Harbour Board May “Get Out And Sell”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30767, 3 June 1965, Page 6

Harbour Board May “Get Out And Sell”

Faced with a drop in tonnage, the Lyttelton Harbour Board is considering “going out and selling” its harbour. In eight months of its current financial year its tonnage shows a decrease of 22,802 on last year.

Figures given to the board meeting yesterday by the secretary-manager (Mr A. J. Sowden) showed that tonnage so far this year was 949,771, against 972,573 at the end of May last year. He said that a change in the pattern of oil fuel shipping was mainly responsible.

Even if the tonnage was static, the board would still be losing ground, having regard to the increase in production, said Mr J. Brand. It should be increasing by 2 to 2| per cent a year at least.

The oil fuel was mainly coming from Marsden Point by coastal ships, Mr Sowden said. There was an increase of 52.000 tons of fuel oil coming coastal and a decrease of 49,000 tons from overseas. “The big tankers used to come direct to Lyttelton and then the fuel oil would go out by coastal tankers,” Mr W. B. Laing said. Mr L. G. Amos: Can’t we get the big tankers back?

the chairman (Mr A. A. Macfarlane): No. it is going to Marsden Point. The refinery has taken the trade away from us. Mr Sowden said oil fuel

represented about 25 per cent of the port’s tonnage. The finance committee had discussed ways of getting out and selling the wharves, said the deputy-chairman (Mr F. I. Sutton). Mr Amos: Like the road tunnel—good on you. “We have a fine port here,” Mr Sutton continued. “We’ll have to make you a salesman,” he added to Mr Amos. Mr Sowden had been asked to make a report, Mr Sutton said. It might be that an extra man would be needed on the staff.

Although the tonnage was down, there was not a great drop in revenue-only about £BOOO, said Mr W. P. Glue. “If you take the drop in revenue in relation to the increase in wages, the rise in our interest bill for increased loans and higher prices, then it is a very serious position,” Mr E. Brophy said. “I am more optimistic,” said Mr Sutton. “When Cashin quay is operating and with the lower goods tolls for the

tunnel, we will get the increased cargo.” Mr G. Manning: And compete with the Aramoana? “I don’t think we will ever get real competition until we get the tunnel free as part of the national reading system," Mr Macfarlane said. Mr Laing: The only way is to get new industries established in Canterbury.