BUSY HARBOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 16

BUSY HARBOUR

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Trade at Lyttelton

Expands

BOARD RECEIVES ANNUAL

REPORTS Expansion of the port’s trade and the board's income were reported by the Lyttelton Harbour Board at its annual meeting yesterday. An increase of £12,649, or approximately 13 per cent., was shown in the ordinary income, and the quantities of imports and exports reached high figures. The value of exports for the year was £6.346,335, the highest since 1925, and the value of imports £7,273,186. The chairman of the board, Mr R, T. McMillan, presented a report in which he referred to the year as a very successful though a very trying'and busy one. In addition to increases in the ordinary income, and cash receipts, the balance of income over expenditure had risen from £37,710, to £43,242. The board’s financial position was strong and able to bear increased co ~+s. The trade figures for the year indicated that the port had shared a proportion of the Dominion’s restored prosperity. Exports were the greatest since 1925, and imports reached an extraordinarily high figure. The trade of a port was usually reflected in the tonnage of shipping, which carried the goods. Again it was good, therefore, to be able to announce that the mercantile shipping tonnage which used the port was 2,189,448 only 6347 tons less than that of the year 1914, which was the highest in the board’s history. The tonnage of cargo handled (763,432) was the highest for the last eight years.

Higher Working Costs

In common with other bodies the board’s working costs had been considerably increased through higher wages and changed working conditions arising from the Government’s industrial legislation. Fortunately the board’s revenue was at present in a position to bear these costs without recourse to a general increase in dues and charges, but it was not possible to forecast how long this pleasant state of affairs would last. The board had made during the year and had under way now, various improvements to the accommodation at the port for both shipping and produce. The engineer, Mr P. W. Fryer, was to be congratulated again on the dredging work done in the harbour. Depths within the moles showed an improvement, and a slight decrease of about inches in the dredged channel was more than offset by an increase of five inches in the harbour depth of the turning basin outside the moles. The board’s equipment had been maintained in first-class order. Mr McMillan made reference to the board’s loss of Mr W. K. McAlpme, who was its chairman, and Mr James Leslie. He welcomed to the board new members, Messrs J. K. McAlpme and A. E. Langdale-Hunt. He congratulated the staff of the board in its loyal and efficient service. A detailed report of the board s finances and of the events of the year was contained in the report of the secretary and treasure*, Mr C, H. Clibborn. , , , On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr F. E. Sutton, deputychairman, the reports and balancesheet w4re adopted. Members paid tribute to the work of the staff and the sound conduct of the board s business. _