Record tonnage again through Lyttelton

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 16

Record tonnage again through Lyttelton

r While the number of vessels calling at [ Lyttelton continued to fall, the total tonnage showed an increase because more cargo was I being carried in specialised ships, said the , chairman (Mr J. Brand) in his annual report l to the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday.

For the fourth consecutive I , year, there had been a record I ' tonnage over the wharves, i Cargo amounted to 1,919,281 i tons, an increase of 145,246, i or 8.2 per cent on last year. 1 In spite of the decline in conventional shipping, par- i ticularly in the coastal trade, it was pleasing to be able to . report increases in overseas s and coastal cargoes, both in ; and out, Mr Brand said, i The additional cargo capa- ; city of the inter-island ship J Rangatira had provided a , welcome boost to the coastal , trade at a time when further ] ; competition from rail ferries . I was imminent, but unless a ! : nightly service was reintro- I ' duced, and more publicity ; given to the passenger ser- 1 ‘ vice, patronage of the inter--1 island service would be dis- ; appointing, Mr Brand said. The revenue account j ' showed a substantial in- i crease. Income reached <

$2,916,336, an increase of $286,378, which the general manager (Mr J. A. McPhail) said was mainly the result of increasing some charges from last February. The excess of income over expenditure was $241,209.