FOOD PARCELS LEFT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 6

FOOD PARCELS LEFT

CORINTHIC FULLY LOADED WATERSIDE WORKERS CRITICAL AUCKLAND. Dec. 10. Two thousand bags of food parcel mail —half the ship's allocation, were left behind when the Shaw Savill and Albion lindr Corinthic sailed from Auckland to-dav for London, via Australia and South Africa. Although the bargo space was still available at sailing time, the liner had been loaded down to her marks and no more cargo could be taken. One thousand of the bags will be taken by the same company’s Fordsdale, due in Britain three days after the Corinthic. Negotiations were in train to-day for the remainder to go by the Wellpark, due about 17 days after the Corinthic. Criticism of the company’s action was expressed by the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union, who agreed that the liner was loaded down to her marks and could take no additional cargo, but it was maintained that food parcels could have been loaded instead of general cargo for Capetown or even wool for Britain. The cargo had been shut out because the Corinthic was carrying more cargo in her refrigerated holds than was anticipated, said Mr R. J. Foreman, the company’s acting marine superintendent at Auckland. Additional quantities of fibre, boxed butter and greater shipments of telescoped mutton and lamb had come down. As these foodstuffs had to be shipped, the Corinthic was down to her marks before all the parcels and a consignment of milk powder could be put on board. Opportunities for shipment to Capetown were few, and as a definite commitment had been made some time previously to carry 22J tons of seed and foodstuffs, it was decided to carry out the agreement, said Mr Foreman, who addfed that the cargo taken out at Capetown would be replaced by foodstuffs for the United Kingdom. The commander of the Corinthic, Captain G. M. Robertson, who was making his first voyage to New Zealand after six years in command of the troopship Mataroa, said the union was in no position to offer criticism. “We should have been away from here a fortnight ago,” said Captain Robertson. “I have been at sea for 40 years, and I have never before spent five weeks in port in any one place in my life. This ship should be making another voyage every year.” Before the liner sailed the Post Office staff began to move mail bags from the wharf shed to the Fordsdale, which will leave Auckland on Wednesday. She will now carry 8000 bags instead of her previous allocation Of 7000, the additional 1000 coming from the Corinthic shipment. The Corinthic will reach England on January 17, and the Fordsdale is due on January 20. It is hoped that the remaining 1000 bags will be carried by the British freighter Wellpark, leaving Auckland on December 20. “All my space is booked up for cargo, but I am going to move heaven and earth to lift those parcels, even if we have to store them in rooms,” commented the Wellpark’s master, Captain Walker. The Wellpark will reach London about February 3. An Auckland postal official stated that the Wellpark was not previously allocated mail, but that if negotiations were completed it would enable all parcels in hand at sailing time to be cleared.