Tunnel Traffic Figures

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30737, 29 April 1965, Page 1

Tunnel Traffic Figures

When estimates of income and expenditure of the Christ-church-Lyttelton road tunnel for the 1966-67 financial year were prepared, allowance was made for a 10 per cent natural increase in vehicle tolls and 120 per cent in goods tolls, the chairman (Mr R. A. Witbrock) told the road tunnel authority yesterday. > April figures up to Tuesday showed a slight increase on the vehicle tolls budget, he said. “However, it is unlikely that the goods tolls will show much increase until the new schedule is in operation," Mr Witbrock continued. “Finance will have to be watched carefully until the new port facilities make cargo in quantity available to road transport.” Mr Witbrock added that investigations were being made into the use of the tunnel for some commodities with an annual output of 200,000 tons. Mr Witbrock made his comments after the general manager (Mr L. H. Wilson) had reported on March operations. An increase in commercial traffic but a drop in the number of private vehicles were reported for March.

The tonnage during the month increased by 7597. on February figures, and goods toll revenue increased by £l7OB. Even allowing for bulk cargoes of gypsum and sulphur last month, the March figures showed an increase of 209 per cent on tonnage and of 212 per cent in goods tolls over the March, 1964, figures. Last month’s figures were the best yet. Assessing the year’s results, Mr Wilson said that vehicle and goods tolls of £131,606 compared with the budget estimate of £114,000. As the budget surplus was estimated at £22,000, there was an actual surplus for the year of £39,606, plus any savings in expenditure stated in the budget. The figures did not take into account interest or loan repayment which did not come to charge on revenue until the middle of the current financial year, Mr Wilson said. Depending on final stock and other adjustments, it was expected that the final surplus would be about £42,500. When Mr W. P. Glue said

that in the last year the tunnel had had only 4.3 per cent of the cargo handled by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, Mr Witbrock said the board’s figures bore no relation to the tunnel’s expectations. Petrol was a big import, but fuel tankers were prohibited in the tunnel. The harbour board charged new cars on a tonnage basis, but they paid only 2s 6d in tolls to the tunnel. It would be many years before refrigerated cargo went through the tunnel. It had been estimated that the maximum the tunnel could ever get from the port’s trade was 60 per cent of inward and 30 per cent of outward cargo, Mr Witbrock added.