HARBOUR BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16806, 16 March 1915, Page 5

HARBOUR BOARD.

WORK FOR THE YEAR. OBJECTION TO REPORTS. ANNUAL MEETING ADJOURNED. The annual meeting of the Lyitclton Harbour Board was held at the board's omco at- noon yesterday j present—The Hon R. Moore (chairman), and Messrs C. Allison, F. Hbirell, T. D. Boag, M. J. Miller, J. R. Webb, A. Kayo,. J. Jjittie, H.-Friecllander, G. Scott, J. J. Don gall and J. fcJtorry. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. .. Mr Cyrus "Williams, secretary and in submitting the tvveutyeigntli annual financial statements and returns for the year ending December 81, 1014, stated that the board began t/ie year with credits amounting to £112,701 17s 6d. Against that there was aai '■ expenditure on general account of £81,028 12s 2d, leaving '» balance at the end of 191-1, exclusive t>i' the contract deposit account and the tiinking fund account of £31,673 os 4d. Of that ram £27,201 3s 3d was invested, £1316 lis 3d stood to the board's credit at the bank on January 1, 1916, £3llO 10s lOd stood to the credit of the special accident insurance fund account, and £45 to the credit of-the fire_ iiumrfrnce account. That; left,. the accident insurauoe and lire insurance funds untouched, and those twoitems made a total of £2S,i>l7 lis 6d, making, with the estimated Btjrplus- on the transactions, of the year 1915 (£14,8£0), the sum of £43,382 14s. 6d available to provide for the following capital expenditure in hand, authorised or projected during the year 1915: I . s geclamaUon wall, one year'* work . ' G,OOO misrint' to increase working depth. of the port ' . . . . • 6,545 Compaction of outor wharf, Gladstone Pier , . 2.000 Tfew boilers Dredgro Canterbury . 3.000 Material for Xo. 6 ietty reconstruction 10.000 Balance of materials for No. 8 Jetty 4,829 T'ompletion. ot". pile-driving punt . 100 Conversion of eleotrio drive . . 100 Kifty-ton crane . . . , '■. . (5,073

'.'/'■'■■■ ; ■ ' .'.- .*»,9<17 Owing to the war and the legislation consequent on it preventing the calling up of mortgages on maturity, it was probable that towards the midof/.the": year the board might not have liquid assets available to meet its commitments, and that it might coiiBfcquently bo necessary to overdraw the . bank account or make other financial arrangements to tido over the temporary deficiency. Against that the board would have "ample funds invested in good securities and earning interest substantially equal to the bank rate, to that the position need give no conCerfi The year** estimates had been based ftr> a decrease of about 20 per cent on lecoipts from wharfage and shipping on account of the win-. ho thought'it wise to assume this unfavourable turn, he considered that, should the fortunes of war turn definitely in favour of 'Britain and the Allies, the ncMial conditions would be much moro fivourable than that. So many conHngeneiesentered into the matter, and -there was So little reliable information as to tht- progress of the war, and the fc.nte of affairs g*>nernlly in Europe, thai it W(i6 impossible to make a prediction of any value. The wharfage return showed the substantial increase of £3917 17s od over the figures for 1913, while the tonpage of goods passing over the board's wharves had correspondingly increased fcy over 95,046 tons. Approximately one-third of those increases were due

to goods delayed by the stevedore's strike at the and of 1913, but after that correction had been made the figures indicated that the trade of the port continued to steadily increase. The valuo of the exports for the year 1914 had increased "by £270,258 over that for 1913. With regard to imports, the figures were only available np to September 30, 191-J. Assuming that the imports for the last three months of the year were equal to tho average, the total valuo df the imports would be approximately equal to that of 1013. 'Hie number of ships entering the port was 73 les* than in 1913. hut the .tonnage of shipping entered • inwards exceeded that of 1913 by 127,707 tons. The general indications j were that while tlis coastal tonnage j had been practically'stationary, the diI rect oversea tonnage continued to increase steadily. A ■ comparison with the shipping and goods of the year 1913. was of very little value owing •to the interruption to trade at the • end of 1913 due to the strike of waterside workers. Any loss due to that cause appeared to have been made up during the early part of 1911, and the returns for 1914 would probably have shown to even more advantage but for the slight check to trade owing to the European War. All that could he said, was that generally the growth of trade had continued at its usual rate.

