Days of large port rises ‘past’

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 25

Days of large port rises ‘past’

PA Auckland The days of port charge increases of about 10 per cent a year were long past, said the Minister of Transport, Mr Gair, recently. Opening the Harbours’ Association’s fiftieth conference in Auckland, he agreed with a Ports Authority recommendation that harbour boards improve management accounting.

Mr Gair said he hoped that the days of across-the-board increases which might not be justified by a user-pays approach would not return. Costly obstacles still existed between production points and the ship which carried exports. He said port accounting procedures would be examined in a comprehensive review he would undertake. The study would seek to identify obstacles, whether

they be policies or practices, or in institutional structures.

In a world becoming more protectionist, New Zealand’s ability to overcome barriers to improve efficiency was limited largely to its own shores. Watersiders deserved praise, he said, for improving productivity. Ports also merited praise for their restraint.

Mr Gair said the future of the authority, which had to approve substantial port works and developments, was in some doubt. In his view, an independent body was needed to oversee large port investment proposals. “The authority will therefore continue in its present role while the onshore costs study is undertaken and evaluated,” he said.