WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14821, 12 November 1913, Page 10

WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD.

HOW ITS FINANCES ABE AFFECTED. (KRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) "WELLINGTON", November 11. The Wellington Harbour Board is naturally one of tho chief institutions to suffer by the strike. It is impossiblo to givo the exact figures of the losses, because business varies very greatly on the waterfront. Tho tonnage of vessels arriving in November, 1912, was 240,8C7 tons, axid in September, 1913, the month before the strike, and the slackest month on tho waterfront, 242,781 tons. In all probability the tonnage of arrivals but for the dislocation of trade by tho strike, would have reached 3C0,060 tons this month. The tonnage passing over ,tho wharves in November, l'Ji'2, was: inwards, 33,557 tons; outwards: general, 12,703 tons; wool and hemp, 23,636 bales. For September, 1913, the figures were: Inwards, 51,393 tons; outwards: general 12.553 tons, and II,'JIO hales. These figures would no doubt, with the general favourable character and earlinesH of the season, have been largely exceeded this month. The Board's revenue varies, of course, according to the state of trade and tho amount of shipping in port. For the year ended 30th September, 1912, it was £215,569. The figures are not yet available for tho subsequent twelve months ended 30th September, 1913. The- expenditure of tho Board last year amounted to £150,000 odd. The amount paid in wages for permanent and casual hands for tho year ended 30th September, 1913, was £123,062. Thus the average sum paid out per month is oyer £10.000, or approximately £2500 a week. The actual loss to the men on strike, so far as the Harbour Board's casual hands are concerned, may bo estimated' at being in the hood of £2000 a week. Meanwhile the Harbour Board has to pay out for interest and sinking fund and other loan charges for maintenance, for tho wages and salaries of its permanent staff, and for various stores and other items. These charges amount to something over £1000 a week- It is impossible to reckon accurately the Board's total losses during the .strike, bnt it has already probably lost revenue amounting to something like £20,000,, and incurred expenditure, which, ihoro is no rev-en ac to meet, of something like j £10,000.