The total value of tin* bonrd's asseta on January 1, 1915, including tho whole of the board's property as shown in the valuation, rns £715,587 \Ss 6d, while . the liabilities amounted .to £260.205 os 3d. leaving a surplus of £449,382 13s 3d. The profit and iois account for 1914 showed that after allowing for all ordinary' running costs, maintenanco, repairs, maintenance dredging, interest on loans, and depreciation on property, there was a profit on the year's -transactions of £16,375 17s 4d, equal to about 2$ per cent on the capital va J[" e of the board's property. The sinking fund commissioners' account showed that the corrected balance Co the credit of the fund on December 31. 1914, was £87.787 2s 6d. The average rate of interest earned by the fund during 1914 was-4.65 per cent, and its rate of nccumlation, including the hoard's contribution of £IOOO per annum, was at the rate of about 5.85 per cent for the year 1914. If the rate of interest earning *vere maintained, the amount available on "\ a turity of the loans would be about fIR'SS 0 ' having a s i lor tage of about £IO,OOO on the £200,000 loan. That r'S™* 0 in 19 2D,-on maturity of the loan at 6 per cent, and the £G0,,000 at 4 per cent, it would only be necessary to float a. new loan of about £/0.000; and assuming that that could bo done at 4J per cent, the interest should drop from £14,400 per an "° m t( > about £3150 per annum. Hie statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for the year 1915 tJ}e es timated receipts Jit £«>9,120, and tho expenditure on ordinary running costs, interest, and maintenance dredging at £44.260. leaving a balance of £14,865 which, together with the credit balance of £1316 Us oa, would be absorbed in meeting the estimated expenditure on capitiil ac#2V«i.. a 2 d , !eavin g a., shortage of £24,760 8s 9d to be made *P from tho accumulated, funds in the special 'renewal fund, leaving an amount of £2435 14s 6d ( pras the year's interestearning of the fund) in that fund at the end of the year. ' The estimate" of receipts was on the assumption that the. board's receipts from wharfage: and from shipping would drop by : 2o per cent owing t° the war. It was quite likely that that anticipated drop might not eventuate, and it was not suggested that the board should take- any 'action towards

curtailing its programme of improvements in tho meanwhile. Should, however, that serious drop in revenue bo .-realised, some action might be necessary in the following year, if war continued so long. The statement of the valuation of the board's property showed the valuo of the hoard's properties, plant, etc., at, £590.519 10s at the end of 191 I. after deductions for depreciation at sUitabla ivitr, l ; had been made from each depreciable item, and additions mafic ii.r ii'io capital expenditure on them during, the year. . TJie not increase in the board's property dnriny H 914 amounted to £25,838 0s Bd. Tho statement of tho position of the grain and cold stores showed that oiio quantity of grain, etc.. received for storage during 1914. was 3558 tons more than during the previous year and the earnings rot* from £2505 15s 2d in 1913 .to £3798 ids. faring the months of August. September and October tho movement of grain, on account of the war, was very large. During August and September. 19,822 sacks of grain and produce and 3148 bales of hay were accommodated iti the board's stores in connection with the outfitting of the troopship Arawa at Lyttelton, and providoriug the Expeditionary Force generally. Some fifty to sixty tons of foodstuffs for the Expeditionary Force were also stored at the board's cool stores. No chargeswere made for storage in tnis connection, only out of pocket expenses being recovered. In addition, the stores department supplied all the labour necessary for' sorting and .grading, in the. railway vraggon.s at the stores "sidings,

