GREYMOUTH WHARFAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1933, Page 5

GREYMOUTH WHARFAGES

ON TIMBER AND COAL REQUESTS FOR REDUCTION. Efforts have been made for a considerable time by representatives ot the sawmilling and coal-mining industries on the West Coast, with the object of securing from the Greymouth Harbout Board a reduction in the wharfage charges. The matter was again discussed at last evening’s meeting of the Board, when the application of the West Coast Sawmillers’ Association for a reduction in the charges on rimu (red pinp) for export to Australia, was reported. upon by the Board’s secretary (Mr W. B. Gilbert). A letter was received from the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce, asking that favourable consideration be given to the application of the sawmillers. Requests for a reduction in the wharfages on coal were also forwarded by the Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., the' Brunner Collieries, Ltd., and the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association.

The report of the secretary was as follows, the matter having been referred to him at the previous meeting of" the Board:—

The Board’s statistics do not differentiate between the different classes of timber; only the local shipments are l ; given, consequently, I applied to and received from the Forestry Department, the following returns: —

TIMBER EXPORTED.

(Grey and Westland District.)

RIMU.

KAHIKATEA.

OTHER TIMBER.

In addition to the above, the following timber has been cut in the Nelson region and shipped at Greymouth during the' same period’: — RIMU.

KAHIKATEA.

Total 3,249 1/4/31 to 30/9/33 —Grand total 50,653,698 sup. feet. In reference to Rimu export, with which 4 this report is primarily concerned, the above figures cover shipments to Australia only, coastal shipments not being included. For the two and a-half years from 1/4/31 to 30/9/33, the total is 5,362,551 sup. ft. An average of 178,752 sup. ft. per month at 3d per 100 sup. ft. comes to £22 6/9 wharfage, or for six months £136 0/6. The above figures cover’ thewhole period. Taking the sectional half-yearly terms the following are the monthly averages:—

The average wharfage payable on the latter period is £36 12/- per month, whereas taken over the whole period as shown It is £22 6/9. It will be noted from the Forestry returns that the exports of kahikatea (white pine) show a. steady decline from June, 1932, to September, 1933, the date of the last return, whereas in the case of rimu, the tendency is rather the other way, and distinctly so during the three months ended September 30 last. The question of remission of wharfage is one entirely for the Board, but any step in this direction will require an alteration in the by-laws. The amount involved, taking even the higher figures totals for six months, assuming that the average does not alter, £219 12/-, is not in itself a big sum, but may easily give rise to other applicationsI—coal, 1 —coal, for instance, for which a good case can also be made out. Thus it would easily become considerable, and may involve some fresh adjustments to the Board’s finance, to meet the remission. In regard to the suggestion that, a grant may be made equal to the sum proposed to be remitted in wharfage on rimu, over a given period, it would be well for the

Board to ascertain the legal position, as such a grant may be ruled as a preferential payment and consequently illegal under Section 55, sub-clause 1, of the Harbours Act, 1923.

DROP IN REVENUE. The Chairman, after the report was read, pointed out that the Board was £6OO down on its estimated revenue for the past six months. “I fail to see how -we can assist one industry, with-

out assisting others,” he said. “I don’t see how we can carry on, if we start reducing our charges. We are getting a fair amount of revenue out of coal, with the 1/- per ton royalty, gnd the wharfage rate as well, but threepence per 100 feet on timber is not a great amount. Although I should like very much to do something, I fail to see what we can do in the matter. The general public are] entitled to just as much consideration in regard to wharfage charges, as any individual industry. Personally, 1 cannot see how we can do anything.” Mr W. Clayton: Would not the increase in trade make up a little, so far as timber is concerned? The Chairman said that the charge now was only threepence per 100 feet, and he pointed out that the Board had to provide for the upkeep of the wharf. Although the Board had kept its estimates down, as much as possible, the revenue for the past six months was £6OO down. Mr Clayton: I move that the matter be held over until the delegation returns from Australia, and that the Board be prepared to discuss the matter with the Sawmillers’ Association, when the delegation arrives back. Mr G. E. Perkins seconded the resolution, and said, as an additional reason, that probably, after this session of Parliament, the Board would have to renew its by-laws, and the charges could be considered at the same time. The resolution was approved. Mr D. Tennent said that the Forestry returns 'showed a decline in the exports of kahikatea, and an increase in the export of rimu. The increase came about entirely by virtue of the subsidy which was given by the Unemployment Board, and it showed what could be done, if the cost of the timber in Australia could be lowered. The output had more than trebled. that of the first quarter of the year. Sea freight, Forestry charges, and railage would bring the cost to ninepence per 100 feet, although the railage would vary, according to the distance the timber had to be carried from the mills. Whatever concession was granted to the sawmillers would not be used for profit-making, but would be given away by them, for the purpose of trying to get trade. Ad-

ditional business would bring more

money to Greymouth, and would also help to relieve unemployment. He was quite satisfied that if the Board had made a gesture, in the way of reduced wharfages, it would have helped the sawmillers considerably. To say that the Board would not do anything, was the biggest rap the sawmillers could get. Anything the Board gave would be easily overtaken by the increased trade. The sawmillers had quite a lot of trouble, to get the Railways Department to do anything in the way of reducing charges, and one of the conditions was that the Harbour Board should come in. They did not get very much from Mr Sterling for nothing, he concluded. Mr Clayton said he thought that the Board shpuld get a report from the 'secretary, with reference to the coal exports. If possible, the Board should do something to assist the coal-mining industry. On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to advise the various coal

companies that the Board would con-

sider the matter, and reply at a later date.

Sup. Feet Year ending_31/3/1932 Quarter ending-— .. 1,263,853 ‘ 30/6/1932 605,450 30/9/1932 586,030 31/12/1932 741,020 31/3/1933 698,500 , 30/6/1933 581,258 30/9/1933 858,657 Total .. • • .. 5,334,768

Sup. Feet Year ending 31/3/1932 .. 17,632,430 Quarter ending— 30/6/1932 .. 3,079,840 30/9/1932 .. 5,023,450 31/12/1932 .. 4,816,210 31/3/1933 .. 3,998,730 30/6/1933 .. 2,803,723 30/9/1933 .. 2,498,507 Total . 39,852,890

• Sup. Feet | Year" ending 31/3/1932 10,580 Quarter ending—30/6/1932 . . 30/9/1932 • . — 31/12/1932 11,510 31/3/1933 1,680 30/6/1933 13,686 30/9/1933 3,183 Total 40,639

Year ending 31/3/1932 Quarter ending— 30/6/1932 Sup. Feet 30/9/1932 . . ‘ ' 1 31/12/1932 31/3/1933 7,278 30/6/1933 870 30/9/1933 19,635 Total 27,783

Sup. Feet Year ending 31/3/1932 1,486,049 Quarter ending— 30/6/1932 .. .. 940,000 30/9/1932 .. .. 792,050 31/12/1932 .. .. 596,690 31/3/1933 . . .. 592,043 30/6/1933 .. .. 583,720 30/9/1933 .. .. 403,817 Total 5,394,369 OTHER TIMBER. JUSup. Feet Year ending 31/3/1932 3,249

AVERAGE PER MONTH. 1/4/31 to 31/3/32 ... Sup. Ft. .. .. 105,321 Quarter to 30/6/32 .. .. .. 201,850 ” ” 30/9/32 .. .. 188,677 " ” 31/12/32 .. .. 247,007 ” ” 31/3/33 .. .. 235,259 ” ” 30/6/33 .. .. 194,043 ” ” 30/9/33 .. .. 292,764