Trading deficit reduced

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 9

Trading deficit reduced

Bad weather and labour problems frustrated the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s expectations of a bumper trading month in June. Log shipments and a very heavy demand for berths from bulk fertiliser carriers and general cargo vessels had promised to produce figures comparable with previous peak trading years. However, in spite of everything, the port turned over a total of almost 190.000 tonnes during June, 4700 tonnes more than in June last year.

The port’s increased activity is steadily reducing the trading deficit compared with last year, according to the Harbour Board’s general manager (Mr J. A. McPhail).

For the six months to March, the port had been running a trading deficit of 196,000 tonnes, he said. Now, after nine months, this had been reduced to 150,000 tonnes; and if the present trend continued, the deficit should be reduced to less than 100,000 tonnes by October. # « sis

A shipboard fire which caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to New Zealand-bound cargo proved a minor windfall for Lyttelton watersiders last week. Fire broke out in No. 4 hatch of the Royal Interocean Line freighter Straat Agulhas on June 16 while alongside the wharf at Noumea. The master of the •Straat Agulhas (Captain T. H. Rappard) said in Lyttelton last week that the fire had taken 17 days to clean up. The fire had been centred in the ’tween-deck area. Most of the cargo stowed above had been smoke-dam-aged, and the cargo below had been heavily water damaged. .Much of it had been written off.

For Lyttelton watersiders, handling' the damaged cargo meant an extra $8 an hour dirt money. The bold contained 43 bills of lading for Lyttelton, ranging from personal household effects including an antiquated push lawnmower) to a near-new B.M.W. car valued about $12,000. The car was bought ir Europe by a Christchurch business. It was heavily water damaged and has beer written off.

Two brand-new Mercedes Renz cars, worth about 830,000 each, destined for Wellington and Lyttelton, met a similar fate. Both were discharged at Wellington, and have been put up for sale by tender.