Suva Wharf Storage

Causes Brisk Dispute

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Suva, Nov. 19.

MORE or less chaotic conditions have existed in the Suva wharf

cargo sheds for years. Since the January hurricane smashed much of the wharf area, things have been getting progressively worse.

A start has been made with the first of the new wharf sheds, but nothing much is likely to happen

until the Government gets its cor sultant’s report on the siting of th new wharf to replace the ol structure which, although officiall written off after the hurricane, i still being used.

The Suva Chamber of Commerce in considerable vexation of spirit, ha called a special meeting to discus the allegedly “inequitable” levying o treble bond charges on goods nc removed from the Customs withi: the specified time. Members com plain that in some cases the good are block-stacked and importers can not even get at them to take ther away.

To this the Government retort that (a) treble bond charges are no levied on any goods at the whar until the Comptroller of Customs ha made a personal inspection to se whether cargo from any specific* ship is accessible to the importer (b) the Comptroller has authority t* postpone or waive these charges. H postpones them if the firm concerne* can show a good case for not im mediately collecting accessible goods and waives any charges assessed i it is shown that goods—evei individual items—are not accessible At the end of Round 2 it appear that the Comptroller has a clear lea* on points.