SERVICE IN DECLINE.

Western Mail, 26 August, 1911

PORT HEDLAND CARGOES.

SHIPPING COMPANIES DENOUNCED.

Port Hedland. Aug. 21.

A special meeting of the Progress Association 

was held to-day for the purpose of

protesting against the continued shutting

out of cargo by south-bound boats. Shipments 

of tin ore, skins, etc., were missed by the last 

four boats, greatly inconveniencing the consignees.

The shipping companies were strongly denounced, 

and letters were prepared for forwarding to the 

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and to Derby,

Broome, Cossack, and Roebourne, asking for 

assistance, if necessary, to induce opposition 

steamers to trade along the coast, it being contended

that this was the only remedy. Port Hedland firms 

were prepared to give opposition boats a 12 months' 

guarantee, and were also asking the squatters to 

guarantee to ship their wool by the same vessels.

There is no denying that pressures placed on the Adelaide Steamship Co were great despite the magnificent Koombana. Complaints were vociferous and loaded with threats. But the root cause of Port Hedland frustration must surely have lain at their own doorstep in the form of a tide and bar which only allowed a very narrow margin of entry and exit. Did the future bode progress and brighter days? What was to become the face of 'opposition'? 

A State Steamer Service which according to the following report was not what demanding  'consignees' had envisaged; AND let us be under no illusions the degree of pressure Captain Allen was placed under to keep his schedule and depart that late summer's day into unknown storm conditions at sea.

Perth, 1 November, 1913.

STATE STEAMERS.

- Cool Storage Cargo.

How Butter and Bunnies Reached

Broome.

"When the ill-fated-Koombana was on

this coast, the people were well treated

in regard to the storage of vegetables,

fruit etc., the only trouble being that 

enough storage space could not be 

obtained. This is of such vital importance

to everyone in the Nor'West, that a howl

of delight went up when the State

Government announced that the 

Western Australia (steamer) would have

capacity for 100 tons, (Koombana 800

tons) cool storage - eh what! It has never 

realised a tenth of the hopes, and this 

week most of the 'cool storage cargo' for 

Broome had to be destroyed, being unfit 

for human consumption. Many butter 

cases were half empty, giving the 

impression they were stored on the boilers 

and not near the ice chamber door. The 

ship landed a deal of her own stores for 

storage in Broome; maggoty rabbits, etc. 

which to avoid prosecution by the Health

Authority, had to be incinerated in the

local boiler furnace. It is feared, in some

quarters, that the ship has a fair chance

of returning from Darwin with fever on

board. 

The Nor'West Echo...

Port Hedland - courtesy Port Hedland NOW

courtesy Trove