THE PORT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20224, 30 April 1931, Page 14

THE PORT.

. ♦ HARBOUR BOARD'S LUNCHEON. MEMBERS ENTERTAINED BY CHAIRMAN. Interesting statements regarding tlio progress of the Port of Lyttelton since the Harbour Board was formed in 1877, were made at a luncheon, held at the Clarendon Hotel yesterday, given to members by the Board's chairman, Mr 11. T. Armstrong, M.P. The annual meeting of the Board will be held in June, and the luncheon was given to mark the conclusion of office of the present members of the Board. Proposing the toast, "The Port of Lyttelton," Mr George Harper spoke of his landing at the Port in 1858. At that time no improvements in tho harbour -were contemplated. The Port under the control of tho Provincial Government and the Marine Department. The Board began to operato in 1877, and since then there had been remarkable progress. In 1877 the property of the Board was valued -it £177.000; to-day the value was 598,000. Improvements accounted for the huge increase. The Peak Years. During the peak years of progress, 1924-25, imports were £9,000,000 an>l the exports between £5,000,000 and £0,000,000. Unfortunately, 1930 showed a big decrease. But the figures would probably go up again, and the improvements in the harbour would be sufficient to cope with increases. The present was a time, said Mr Harper, when the Board must "hasten slowly." The harbour could now accommodate very large vessels, and there Wi'.s provision for many years to come. Prudent Finance. Mr Armstrong, in reply, said that tho Board found itself in a very much more fortunate position than did many local bodies to-day. It was due to the efficient and careful management of proceeding Boards. The Board had budgeted for a drop of £20,000, and it had been found that tho drop would not actually be anything like tliat figure. To-day the number of men employed by the Board was well above normal, and there was plenty of work for .them to do. Tho Board was progressing continually. The last three years the channel had been deepened by 2sft. The cost per ton of dredging, too, had been reduced by half, compared with the cost three years ago. Alongside the principal wharvos there was a depth of 3Sft. The- Board was doing as much new work out of ordinary revenue as any local body in tho' Dominion. The present harbour would bo enlarged when necessary. If the people who wanted to put a tunnel road through tho hill, or to remove the hill altogether, would let tho Board know when it was commencing the job, the Board would be Teady with the necessary, alterations to the port. Effect of Otira Tunnel. The main reason why trade at the Port had fallen off was tho Otira tunnel. The local body debt of New Zealand was large enough at the present time, and the Board would be very unwise to go in for a policy of heavy expenditure. "I deemed it necessary to make these remarks in order to combat any statement that tiie Board is not progressing," concluded Mr Armstrong. Mr H. Holland, M.P., said that the Board had been subjected to a great deal of criticism. But., its policy of keeping out' of debt had been a large factor in its suosess. The Board's slaff would compare more than favourbly with any other staff in New Zen- . land. Tho speaker appealed to the people of Canterbury to stand by the Port. "Tf tho producers give us more traffic we will show them how to handle it," he added. No Overdraft. Proposing the toast, "The Board's Solicitors and Bankers," Mr F. E. Sutton said that tho relations existing between them and the Board were of the very best. Mr G. H. Buchanan, for the Board's solicitors, and Mr J. Mac Gibbon (manager of tho Bank of New" Zealand) replied briefly. Mr Mac Gibbon congratulated the Board on its financial position. The Board had a very small debt and no overdraft, he said. The deputy-chairman, Captain H. Monro," proposed the toa'st> of the Board's staff, "stating that there were 113 members all told. Tq them was due, largely, the Board's success as a local body. Other Toasts. On behalf of the staff Mr G. R. Clibborn (secretary), Mr H. H. Cook (accountant), Mr P. W. Fryer (engineer), Captain T. M. Hunter (harbourmaster), and Mr A. Stanley (warehouseman) spoke. The toast of "The Press" was proposed by Mr W. T. Lester, and the last toast, ' that 'of the chairman of the Board, was proposed by Mr H. M, Chrystall, and replied to by Mr Armstrong.