OPTIMISTIC VIEW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26637, 6 December 1947, Page 8

OPTIMISTIC VIEW

WATERFRONT* SITUATION CLEARANCE OF CARGOES SERIOUS CONGESTION RELIEVED Because of delays in northern ports, ships that were to have arrived yesterday and to-day are not expected until Monday or later so that the serious difficulties in shed congestion and labour predicted earlier this week have been averted in the meantime. A review of shipping movements in the next week or two, given yesterday by the Dunedin branch manager of the Waterfront Industry Commission, Mr A. Matheson, suggested that the abnoramally busy period over the past month on the waterfront is passing—if only gradually. The congestion of cargo in the wharf sheds had been relieved to some extent during the past three days, said Mr Matheson. If a bottle neck occurred next week it would be in the railway yards because the three overseas freighters due at the Port of Otago next week—the Haparangi with 2400 tons of cargo, the Northumberland with 1100 tons and the Cornwall with 3000 tons—would all discharge at Port Chalmers, and the consignments for Dunedin would be carried by rail. Two overseas ships, the Norman Star and the Fort Grant, are to sail to-day. and if fine weather prevails, several other vessels will leave on Monday and Tuesday. ~ ~, , „ . The suggestion by the Aid to Britain National Council that Christmas holidays on the waterfront and in allied industries should be staggered was also mentioned by Mr Matheson. This scheme was suggested so that the disruption of transport and essential industries and the slowing up of the turn-round of ships should be reduced to a minimum. Acting on the Prime Minister’s request for urgent action the general manager of the Waterfront Industry Commisison. Mr A. E. Bockett, had sent a letter to branches, asking that merchants and carriers should be circularised with a view to sufficient staff remaining on duty during the holiday period. Because the emergency meeting of shipping interests on Wednesday had decided to send circulars to the firms concerned, Mr Matheson thought, there was no need for further action in the W He Remarked that “a marvellous iob” had been done by the carriers removing goods from the wharf sheds and waterside workers had also carried out an exceptionally difficult task during the week. . . , Yesterday an inspection of sheds on the Dunedin waterfront was made by officials of the Otago Harbour Board and Mr Matheson. “It will be. recognised,” Mr W. R. Clarke said, that Dunedin has never handled a greater volume of cargo during a similar period. The situation has been met satisfactorily.