A RECORD YEAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 12

A RECORD YEAR

Wellington Harbour Board SHIPPING AND CARGO INCREASES Meeting Greater Costs New records in the tonnages of shipping and cargo handled at Wei lington during the last financial year were among the matters mentioned by the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. I). J. McGowan, in a comprehensive survey of the year’s working at the annual meeting last night.

The total tonnage of cargo handled inwards and outwards amounted to 2.311.076 tons, which exceeded by over 77.000 tons the previous record established in ID3O, he said. The shipping arrivals topped the four million mark, the actual figures being 4,000,307 tons, exceeding the previous record year of 1930 by over 170,000 tons. The volume of the shipping and cargo handled at the port of Wellington had increased so- substantially that the figures could not lie exceeded by any other New Zealand port. Imports of all classes had increased by 18.4 per cent.: British and foreign imports of all classes increased by 20.7 per cent.: Australian imports increased by 13.7 per cent.; and coastal imports increased by 16.6 per cent. The Premier Port. Transhipments to British and foreign ports increased by 21.1 per cent.; Australian transhipments increased by 20.1 per cent.: anil coastal transhipments increased by 8 per cent. It was gratifying to see that the transhipment business of the port was steadily increasing, emphasising the convenience of this port as a transhipping centre.

Outward cargo of all classes increased by 9.2 per cent.; exports to British and foreign ports increased by 1.4 per cent.; Australian exports increased by 6.5 per cent.; and coastal exports by 15 per cent. Importations of timber increased by 25.3 per cent, and timber exports increased by a little over 20 per cent. Coal landed or transhipped increased by 25.1 per cent.; coal passing over wharves and paying wharfage increased by 6.8 per cent.; Government coal exempt from wharfage increased by 50.5 per cent.; and coal transhipped overside at wharves increased by 49.4 per cent. The tonnage of oils in bulk increased by 10 per cent.: bulk oil outward increased by 1 per cent.; and bulk oils transhipped increased by 19.5 per cent. A decrease of 7.2 per cent, was shown in the quantities of wool and skins shipped during the year, but this was explained by the fact that the previous year’s figures were higher by reason of the over-carry from previous seasons. There was a slight decrease in the butter exports of 4.9 per cent., but cheese increased by 2.7 per cent, and frozen meat increased by 11.2 per cent.

On a value basis over 38 per cent, of the total imports and 24 per cent, of the total exports of the Dominion passed through the port of Wellington for the year ended September 30 last. Increase of Costs. From the above trade figures, members would expect that the financial results would be as satisfactory, but this was not so, as the surplus of £11,172 2/2 on the year’s working was not as large as the previous year's surplus, which was £18,917/10/6. The receipts actually increased by £79.761/10/-, but the increase in expenditure totalled £87,506/18/4.

This result was .similar to that which had been experienced in other businesses, in that, .with an increased turnover there had been less profit, the increased costs of labour and material being responsible for this state of things.

The board’s assets exceeded the liabilities by more than £2,000,000 and the loan indebtedness of the board was now under £500,000. Last year the new waterside workers’ agreement came into operation, the bureau system for employment of waterside labour was established, and the Harbour Boards’ Employees’ Union completed its negotiations witli the employers in regard to wages and conditions, the chairman continued. All these matters occupied a good deal of the time of the executive officers and himself. In the case of the harbour board employees, the old-established rules, customs and decisions of the board over the last fifty years were replaced by an Arbitration Court award. Although special rates and conditions had been applied to each port, there had been many staff matters which it was difficult to cover in an award, and, although provision existed for the setting up of local and national disputes committees for the purpose of settling any points that may arise, he must express the opinion that the previous arrangement by which such domestic matters were dealt with by a special committee of the board had much to commend it. It became necessary on account of the cost, involved in wages increases, restrictions of hours, increased holiday leave, and other conditions, for the board, reluctantly, to increase its charges to importers and exporters, and certain items in the tariff were increased by such an amount as was thought necessary to meet the situation that had arisen. Tn the allocation of these charges the board, as it always had done, endeavoured to apportion the increases between the various interests affected.

In May the harbour board elections would take place, and therefore the April and May meetings would be the last ones of the old board over which he would have the honour to preside as chairman. Mr. McGowan said that dur-.

ing his period as chairman lie had received the greatest courtesy and help from Mr. A. G. Barnett, general manager. and every metnlier of the staff under him. At all times they had done their work faithfully and well and lie wished to record his sincere appreciation of their services.