WHARFAGE ACCOMMODATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3231, 30 May 1911, Page 4

WHARFAGE ACCOMMODATION.

THE QUESTION OF CONTROL. HARBOR BOARD APPOINTS COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. The subject of wharfage accommodation was again brought before the Harbor Board at its monthly meeting yesterday. The secretary of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce wrote stating that on. January 30tb last a deputation waited on the Board' to urge the immediate need of increased accommodation. A conference, consisting of a committee of the Board and a committee appointed from the members of the deputation was held on February Ist, at which a plan for a large new shed was submitted and it was understood that this would be immediately proceeded vitb. Up to the present all that had been done was to pull down the old bond with a view of submitting a slightly larger shed. An inspection of the sheds emphasised the urgent need for mere floor space, and fully justified the '••unplaints of members of the Chamber made at a meeting held on May 19th. In order to give opportunity to sort inward cargo in anything like an intelligent and up-to-date method very large additions were required to avoid the useless expense of stacking. The Chamber trusted that the Board’ would give this matter the immediate attention it deserved. They also suggested this question: Has not the time arrived when the Board should take direct charge -of all cargo from the ships slings? The question of the labor involved would surely be a matter of simple adjustment with the lighter owners and responsibility was a matter which they submitted should rightly be on the shoulders of the Board in view of the heavy, all-round wharfage charges imposed on all cargoes. The letter was held over pending consideration of Dr. Collin’s notice of motion which was as follows: Comprehensive Return Sought.

That a return be prepared showing: 1. Whether the present method of administering the control of wharfage accommodation is entirely satisfactory. 2. Whether the existing wharfage accommodation meets with the resent lequirements of those directly interested. 3. Whether increased wharfage accommodation is absolutely Ui-r-essary, and, if so. the actual amoi.it so iequired, -.and the most suitable site for such extension.

Mr Brown seconded the motion. Dr. Collins said that he thought it was advisable to set up a select committee to go into this question. The committee would be in a position to take evidence from leading people of the town who now, he might say, were not satisfied by any manner of means with the present wharfage accommodation. The old Harbor Board's policy was split into two directions over a very large question, which he need not mention now. So split were they that- they were hampered in carrying out improvements to the Harbor. They did not blame the old members of the Board at all, but it was necessary for the old members of the Board to realise that the present accommodation was not adequate for the demands. The present accommodation. so it had been stated by business men, even with the extension, would only be adequate for eighteen months. The points they had to consider were:—(l) How much accommodation was required; (2) Would the present extension, meet the requirements, and (3) That the Board frame a policy whereby they could get wharfage accommodation here that would last for some considerable time. Another point was the control of accommodation. The present authority was almost dual in its authority. There was the Gisborne S'heepfarmers’ Frozen Meat Coy., and the Harbor Board. They had existing a confusion in the public mind’ of dual wharfage control, and that should not exist. If the Board had no control in wharfage accommodation it was about time they took control. The shipping was increasing day by day and it would be far better if a select committee would go into tile matter of accommodation and control. The danger of allowing this control into strange hands was that they had priority of claim. . .. - Mr Parker: Do you want us to go round town asking everyone’s opinion? Dr. Collins said -that he.-wanted them to be within the bounds of common sense and get the advice from men who were interested, which could easilv be done. Mr Clark said that the Board was not at all ignorant of this subject. They have had a meeting with a number of merchants and shipping men of this district, and the plans submitted were approved of by them, and they said it was quite adequate to meet the requirements of the district for some time to come. They all knew the shipping was increasing. The Board had had the responsibility of cargo handling before, and were glad to give it up. The great thing was to get accommodation and he quite agreed with Dr. Collins’ motion. Not Enough Cround.

All* Wachsmann said that one of the most important things was the sit© of the proposed extension. The Board had not got enough ground to work on. He wondered that they could not use the lvaiti side. They were taking up a lot of very useful ground with the stockyard, and he thought that this should be on the other side.

The chairman pointed out that the Board could again assume control of the cargo if they wanted to, provided they went to the expense of providing a staff of clerks, etc. He thought that the cargo should be sorted in the hold of the vessel. Coils of wire, bags of flour and. bags of sugar should not be put together. They should be brought up from the hold’ separately and put in separate piles where the carters could get them. They could then get delivery of the goods in half the time. Hosuggested that a letter should be sent to the Union Company and the owners of other cargo steamers trading to Gisborne asking them to sort the in the hold. He pointed out the "good work the dredge - was doing in the river and said that they would see further improvements. The Haiti side of the river was no use,in its present condition, but it would be after the dredge had been working there for a while. ° Tlie motion was carried and it was decided to appoint the chairman, Dr Collins and Messrs Clark, F J. Lvsnar Wachsman. Brown and White as a special committee to go into the matter.