears that the Moeraki, from Sydney, berthed shortly .before noon yesterday, and by the time ' the midday hour; shuck a good deal-of luggage had been landed on- the wharf. On the stroke of 12 the men ceased. work, and the Customs shed was closed for the luncli hour. Th«[Harbour 'Board, it was ascertained, is quita willing to open tho shed, at any' time on being asked to do so by, the Customs Department, but,,as the. board handles tho luggage, free of charge, and has to pay itscffiI tial in charge; of the shed, overtime when he I is engaged after 5 pirn.,- or at lunch time, it considers that it should be reimbursed by the Depart mont. : Hence the request' for a formal i requisition for the olenving shiid to be opened. It is understood that: this trifling-charge used to'bo paid by tho Department up till n [few months ago, but latterly it has been stopped, and, consequently,, the shed is not opened, and passengers are seriously inconvenienced. The same tronblo occurred three weeks ago: on tho' arrival' at ; the ; wharf at 5 p.m. of the Warrimoo. In that caso the Harbour Board officials had to rope off a space on the wharf for the examination of pnseeniwrs luggage in.the open air. Tho attention !. of. the .Secretary of tho Customs. Department was drawn to this occurrence by Mr. W. A. Kennedy, manager of tho Union S.S. Co., and I a reply, was received. to the effect that the matter would be, rectified. Yesterday's experience 'is evidence, however, that adequate steps have* not been taken.- : ' ,'■''■" .v. As j agaiiiet the plea that ns .tno Harbour staff ceased work between noon and 1 p.m., and the ruggogo could not havo been carried from , the ships side' to the clearing shed at the foot of Queen's Wharf, jt remains ,to be, stated that many passengers, yesterday would have been only too pleased to pay porterage if theyVcoiild have had their luggage "pat through" on its discharge. '