WOOL EXPORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 192, 12 February 1912, Page 7

WOOL EXPORTS.

CONGESTION AT WAITARA. AN INADEQUATE STAFF. Last year, during the wool season, 6200 bales of wool were shipped Home from Waitara by the New Zealand Shipping Company's vessels from the roadstead. This wool all comes from Taranaki and its hinterland, and with the development that is always going on in our backblocks it was expected that that amount would be considerably increased this year. The dumping and loading of this wool is performed by the Waitara Harbor Board, under arrangement with the N.Z. Shipping Company, and in the past it has always been very satisfactory, but this season operations have been delayed by the weather, which kept the roads in such a bad state that it was impossible to commence carting. In previous seasons wool begins to come to hand in November. This year, however, no wool was sent forward until January, when 5000 bales had to be handled within six weeks, as against 6200 all last season. The wool comes to the wharf in bales that have been handpressed at the shearing sheds. Economy of space is an absolute essential on shipboard, and the bales are still further compressed in the sheds at the wharf, and two tied together with iron bands, occupying the space of one previously. The shed at Waitara contains one press, and it was unable to cope with the work, although some of the time it was working night and day. The shed was full up with bales waiting to be pressed, whilst on the wharf were 40. trucks waiting to be unloaded. The Railway Department allows five working hours for unloading after the trucks are received, and as in the busy season every-' one' is crying out for trucks and the Department is unable to cope with the demand, they of course cannot allow trucks to be delayed too long. The harbor authorities could not unload the wool in the requisite time, as they had no room for the wool, consequently the trucks were delayed. On January 18 Mr. Sandford, stationmaster at Waitara, > wrote pointing out that eighteen trucks of wool had been standing under load over the regulation time, and asked the Board to give as prompt release as possible, owing to the present demand. On January 30 he forwarded a claim for demurrage amounting to £4B 12s, pointing out that the Department had allowed twelve hours instead of five. The Board consulted' its solicitors, Messrs. Roy & Nicholson, who advised. - that the claim should be against the Shipping .Company .and not against the Board, which they considered was only the company's agent in respect' of the receipt of wool consignments.

This was communicated to the stationmaster at Waitara, who wrote that he had been instructed by the Department to render the account to the N.Z. Shipping Company for demurrage on trucks containing wool and tallow. He enclosed am amended account for £2 demurrage on goods, which he asked the Board to pay. On February 5 advice was received 1 from the Railway Department that every effort would be made to 'induce senders to hold wool back for the.present, so as Jo. give the Boards chance'"fo ' discharge' "WaggVfls K6'w on hand! He asked the Board to advise when more wool was required. This was done as the outcome of representations made by Mr. C. V. Houghton, Auckland manager for the N.Z. Shipping Company. , The Harbor Board also had trouble with £h'e' sriipp'ihjj'c ; 6mpalny''6ve'r' a' claim for the payment of overtime for pressing,' which the company would'not admit, and Mr. C. V. Houghton' "' replied, inter alia," that the Shipping, Company admitted that there may have been an unusual rush of wool this season, but they had had shipments of about the Same magnitude*''iri "former years, when the7,wprk was; got through in reasonable liim'e, but' eyery year in the flush of the season Overtime.-had been worked, and on (fib occasion bad the company been asked io pay,' ,They } agreed to a renewal of the dumping arrangements on the same terms as previously. They also pointed out that at 8d per bale they were paying -30 per cent, more than it" cost them in. their own warehouse, including overJame, The, Board also received a weighing fee of 3d per bale on almost all the wool. They considered that, even allowing for the fact that the Waitara men were not, so expert in handling cargo as those at larger ports, there should be a profit of about 40 per cent. They could not help thinking that a great amount of congestion had been caused by the fact that Laing, who hitherto had charge of the work, is now otherwise employed. All this was disclosed at tne''Harbor ißoard meeting on Friday evening last, when the inwards correspondence was being'read, and the members present listened most attentively. At the conclusion

, Cajitajn. Thomson, harbormaster, &at'ed that the- information re the size of the shipment was-not correct. The .Torijg'ariro took.-fiway 4soO bales, wherea&'ttie, previous .heaviest shipment was M6O bljdes;.,| ~'".,'",',1 ■ ■ y p The' Board. w.as about to pass on to ..jjjKher \wjjpn .Mr. Hine asked: V'Arn. I, ,td understand, that the Railto tor ward wool in quantities as required?" ■ , , i■ ■ f-The harbormaster stated that Mr. p<|ugjitpi hadfarranged with tfe Bepar>ttnent to send the; wool regularly, but not 'in such large quantities.

iThe chairman remarked that he had done all he could to relieve the congestion. He had kept the press working 48 hours ,at a stretch.

