'Very Pleasing’ Increase In Cargo Tonnage

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32314, 4 June 1970, Page 5

' Very Pleasing’ Increase In Cargo Tonnage

A “very pleasing” increase in cargo tonnage through the port was reported to the Lyt* telton Harbour Board yesterday by the chairman (Mr F. I. Sutton).

The total tonnage in the eight months of the current financial year (from October 1 last), was 22,333 tons more than in the corresponding period the previous year, the general manager (Mr A. J. Sowden) said in his report. He said there was an increase in the cargo to and from British and intercolonial ports; foreign ports cargo was almost holding its own, but there had been a decrease in coastal cargo, due in some extent with hold-ups in roll-on vessels.

Mr Sutton said that cargo between Lyttelton and Australian ports was 118,450 tons in the current year, compared with 95,876 tons in the previous year.

The report of the harbourmaster (Captain D. A. Holden) said that 664 trading vessels of 1,985,789 tons, had entered the port during the icurrent financial year, com-

pared with 694 vessels of 1,923,213 tons, during the same period the previous year.

Minister’s Visit.—Concern, or disappointment, at the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) putting off his visit to Lyttelton this month was expressed at the board meeting. The board decided to ask Mr Gordon to make his visit as soon as possible. Road Widening.—The board expressed its wholehearted support for the widening of Norwich Quay in Lyttelton and expressed pleasure at the receipt of advice from the Lyttelton Borough Council that plans were under way to improving the hazardous Norwich Quay-Oxford Street corner.

Public Relations. Eric White and Associates, N.Z., Pty, Ltd, has been appointed public relations officers to the harbour board. The firm will prepare 11 issues of the board’s magazine, “Portside,” and the annual report. The appointment is to April 30, 1974. /