Lyttelton Expected To Regain Status

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 1

Lyttelton Expected To Regain Status

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 30.

Lyttelton and Port Chalmers are expected to regain their status as export meat-loading ports—after evidence to be presented before the Transport Commission at an inquiry in Wellington beginning on Monday.

Since the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee and the Meat Board agreed last year to try a new system to save export costs, meat for London and Liverpool normally exported through Lyttelton and Port Chalmers has gone through Timaru and Bluff. When protests were made last year, the Transport Commission called for an interim report—which said that the diversion was in the national interest, and that the direct saving might be $500,000 in a full year. It was also made clear that the diversion was a trial only. Next week’s inquiry will explore the results of the diversion in detail. The Over-

seas Shipowners’ Committee and the Meat Board will give evidence on logistics, and evidence will also be given by the Lyttelton, Otago, and Timaru Harbour Boards, the Port Chalmers Borough Council, the South Island Freezing Companies’ Association, the Waterside Workers' Federation, and the Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority. As the export season begins soon, it is expected that the Transport Commission will report without delay to the Minister of Transport (MT Gordon) —and the future of Lyttelton and Port Chalmers as meat-loading ports is likely to be considered by Cabinet before an announcement is made.