WHARFAGE RATES AT LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 3

WHARFAGE RATES AT LYTTELTON

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE CHARGES INCREASED Trade vehicles (either second-hand or new vehicles) not crated, and for sale, sent from Wellington to Christchurch will, under a recent amendment to the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s bylaws, have to pay increased wharfage charges. As from October 1, wharfage charges have been computed on a tonnage basis. Previously the charges were made on a wheelage basis. The wharfage charges for vehicles of bona fide passengers on the steamer express are unaltered.

Before October 1 wharfage for commercial vehicles was fixed at Is 6d a wheel plus Is a vehicle as a harbour improvement rate, making the total wharfage for a four-wheeled motor vehicle, 7s. This wharfage charge was the same as that for cars being brought across by passengers on the steamerexpress. The new wharfage charges for trade vehicles, however, are applied on a tonnage (space), basis of 6s a ton and Is 3d for harbour improvements, making a total of 7s 3d a ton. At 40 cubic feet to the ton, the charge on a fairly small English model car of 280 cubic feet, is 50s 9d, for seven tons, compared with 7s for a four-wheeled vehicle previously. These charges were in line with Standard practice followed in other ports, said the secretary of the board (Mr A. L. Burk) yesterday. “When the by-law was submitted to the Minister of Marine (Mr W. S. Goosman) for his approval, consideration was given to an objection lodged by the motor trade, but the Minister, after considering the matter, decided that the by-law should be approved.”