Railways Blamed For Decreasing Town Wharf Revenue

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1939, Page 2

Railways Blamed For Decreasing Town Wharf Revenue

‘ \ LTIIOUGH SHIPPING AND REVENUE AS A WHOLE SHOWS AN IMPROVEMENT ON LAST YEAR’S RETURNS. THE AUCKLANDWHANGAKEI INWARD TRADE DECREASED BY 1165 TONS AND £650 IN REVENUE FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1939.”

So stated the chairman of the Whaing of the board to-day. son. in his report to the annual mcotngarci Harbour Board. Mr J. A. Finlay- " The extraordinary development in progress during the past two or three years in the Whangaroi district, notably building activity in the borough and road anil bridge works in the county, might reasonably be expected to reflect in a considerable increase in tonnage and revenue brought to the Town Wharf, but the reverse is the case.” Mr Finlayson continued.

“The decline in Auckland-to-* Whangarei sea-borne trade is attributed to the cheap transport rales by road and rail now provided by the Railways Department in connection with its competition against coastal shipping. “The position has given your board considerable concern, and. following representations recently made. the matter is being investigated by the Government Transport Co-ordination Committee.”

Financial Position

Reviewing the board's financial position, Mr Finlayson said that the year commenced with a credit of £7168. closing with a credit of £4131.

Exclusive of loan rates and unemployment money, the receipts from ordinary revenue amounted to £16.165, an increase of £1427 compared with the previous year. Collection of the balance of the special rate levied in 1936 for loan, interest yielded £490, while the total receipts from all sources amounted to £19,959. Expenditure under all headings was £22,996. The estimated assets in freehold and endowment lands, buildings, plant and stocks were £168,607. Increased Shipping. Vessels entering the port numbered 823, of a total net tonnage of 158,773. which, compared with last year’s returns. showed an increase of 137 ves- « sels and 34.545 tons.

“By these figures, Whangarei maintains fifth highest place in the Dominion in respect of ships entering and clearing,” stated Mr Finlayson. Cargo carried totalled 56.796 tons inward and 117.096 tons outward, showing an increase on last year’s freights of 14,238 tons inward and 17,511 tons outward.

The increase in shipping and revenue was due to unusually heavy shipments of cement, gypsum and coal for the Portland cement works. Work of the Year.

Maintenance work during the year included, the keeping in repair of two dredges, nine barges, two tow-boats, one pile-driver, 28 wharves and jetties, 15 sheds, 11 lighted beacons and 105 unlighted beacons and buoys. The suction dredger was employed at the upper end of the Fort channel and in the swinging basin adjacent: and a start, was made with the grab dredge in deepening the; Doctor’s Creek channel. Harbour Survey. H.M.S. Endeavour, commissioned to re-survey the coast of New Zealand, came inside the heads, and her hydrographers carried out a detailed survey of the harbour as far up as Portland wharf and the Town Wharf, and in due course a new chart would be issued.

During the year the board granted leases as follows: —Six lots in James and Rathbone Streets, three lots in Hannah Street, one lot at Riverside, two sections in Kaituna Reclamation, and six boatshed sites. An area of If acres w r as sold to the borough council. and a section of two acres of native land was acquired under the provisions of the Public Works Act. Borough Rubbish Disposal. The board had concluded an undertaking whereby 10 acres of the board’s endowment land adjoining the Whangarei railway station would be conveyed to the council for rubbish disposal and other purposes. Miscellaneous works during the year included the planting of 24,000 trees, draining of endowment lands, building of waiting-room for waterside workers, boring for foundations on the proposed industrial sites at Pert Whangarei, renewing Urquhart’s Bay wharf, and the removal of the two old wharves at Oakleigh. Mr Finlayson expressed appreciation to members for their regular attendance at all board,and committee meetings, and for the manner in which they had carried out the business of the board. He tendered thanks to the staff for their loyalty and' attention to their j duties.

WEST INDIES v. OXFORD On the first day of the cricket match between the West Indies and Oxford University, the visitors ran up 480 for seven wickets. Centuries were scored by Williams 026 not out), Cameron 100. and Bayley 104. « * * * BRITISH CABINET REVISION. An Independent Cable Service message from London states that the reconstruction of the Cabinet and the re-allocation of the heaviest Ministerial duties is under consideration, states the “Daily Express." The objects are ro introduce expert knowledge and to relieve the hardest-worked Ministers. No important developments are expected. however, until the King returns.