ANTIQUATED CRANE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1938, Page 6

ANTIQUATED CRANE

DELAY IN HANDLING GOODS AT STATION PRIMITIVE METHODS NEEDED FOR HEAVY CASE. Further evidence of the delay occasioned in the handling of goods at the Masterton Railway Station owing to the antiquated crane still in use there, was provided yesterday, when a consignment came to hand for the Masterton County Council. Mr Alex Young, whose firm was taking delivery of the goods, said that among the consignment was a case weighing 2 tons 15 cwt. As the maximum lift of the crane was only two tons, the railways authorities refused permission to use the crane for this case, unless a permit was obtained from Wellington. As a result, Mr Young stated this morning, two Masterton County men, two railways employees, and two of his own men had to' handle the case, with the assistance of log jacks and rollers. Had a decent crane been available, the whole of the consignment could have been unloaded yesterday, whereas, under existing conditions, it meant that six men had to be occupied for a considerable time this morning to unload this one case.