M.P.’s comments anger board

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 6

M.P.’s comments anger board

Comments, about . the Watersiders’ Union, made by the member of Parliament for Fendalton (Mr P. A. Burdon) on a Christchurch radio station, angered some members of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday. “I was completely devastated by a statement in this broadcast by Mr Burdon,” a board member, Mr J. F. Davidson, told a meeting of the board.

“It was provocative and could lead to an awful lot of problems for the board.”

.Mr Burdon said the Government would ensure there were adequate supplies of liquefied petroleum gas to the South Island, “regardless of the Watersiders’ Union or any other sectional interest group which is trying to make pure political capital out of the situation.” He made this statement in reaction to suggestions that the Government had given no guarantee to the Christchurch City Council of adequate L.P.G. supplies to

the city after the gas works had closed. “To name a specific union is completely irresponsible at this stage with negotiations for the bringing of L.P.G. going on,” Mr Davidson said. He challenged Mr Burdon to substantiate his assertion that the union was trying to make “political capital,” or withdraw the statement. Mr M. J. Dobson wondered whether Mr Burdon was preemting the Commission of Inquiry into L.P.G. supplies for Lyttelton by trying to discredit an interested party. “I hope Mr Burdon will not jump in and behave like a big wolf,” Mr Dobson said. After these comments the board voted not to continue discussion on the subject as it did not feel that it was board business. Cargo increase Cargo handled at Lyttelton between October and January was well up on that for

the previous year, the board heard. To the end of January the board has handled 657,791 tonnes of cargo, up nearly 135,000 tonnes on the previous year’s total of 522,888 tonne's. In January 180,650 tonnes of cargo was handled, up 7539 tonnes on the previous total of 173,111 tonnes, said the general manager, Mr J. A. McPhail. This year much more grain, coal and coke, and petrol products have passed through the port. Container problems Container shipping at the port was in a “confused position” because of the recent meatworkers' strike, said the container terminal manager, Mr P. G. Morgan. Even though January had been a very good trading month, it was expected that half-year figures would be below budget because of less work in February and March as well as the effect of the strike on trade.