INCREASED CARGO

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 27

INCREASED CARGO

Statistics For Lyttelton

Although there was a 1.4 per cent increase in the tonnage handled at Lyttelton last year, the coastal tonnage was disappointing, said the chairman (Mr A. A. Macfarlane) in his annual report to the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday. The smaller coastal tonnage had resulted largely from the impact of a full year’s operations by the Aramoana on the local coastal trade. Cargoes particularly affected were potatoes and flour. The introduction of more attractive methods of handling coastal cargo between Lyttelton and North Island ports, such as the depot-to-depot container services would, it was hoped, bring about an increase.

This was already noticeable, Mr F. I. Sutton said, commenting on the increased coastal cargo of the port in the first two months of the board’s financial year, which began on October 1. last month, there had been a 39.85 per cent increase on the corresponding figures for 1962, he said. The container service appeared to be "bearing fruit.” Mr Macfarlane said overseas trade had showed a satisfactory increase of 9 per cent on inward cargoes and of 13.4 per cent on outward cargoes.

Income for the year was £684.570, compared with £676,534 for the previous year. Expenditure amounted to £484,80-1, compared with £473,312.

Last month, the port handled 133,143 tons of cargo, compared with 101,785 in November, last year. Imports were 95,489 tons (74875 in November, 1962) and exports 37,654 tons (26,910).