No need for dock delays
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• At a conference organized by the Merseyside Productivity Association, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and the Merseyside Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. A. Taylor, chairman of the Liverpool Steamship Owners Association and local chairman of the National Dock Labour Board, stated that there should be nothing more than slight delays at docks. He contended that haulage contractors could not idly watch their vehicles waiting in long queues at Liverpool Docks without taking action.
Mr. Taylor said: "Delivery of cargo to and from the quays is a major factor in maintaining port fluidity. The haulier's position in many ways resembles that of a ship owner: his vehicles no longer cost a few hundred pounds to buy and maintain but thousands, so that despatch to him is no less vital than it is to the ship owner."
He suggested that hauliers require assurances that, provided their vehicles were presented at berths in accordance with the berth operators' requirements, then delays should be negligible.
"In the event of some extraordinary circumstances, he expects to be warned by the berth operator and told when the situation returns to normal", said Mr. Taylor.