CONGESTED SHEDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 8

CONGESTED SHEDS.

THE CARRYING FIRMS' PROTEST. * The congested state of the siieds on tho wharves, where tho direct liners arc discharging, was brought under tho notice of the Wellington Harbour- Board by a letter from a number of carrying firms. Tho letter, which was read at 'last night's monthly meeting, was signed by the following firms: —Messrs. J. O'Brien and Co., Mimt, Oottrcll auci Co., R. Fletcher and Co., Colonial Carrying Co., J. .1. Curtis and Co., Ltd., J. Keir, and Blake, Carlisle and Co.

In the letter, these firms pointed out that it was utterly impossible for them to clear tho sheds while tho various shipping companies wero allowed to discharge their vessels one after another in the same sheds. They suggested' that some opportunity he afforded them for clearing away tho hugo cargoes that have already been discharged, otherwise serious trouble would eventuate. The board must know that the carriers wero labouring under great difficulties. They were using their clerical staffs as drivers, and the other drivers that they had been able to got were entirely strange to the work. Some of them did not even know where the I'osi. Office was, and consequently they took much longer over their loads. Tim firms thought some cbusidcralioii should be shown ■to them. i.t was all very well for the shipping companies, for they could unload and toad their vessels, but the carters could not shift ifc in a like manner under tho circumstances. They suggested that while, the present strike trouble lasted tho board should not allow ships to discharge: their cargoes into sheds that were already full, as was tho case recently at the King's Wharf, where tho board was attempting to deliver the Rimutaka, Willochra, and Rcmuera shipments at the same time,

A further letter stated that since the first one was written the linns had ascertained that tlie Avawa had been berthed at the King's 'Wharf, and was to discharge her cargo into sheds already full of Rimutaka, Willochra, and liomuera cargo. They therefore entered an omphalic protest against such a procedure. The hoard must know they were working against terrible udds, anil they certainly though tliey were entilled to the." consideration' that, was promised I hem when work started. Tlier fell: sore on this iioint, and if the board did not do something to prevent the shipping companies from discharging their vessels in this mnnniT ui sheds already, full, I hen they would havo to lako some other steps to protect themselves.

The chairman (Mr. R. Fletcher) said that what was .stated in tin* lottc'r was quite, con-pcf. Under the present conditions nl' tilings it look tin- carrying companies five or six times as long to handle cargoes. " They saw a lot in the papers about the normal conditions on the wharves, but the normal conditions were absolutely "rotten." 'J'he carrying companies were being made the buffers nil through. .lie thought that the time: had arrived when the harbourmaster should resume his functions in berthing ships. The position had reached such an acute stage that they should stop ships discharging until a clearance was effected. Mr. H. A. Wright also remarked that the harbourmaster should take full control of.the berthing of ships once more. Other members of the hoard agreed, and it was resolved that t'he harbourmaster and the wharfinger should resume the usual order of things again.