the gift produce for the troops. Tho whole of the grain and produce mentioned, in addition to the very large quantities of grain which were taken into and out of store a.s a result of the effects of the war on the grain market, was .satisfactorily and expeditiously handled, showing that the board's stores Mid staff were capable of suc- ! i:. j s-iii!ly coping with an emergency. Great credit was due ". to the u.-irs-housoinah and In'.-. »tnff for the inan--1 :i;>r in which the work had been carried out' under adverse conditions, as two of the officers. A. Stanley (stock book and accounts clerk) and A. M'Geriy. ("assistant storeman) had been on garrison duty since tho outbreak of the, war. With regard to the cold stores, the gros.s balance of receipt*? over noikiug expenditure was £4-48 15s lOd. which was £225 3s Id short of necessary to mef?t interest and depreciation. Mr Williams said in conclusion: : —" I have pleasure in recording my appreciation of the good work done by the office staff, both in Ghristchurch and Lyttelton. as indicated by the smoothness with which the board's operations have-been carried on. the celerity.-and accuracy with which all documents have been prepared for the meetings, and the satisfactory nature of the auditor's report; and also of the good work done by the harbour staff; and I hove to thank the members of the board generally, and yourself in particular, for their and your invariable indications of goodwill and confidence, which make the conduct of the board's operations a veritable, pleasure." j THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. In hi* report as engineer to tho board I Mr Williams said that in dredging tho j year's operations had included deepenj ing and widening the entrance chan- , neJ and maintaining and grndualiv in- ; creasing tho depths in the opon parts i of tho inner harbour and at the berths j at. the wharves. The year's work of ■ the Canterbury had * amounted to 1,382,172 tons of spoil; 1,357.600 tons had been pumped into the reclamation area and 24,07 t) tons discharged at sea. Tiie cost of the Canterbury's work, in- ; eluding pumping into the reclamation ;:rea and all running costs, maintenanco and repairs, averaged about 1.4 d per ton. Tlie reclamation mole had advanced steadily during the year, ivnd ' now extended to a point 1797 feet front j the end of tho western breakwater. ! I It was satisfactory to note the de- j cision of the Railway Department to i duplicate the tunnel, and a working basis had been arrived at for the sup- i ply of current from the Lake Coleridge ; scheme. It was proposed to drive all I tho board's land machinery by eleo- '' I trieity, but half tho plant would be ' steam driven until the reliability of . the electric drive was established. i Throughout ilho year the board's operations- had gone on smoothly, and I Tie had pleasure in recording his ap- | preciation of the good work done by the officers of the engineer's depart- : ment. and in thanking the members j ! of the board generally, and in particu- ! ! h::r the deputy-chairman and yourself, l for invariable indications of good feel- f ing and confidence. ■ CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. j The chairman, in his annual report, j said that, speaking generally, so far as ! the ordinary work of the port and its financial position was concerned, matters were most satisfactory. During the preceding year the Dominion suffered from one of the ino.<=s bitter labour troubles it had ever experienced, which to a considerable extent interfered with tlie business of the port. He was | pleased to say they had been particu- i farly free from disturbances of this M- j ttire during the past year. It was true j there had lieeu minor troubles with some of the firemen ; and the ferry ser- } vieo '■atween LvtteJ.ton and Wellington

i J had been slightly disarranged, mainly ■ ; to the extent of substituting another j steamer in place of tho Maori for a few I trips. Tlie question arose, this being ■j part of their through passenger service ■ ; to connect with the railways, whether ■ : sonic better means could be adopted to ; j minimise the trouble from this source. The year was. commenced-with a clear 1 atmosphere, the strike having been oe- , cuired off, and business throughout the ' Dominion was being carried on satisfactorily. There* appeared every prospect. ' not only of having industrial peace, but j a good, prosperous year for nil. Staple j products were meeting with n good ; market; the prices obtaining for exI ports were excellent, and altogether ! they were justified in looking forward ' j to a peaceful and prosperous year. The : I European war breaking out in August I last, iu which tho British Empire had had to take h prominent part, had put ! a somewhat different complexion on , things generally, and, whilst revenue | had kept tip remarkably well so far, i they should exorcise, caution in expenditure. If the war should continue . i for any length of time, it might affect ! the revenue of tlie port. Fortunately, . although there had been some losses of ' British vessels, they had been remarkj ably small when the immense oversea i commercial trade of the Empire was '.considered, and the trade routes all I through had been kept open. They must i all deplore the. loss of life and d'estrucj tion of property which a devastating war entailed, but events had shown the world the intense loyalty and power of tlie Empire as a whole, and they might look forward with the utmost confidence to tho satisfactory conclusion of the war. i La his last report, he referred to tlie ! nature of the work carried out through i the year, with a view to keeping 'abreast of and meeting the require- ' merits of the ever-increasing size of the oversea vessels that traded to the port. Members would note, from the last year's returns, whilst- a less number of vessels entered during the year, there was a considerable increase in the ton- > nage, showing clearly that larger vesi sols w.ere boing employed, and emphasising the wisdom and the necessity of continuing the board's policy in this direction. The negotiations with tho Railway I Department in. regard to improvements ! to the Christchurch and Lyttelton rail- | way had resulted in satisfactory arrangement* being niad«. When the alterations or • renewals to existing ■ wharves were made, or new ones cou- ; structed',' provision would be made in the width .for the fitting of cranes anci ' capstans. The General Manager of Railways, Mr Hiley, in his comprehensive : report, provided for a- considerable al- ! fetation iu the lay-out at both Lyttelton and Christchurch, also for a donble line through the tunnel. When these' were carried out, it would materially facilitate the working of the port. Tho . most Urgent portion of these alterai tions was undoubtedly the duplication j through the tunnel. In reference to jHhe board's offer to the Sumner Bor- | ough Council to hand over the works at j Sumner at book value, or at valuation, | the council had agreed* U> accept them i at valuation. It now only remained to agree to « valuer, when, he presumed, the matter would be completed. In his last report ho suggested the board's taking over the whole of its insurances. This had been done, and they had now to the credit of these funds the sum of £31.55 10s lOd, which might be considered' satisfactory. Nothing conclusive had. so far been done in reference to establishing a superannuation, fund for the board's employees. Negotiations had been opened up with the Superintendent, under the i National Provident Fund Amendment Act of 1914, to ascertain the coutriHu-

