PORT OF AUCKLAND CONGESTED AFTER RECENT DISPUTES

Grey River Argus, 31 March 1948, Page 5

PORT OF AUCKLAND CONGESTED AFTER RECENT DISPUTES

AUCKLAND. March 29. Cne of the greatest tonnages of shipping ever assembled m the port of Auckalnd in peace-time will be alongside the wharves and. at anchor in the stream tomorrow morning when waterfront work wili be resumed after the four-day Easter recess. Eighteen large overseas vessels will be in port, six of them swinging at anchor, and the mass of vessels will represent a total tonnage of 158,183 gross. Ten inter-colonial and large coastal vessels will bring the total to' 183,103 tons gross. The previous post-war record was established after the long dispute of early last year when 178,239 tons gross were in p ;rt on one day. The congestion of shipping, which is attributed largely to the loss of working time during waterfront disputes earlier this month, is likely to remain a feature of the port activity for many weeks. Most of the six ships at anchor will not berth before next week and by then other vessels will have arrived to maintain the long queue strung down the harbour from the waterfront to North Head.