Higher cargo charges opposed by board

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32522, 4 February 1971, Page 13

Higher cargo charges opposed by board

Increased wharf handling charges, proposed by the New Zealand European Shipping Association to take effect from February 15, the day after the price freeze ends, were not accepted by the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday.

The board decided to have consultations with shippers’ interests and to ask for justification of the new charges.

The board’s general manager (Mr A. J. Sowden) gave the following proposed charges, with the existing charges shown in parenthesis: General cargo inwards, inner harbour, $1.37 a ton ($1.05); Cashin Quay, $2 ($1.55); delivery. Cashin Quay, $2.27 ($1.70); general cargo outwards, $2.25 ($1.10); timber, inwards, 46c (35c); dairy produce, outwards, $2.01 ($1.20); wool, outwards, 33c (24c); frozen meat, outwards, $2.50 ($2.65); cheese, actual cost “It is difficult to reconcile these increases, particularly those for wool, which had a substantial credit at the time of the last review in April, 1970,” said Mr Sow-

I den. “The New Zealand i Shipping Association has > been asked to supply further ’ particulars as to how this figure was arrived at. “It is proposed to discuss ’ these charges with represenI tatives of the Canterbury , Chamber of Commerce, the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association and North Canterbury Federated Fanners, and until sufficient informa- : tion is forthcoming to substantiate these rates. I recommend that their implementation be delayed.” The three organisations, he said, were representative of those who would have to pay. There should be more information to justify the proposals, as the proposed prices seemed anomalous. “I am a bit perturbed as to how these increases come about,” said the deputy chairman (Mr J. Brand). “How is it that the rate for one class of cargo is doubled?” Mr R. H. Bedford said that when the board last investigated the charges, it was 1 found that the rate for wool was excessive, and it was reduced. Even that charge 1 seemed “quite generous.” When Sir George Manning 1 asked about the time factor, j Mr Sowden said that the 1 board would have to collect 1 the charges, but he felt that '

this should be deferred until justification was given. His recommendation was adopted.