PORT CHARGES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21816, 12 September 1945, Page 2

PORT CHARGES

CASE FOR INCREASE WELLINGTON HARBOUR APPROACH TO MINISTER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. The need for higher port charges were again discussed by the Wellington Harbour Board yesterday, when a report on the position of the board's finances was presented. The report stated that the board took strong exception to the suggestion by the Price Tribunal that the board should have recourse to bank overdraft to meet the deficiency on current working expenses, which, it was stated, probably would amount to £169,000 over the full year.

The report considered this offered no solution to the hoard’s present difficulties. ns it would only load the board with interest on such overdraft and the power of the board to borrow was definitely limited. The board’s charges had not been increased since 1937, although practically all other concerns had been forced to increase their rates because of increases in costs, wages, and materials. In the case of the beard wage increases alone amounted to £IOB,OOO a year and it was futile to argue that the service could be maintained on the level of the 1937 dues.

The proposed higher charges, which were rejected by the Price Tribunal, would have left the dues below the level paid at other ports and the extra charges would have amounted to the number of pence given for the following items: —Butter, per box, .52d; cheese, per crate, 1.68 d; flour, per 501 b., .God: fruit, per case, .84d; potatoes, per half-hundredweight, ,60d; sugar, per bag. .7od; wheat or oats, per sack, 2.40 d;; chaff, per sack, ,96d; cement, per bag, 1.33 d.

The report added that refusal to allow the increase in charges means that the board would have to sacrifice its cash assets, and consequently the board decided to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce to review the position so that extra charges could be allowed.