WHARFAGE RATES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 6

WHARFAGE RATES

REDUCTION ON PRIMARY PRODUCE SUGGESTED REPORT OF TREASURER At a special meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board held on December 20, on the resolution of Mr F. L. Parnham, the treasurer (Mr C. H. Clibborn) was asked to submit a report as to what reduction in wharfage charges could be made with a view to assisting the farming community. That report was submitted to the I meeting of the board yesterday, and in it the treasurer explained that the amount which resulted from the 5 per cent, reduction in wages, which is now in force, and which could be used to offset a reduction in wharfage dues, was about £2049. The estimates adopted on December 20 allowed for a credit balance of £222. The wharfage charges for 1933 on frozen meat, butter, cheese, tallow, hides, preserved meats, bacon, honey, etc., were 5d a ton; on grain and agricultural produce, they were 6d a ton; and on wool. 9d a bale. The total amount from those sources was £8822, or 36.6 per cent, of the total wharfage dues (£24,093). Previous Reductions. Reductions in charges amounting to £BI7B on goods, and £14,795 on ships were made in 1929, and shortly afterwards a concession amounting to £6OO was made to .overseas vessels. The treasurer stated that in 1929, before the slump, when the reductions were made, the ordinary income was £120,209. It fell in 1933 to £83,892, and the estimate for 1934 was £89,405. "The answer to the board's resolution, therefore," says Mr Clibborn, "is that if the wharfage receipts from primary products in 1934 equal those of 1933, viz.. £8922, and if the board is satisfied that the primary producer will directly benefit thereby it could reduce those charges bv some 75 per cent.—or roughly £6690 per annum to be offset only by the sum set aside for the special renewal fund—estimated for the year at £5000." As Mr Parnham was not present at the meeting, it was decided to hold over consideration of the report till next meeting.