Wharf-handling Rates Review

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31935, 12 March 1969, Page 1

Wharf-handling Rates Review

(N.Z. Press Association) r WELLINGTON, March 11. i Results of the second review of wharf-handling charges by the Waterfront Industry Commission, as authorised by the Government, will mean further rate adjustments at a number of ports for general cargo, wool and sheepskins.

Charges for wool and sheepskins loaded at Auckland will be slightly lower on and after March 24. There will be increases at Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin. Port Chalmers, Bluff. Napier, Gisborne, and Opua. There will be no change at Whangarei, Tauranga, Taranaki, Picton. and Timaru. The Nelson Harbour Board levies its own charges. ; Wharf-handling charges for: inward general cargo on and,

after March 24 will rise by . varying amounts at Auckland, Opua, Taranaki, Picton, Lyttelton’s inner harbour, Timaru, and Bluff. Handling charges for similar cargo will be lower at Wellington, at Lyttelton’s Cashin Quay and at Dunedin. There will be no change at Whangarei and Port Chalmers. The Napier and Nelson Harbour Boards levy their own charges. Major Companies

Shipowners concerned are all major companies trading from New Zealand to he United Kingdom and Europe, the East Coast of North America, the West Coast of ’’ rth America, the West Indies and South America, Japan and the Far East, Africa. India, Pakistan, and South-East Asia.

t Representatives of shipping • interests have discussed the . March 24 variations wit harI hour boards and business organisations at most of the : ports concerned. Full details (have gone to shippers of wool

and sheepskins, to importers and to customs agents. The 1969 adjustments follow those announced early last year after the Waterfront Industry Commission’s first review was made, based on 1966 costs. The latest variations are based on actual operating costs in 1967. Reviews Authorised The reviews by the commission were authorised by the Government after representations from a number of r rts and Chambers of Commerce for removal of anomalies previously existing in wharf handling charges at different New Zealand ports. Difficulties in obtaining and collating the complex figures required have complicated and prolonged the commission’s task. But after the next review, which is due later this year, it is expected that wharfhandling charges then will reflect only the actual operating costs at each port. So far the variations in

wharf handling charges have been fixed to cover past losses and the extra freight adjustment liabilities of shipowners as agreed with the Government before introduction of the scheme in January, 1966. Costs Debated Lines in all trades then agreed not to benefit financially from the new system. Savings in wharf-handling costs would be rebated to shippers by equal reductions in rates of freight in respect of all ports.

The Waterfront Industry ‘Commission,’ as the body responsible for preparation of statements of costs, calculated for each port the variations required tq meet estimated costs in 1969, and these have been adjusted to meet either a short-fall or a surplus on 1967 costs.

Provision has also been made for additional rebates from shipowners to meet additional freight adjustment liabilities.