Prospects Of Trade In Lucerne Pellets

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32060, 7 August 1969, Page 9

Prospects Of Trade In Lucerne Pellets

Lucerne for pellets to be exported to Asian countries would probably be grown in North Canterbury and a little south of Christchurch and there was a good prospect of a trade through Lyttelton, Mr G. Burns, chairman of the trade, traffic and public relations committee, told the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday.

There had been confidential inquiries indicating this, he said. It was expected that the first year’s trade would be between 5000 and 10,000 tons, and taking an optimistic view the trade could grow to 150,000 tons in five years.

There was an increasing interest in the export of lucerne pellets, the committee reported. Japanese importers in particular had shown interest, and provided handling and port charges were kept at an economic level New Zealand exporters would be able to compete with other countries.

As the pellets were a lowcost product, they must be handled in large quantities to be economic, the committee said. Lyttelton was ideally suited to handle such bulk cargoes in large quantities because it had ample deepwater berthage and suitable storage areas adjacent to the berths.

Columbus Line.—When representatives of the German

Columbus shipping line bad inspected the port on Tuesday they had been assured that containers could be handled at Cashin Quay by the beginning of 1971, provided the ships carried their own gantry cranes, Mr F. I. Sutton, the chairman, said. West Coast Visitors. A group of persons representing West Coast interests will visit the port on September 1. New Member.—Mr R. H. Bedford was welcomed to the board as a representative of the combined counties of Paparua, Malvern, Ellesmere and Heathcote. He is a Darfield firmer and past-presi-dent of North Canterbury Federated Farmers. His appointment filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr J. K. McAlpine when he was appointed chairman of the New Zealand Ports Authority. Submissions.—The board’s submissions to the New Zealand Ports Authority must be kept confidential until they had been formally presented to the authority, Mr Sutton replied to Mr L. G. Amos. The submission, advancing Lyttelton’s claims to be a container port, had been completed but could not be given to district members of Parliament or the public before going to the authority. Cargo Increase.—An increase of 75,778 tons in cargo

handled for the 10 months of the board’s financial year was reported. Imports are 904,643 tons, an increase of 44,190 and exports 462,207 tons, an increase of 41,588. Retirement—Mr D. S. Wood, who spent 20 years with the board as a signalman and who was made mate of the board’s tug for a time, was met by the board and given good wishes for his retirement Container Port After being shown the port facilities, Sir James Wattie had said it was imperative from his company’s point of view that Lyttelton should be established as a container port, Mr Sutton said. He had promised every assistance to the board’s efforts to accomplish that