tions required to make provision for tiro*board's staff: when these wore to hand, the matter would be further considered. The board had found it necessary, on several occasions, to pass resolution's in reference' to alterations of its I by-laivs. These bad now been ineorpor- : uted. ami the whole consolidated in | snob a maimer that they now had a ;,more. complete and much condensed ■ code, which members and the public A would lind more convenient; Compar- : iujj Lyfctelton harbdur charges with i those levied elsewhere, ithey had from i time to time opportunities of making ; rough comparisons with the charges on ; Koous and shipping- levied in other I places outside the Dominion of Now Zealand. Such » rough comparison indicated that the charges on goods atLyfctelton and the oilier main New Zealand ports would bear favourable comparisons with such charges elsewhere. Taking into consideration that their accommodation was at least .as good as at ports outside the Dominion, very low charges might fairly be claimed as justification of tho present system of local government of harbours. The value of Their local trade for the j year had been most satisfactory. Exports amounted to £3,'263,575, exceeding last year's by £270,258. a, record i for the port. The principal increases j had been in our staple products, parti- ! oularly wool, dairy produce and grain. I lie had only been able to obtain, the value of imports for the first three quarters of the year; these amounted to £2,607,474. ■ When the full returns were available, he had no doubt they would be equally satisfactory. It was with much pleasure he again recognised the efficient manner in which the board's staff had worked during the past. year. The secretary and the whole of,the office assistants had givemevery attention to their work, and also a loyal support to him in connection with his duties as chairman. He also desired to express his appreciation of the manner in which members had attended the meetings of the board, the keen interest they had at all times taken in the advancement of the port, and the hearty and' loyal support they had extended to him during the whole term or his office as chairman. He trusted the same support would be extended to his successor. He That the accounts of the Lyfctelton Harbour Board, as balanced and audited to December I 31. 1914. and certified by the Controller i and Auditor-General, be adopted a-hd certified under the hand of the chair- | man of the board, and that,the reports I and statements as printed be apj proved." . The motion was seconded by Mr : Miller, who expressed his entire satis- ! faction with the position as disclosed I in the reports. MOTION OBJECTED TO. 1 Mr Allison said he desired to draw ! attention to the terms of the chairman's motion. The chairman was asking the board to approve all the reports. He could not undertake to do that, and he did not think the chair-' man intended that. ' I The chairman said that lie had mor- I •ed in the usual form, and did not intend to amend his motion. The .motion referred only to official reports and not to the speaker's report. Mr Allison said ho would have a great deal more to say on the matter later on. The motion should be confined to the adoption of the balancesheet and accounts, and should not extend to the reports of officers. Mr Kaye said the board was to be congratulated on the satisfactory position at present existing, and upon the very bright outlook for the future. Tho railway improvements projected by Mr Hiley would he of almost incalculable benefit to the port. ■ In view, however, of th- *%et that tk» ~*>d of the boe-rd's

