SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 913, 5 March 1930, Page 1

SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS

UNLOADING OF VESSELS DELAYED IMPORTERS’ COMPLAINTS Strong complaints against the Railway Department's inability to supply sufficient trucks, with tarpaulins, on the Auckland wharves for unloading of fertiliser cargoes of two vessels now in port were made today by representatives of fertiliser importing firms. The shortage of rolling stock means that thousands of tons of manures have to be dumped ipto the wharf sheds, and on which importers have to pay dues amounting to 6d a ton a night. The vessels affected are the Valacia, with between 4,000 and 5,000 tons, at Queen's Wharf, and the Largo Law, with about 6,000 tons of manures from Antwerp. The importers claim that the lack of trucks Is an annual complaint during February and March, in which the overseas consignments of fertilisers for autumn top-dressing are landed here, but the shortage has never been so pronounced as at present. The following wire was dispatched today to the General Manager of Railways:— Auckland fertiliser- importers are seriously inconvenienced by insufficient trucks and coverings to remove fertiliser now lying on wharf incurring storage expenses, as well as delaying farmer. Request your immediate attention to this matter, and to provide trucks for further large shipments due shortly. The importers state that the Railway Department heads have been interviewed and urged to alleviate the position, but have confessed inability to do so. Because no trucks could he supplied on the wharves, the importers have been compelled to cart the bagged manures to the railway sheds, where trucks were available for railing it to other centres. On Saturday, the Importers state they were notified by the department not to transport any more fertilisers to the sheds as there were no trucks available. Therefore, the discharged cargo has to lie in the wharf sheds, costing 6d a ton a night* The cost of carting from the wharf to the railway sheds is about 4s a ton. Practically no trucks have been available for the manure cargo since Monday, importers state. The inconvenience caused to farmers, who are waiting for consignments to proceed with autumn top-dressing, is stressed by the importers, who state that the extra charges incurred in landing must be added to the price to the farmers. “HEAVY RUSH” DEPARTMENT DOES ITS BEST MR, CASEY COMMENTS “There is an extremely heavy rush of boats with fertilisers just now. not only in Auckland, but in other parts of the North Island, and the department is unable to keep rolling stock standing Idle throughout the year to cope with a peak load of this nature.” This was stated to The Sun by Mr. E. Casey,, divisional superintendent of the Railway Department for the North Island, when the complaint of shortage of trucks was referred to him for comment. “Every effort is being made by the department to expedite the turnover of wagons and impress on its clients at every station the necessity for prompt unloading, so that the temporary wagon shortage may be relieved. “In the Auckland district alone no less than six officers are specially deputed to travel over the district for that purpose. Similar action is being taken in the southern portion of the North Island, and where necessary, special trains of empty wagons are being arranged to remedy the position.” In conclusion, Mr. Casey said that the Railway Department, like every other business, found it impossible to render 100 per cent, of service during such an abnormal rush as was being experienced at the present time.