HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26211, 7 September 1950, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES

FURTHER INCREASE PROPOSED DEFICIT OF £22,551 IN ELEVEN MONTHS After reporting that the deficit in the harbour account for the 11 months of the financial year to August 31 was £22,551 3s 4d. the secretary-treasurer (Mr A. L- Burk) told the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday that at the next or the November meeting he would recommend an increase in the board's charges. "The position, is somewhat better than was anticipated but it is still not good enough, said Mr Burk. “Our charaes are not good enough to meet our outgoings. and I see the necessitv for a further increase. Before brincin? down any recommendation I prefer tn wait another month for the end of the financial year. "We cannot carry on with a deficit of between £40,0(10 and £5O OTO a year. Recently we increased our charges by 33 1-3 per cent., but it is not enough. pur wage costs have more than doubled m the period 1930 tn 1949. and we must face another increase if we are to balance the buda-t ” Mr Burk recommended an increase In crane charges in Lyttelton, and action was deferred until next meeting. shipping interests to discuss the proposal with Mr Burk in the meantime. It was proposed that the existing charge of 9s 6d an hour, with add? 8 tional charges for varying weights more than two tons, be amended to provide for a rate of 12s 6d an hour or part of an hour for all weights up to five tons. A similar charge was proposed for shifting cranes of cross- ?^ r Uho^ e ti r^%? h g^ n ; p during h t‘Z? Charged for

only the times that the cranes been actually working. cranes had Mr Burk submitted a table for the last four years and an estimate for the present yearshowing the crane operating fi?nrs. The table was:—1946: working, 32.294 hours; standing by 6194 hours; total, 38.488 hours. 1947- isvio--6897: 43.036. 1948: 39.432- 8524-' 47 956 1949: 40,027; 8675; 48,702. 1950 (Sil mated): 41,988; 7372; 49,360. ■ S “ “If the by-law is amended to provide for the incorporation of mv recommendations the board will be in a position to recover its operating costs and make appropriate provision for depreciation and renewal," Mr Burk