I surplus funds were in .sight, i't would be necessary lo watch expenditure | very prudently. I Mr Scott- said that- he could not support the motion the chairman had proposed, as lie was not in entire accord wiih the chairman's report. lie regretted that the chairman hail made no reference in the difficulties which .shippers were meeting with in their dealings will) the shipping companies. The position in (his respect at present was quite . unsatisfactory, shipments being delayed in an unreasonable manner. The filthy condition of the passouger carriages on the LyifceltonChristchurch line should also have been given some attention. Mr 'Fried lander said it was not the province of the hoard to compel shipping companies to provide cargo accommodation. Thai, was « matter for the Chamber of Commerce. The passenger accommodation on the railway would doubtless be improved when the duplication of the tunnel line was accomplished. Tho board was to be congratulated oil the record of the year's i working. ! Mr .Allison a*,ked whether the board had ever given authority for the free storage and remission of wharfage on supplies for ship?; conveying members of the Expeditionary Force. The chairman said the usual custom in regard to Government supplies was followed. In regard to storage, a charge was being made for actual expense incurred in employing labour. j. AN EXPLANATION WANTED. I Mr Allison said his only desire was that the public should not undere.stiina be what the board had done to assist the Imperial authorities in the present great national emergency., He j>roceeded to ask for explanation of several details in the engineer's re- i port, stating that if he were asked to approve the report he must first thoroughly understand what he was approving. Iff tho chairman would amend his motion the questions would itQt be necessary. He challenged the truth of a statement in the chairman's report that there was a " considerable increase in tivanage, showing clearly that larger ressels were being employI ed." • Mr Kaye suggested the adjournment of tho meeting. The chairman asked how long Mr Allison was likely to continue. Mr Allison_ said if the chairman would alter his motion he would havo nothing more to say. The Chairman: If you want to continue, Mr Allison, you may do so. But it is very discourteous of you to seek to prevent members from attending the harbour inspection this afternoon. Of course, if you want to stonewall, you ca.n do so. Mr Dougall suggested an adjournment of the discussion till next board .meeting. It was eventually decided to adjourn the meeting till March 24 at 2 p.m." ANNUAL TOUR OP INSPECTION.

NEW JETTST OPENED AT PORT LEVY. Yesterday afternoon the members of the. Ljttelton Harbour Board, accompanied "by their lady friend* and others, made their annual tour of inspection, but the proverbial bad luck as regarda weather was again in evidence. On this occasion Port Levy was the selected rendezvous, particularly so on account of the fact that quite recently the Board completed the construction of an up-to-date jetty on the eastern side of the The journey down the harbour was made in the tug Lyfctelton, under Captain M'Phorson, and in spite of the wind and the heavy sea the trip was a. pleasant one. On arrival at the wharf Mr Harry Field, on behalf of the residents, welcomed the visitors, who wwe then escorted to

the Maori church by Mr A. Solomon. Much interest was centred in ; th» building, as it is contended that it burexisted for some sixty years, and probably was thf» first place of worship built-in a Maori settlement in Canterbury. On returning to flic tujj' opportunity ..was taken - to -perform the official ceremony, in connection with fcfee jetty.

Mr It. Moore, chairman, said that on behalf of-the board lie had- milch, pleasure in naming the pew structure "Albert Jetty.'-' and in declaring it open for traffic. The board had''selected fhe name in order to do honour to the King of Belgium, whose deeds and actions in the present hostilities had been not only iti the interests of his own nation, but also in. those of England and the other nations of the world. No man in the community deserved more thanks than the King of Belgium in taking the steps'he did, to oppose one of the greatest autocrat* known. I.u conclusion Mr Moore said lie trusted that the jetty would be of considerable benefit to. the Port Levy. ■'.' Mr Harry Field, in reply, said that on behalf of the residents he desired -to take. the. opportunity, to thank thut board for the consideration shown t« the Natives. Although the Natives were slow in many ways they were nob slow in showing their appreciation of any. kindness extended by their whit* brothers, and they did not lightly appreciate the valuable work done fop them on this occasion. He thanked the hoard on behalf of the Nativeer, who would enjoy the most benefit from. the structure, and also on behalf oj? the white people of the bay an«l yachtsmen and others. In conclusion. Mr Field said he could go back, to tlu» days when the Natives were compelled to carry their piccaninnies out to their boats, but those days had passed and now they had a wharf of "which they: wer» proud. Cheers were given for Mr Field, after which the tug returned to port, afternoon tea being served on the ressa-