Mr. Hine said that the question of who paid the claim for demurrage was immaterial. That was only a trifle. It was the damage that was done to the reputation of the port that mattered. He considered that the time had arrived when the question of management should be gone into. He did not mean to cast any reflection on Capt. Thompson, whose position was untenable. He was asked to do impossibilities with a man and a boy. This could not go on. They must give him competent assistance. Delays at the present juncture were disastrous. A port not far way was on the eve of very great development. He understood that a prominent official of the New Zealand Shipping Company had been to Moturoa in connection with a site for a dumping plant. Waitara's only chance of competing was by giving an efficient-service, which could not be done under present conditions. They were asking one man to do too much.

The harbormaster emphasised the fact that in six weeks they had handled 5000 bales, whereas 6280 were handled during the whole of last year. At the time Mr. Houghton was unaware of the pressure, but he understood now, and proposed to provide an extra press next year. This would considerably relieve the congestion, as they could press the wool much quicker, and the shed would hold more. Later on, with natural increase, extra shed accommodation might be necessary. Mr. Rattenbury emphasised the fact that this had been an exceptional season. The press had been kept going to its utmost, and he did not see what more coulil be done under the circumstances. The Board was always willing to render reasonable assistance.

The chairman stated that Mr. Hough,ton went away agreeably surprised after his visit. The pressure was exceptional. They had now got Captain Thompson .extra temporary assistance. The p OJ -t

J was not likely to suffer. New Plymouth] j was trying hard to get the trade, but I j as long as Waitara could ship cheaper } they need not fear. Mr. Hine considered that as the trade j expanded more officers would be re- [ quired, not fewer. How could Captain Thompson be expected to look after the . wool shed and the general cargo shed, ; too? The chairman: It has been done. Mr. fline: Yes; and look at the complaints. We know things have gone astray. It is not reasonable to expect ! Captain Thompson to be in half a dozen places at once. They now had a chance to rectify this by putting on capable assistance, and he could show that it would not cost more.

The chairman: There is no need to put on a permanent hand, as the present staff can carry on when the rush is over. Mr. Hine said that Laing should be relieved of the position of dredgemaster, and put in the sheds. Why was he debarred from working in the sheds, and instructed to put in his spare time in the office J

The chairman said that when boats were running, out every few days he would not be available very often. Mr. Hine said that the Shipping Company was practically asking for him. The chairman' remarked that shipping companies asked for many things they did not get. Mr. Hine reiterated that the position was serious, and that the (Board had a chance now to relieve it.

Captain Thompson said, in reply to a question, that he did not want to complain, but, to be perfectly honest, during the wool season the work was beyond one man. He had tried hard to cope with it. The trouble was that when he Was occupied in the woolshed some foolish little mistake was made that would not occur if he was there, and that took a lot of putting right, and caused a lot of dissatisfaction, which was not of advantage to the port. He could struggle through, but not efficiently. In reply to a question as to whether he was satisfied now, the harbormaster said that he was satisfied himself. He could get the work done somehow, but it would be easier to carry out if he had more competent assistance. • 'Mr. Smith had no idea things were in such a state. Temporary efficient assistance should be provided. Mr. Hine considered that to be efficient it must be permanent. As men who had the interest of the port at heart they should admit when they erred. He outlined a scheme which he afterwards tabled as a notice of motion. By this, he considered that a saving could be made. It practically meant the substitution of a man for a boy. Although it was a serious matter, and should be taken in hand at once, he did not object to giving notice of motion. The chairman: We have got over it. Mr. Hine: No, sir. The serious effect is afterwards! The damage to the port's reputation. The chairman thought it was a serious matter letting these liijtle things get about.

Mr. Hine then tabled the following motice of motion for consideration at next meeting, when he hoped it would be favorably received: (1) That Mr. L. H. Sampson, be offered the. position of clerk and assistant wharfinger at a salary of £lj3o per .annum, retaining'his post as Customs House officer;' (2) that J. W. Laing be relieved of his' position as dredgemaster, and that he be required to assist in and. about the sheds and wharf; (3J that Captain Thompson's salary be reduced to £225 per annuw; (4) that the cadet be given the requisite notice terminating his services.