INCREASE SHOWN IN RECEIPTS

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 2

INCREASE SHOWN IN RECEIPTS

FINANCES OF BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

EXPENDITURE FOR WORK ON NEW RESERVOIR “The total receipts credited to the Harbour fund account for the month were £4963 13/9. against £4645 10/10 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of £3lB 2/11,” stated the secretary (Mr R. N. Porter) in his report last evening to a meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board on the financial activities of the board for the month of May.

There were present at the meeting: Mr W. A. Ott (chairman), the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C. and Messrs A. H. Aitken, J. Cameron, C. S. Longuet, W. J. A. McGregor, W. M. Norman, L. W. Spencer, C. B. Tapley, G. Wraytt and D. H. Cockburn.

The secretary’s report continued as follows:—

“The following table shows under separate headings the receipts for the month of May this year and for the same month last year:—•

EXPENDITURE OF BOARD “For the first eight months of this financial year expenditure has exceeded receipts by £2404 6/8, but if the amount expended on the new reservoir construction, £3900 15/11, which is a loan job, be deducted, there is a balance of receipts over expenditure of £1496 9/3.

“After deducting special items not budgeted for, the total receipts amounted to £29,954, against estimated receipts of £28,175 for the eight months. This leaves an amount of £12,309 to come in during the next four months to reach the figure shown in die annual estimated revenue, or an average of £3077 a month. The average for the past eight months has been £3744.

“Expenditure is being kept within the estimate. The total expenditure to May 31, 1938, was £33,380, of which £27,899 comes vithin the scope of the annual estimates and 'compares favourably with the estimated figure of £31,941 for the period of eight months of this financial year. “For the month of May 1938, the tonnage of cargo handled over the board’s wharves was 17,075 tons, against 13,644 tons for the corresponding month, of last yearj an increase of 3431 tons. The principal lines of imports were:—Fish, 35 tons; fruit, 124 tons; sugar, 486 tons; timber, 469 tons; coal, 538 tons; artificial manures. 318 tons; motor spirit and kerosene, 329 tons; wheat, 340 tons; sundries, 6312 tons. “The exports were:—Cheese, 1174 tons; fish, 65 tons; frozen meat, 2354 tons; hemp, 253 tons; milk products, 607 tons; oats and oat products, 921 tons; seeds, 117 tons; tallow, 168 tons; timber, 791 tons; wool, 228 tons, pelts, 71 tons; sundries, 1375 tons. “For the eight months of the financial years 1937 to 1938 inclusive, the trade of the port is shown for the purpose of comparison as under:—

“Compared with last year, there is a decrease in coastal imports of 2092 tons and a decrease in overseas imports of 1087 tons, making a total decrease in imports of 3179 tons. “There is an increase in coastal exports of 381 tons and a decrease in overseas exports, of 1120 tons, making a total decrease in exports of 739 tons.

“Total cargo shows a decrease of 3918 tons, compared with the 1937 totals. “The number of vessels working the port for the month was:—Coastal, 36; overseas and inter-colonial, 11. The figures for the same month in 1937 were:—Coastal, 45; overseas and intercolonial, 9.

1938 1937 £ s. d. £ s. d. Wharfage dues 2522 10 4 2727 12 8 Ships’ charges 2098 2 7 1332 19 2 Miscellaneous 343 0 10 584 19 0 £4963 13 9 £4645 10 10 “A comparison of the receipts for the first eight months in the last two years, shows the position to be:— 1938 1937 £ s. d. £ s. d. Wharfage dues 14,383 15 6 15,396 16 Ships’ 5 charges 12,866 17 0 13,206 17 Miscellan5 ecus 3,725 2 3 4,853 2 0 £30,975 14 9 £33,456 15 10 “The expenditure for the month was £3158 14/5, against £4073 5/8 for the corresponding month in 1937. “The position of the board s fund account at closing time on May 31, 1938 was:— d. £ s. Balance (credit) 6640 3 Plus deposits not entered 8 by bank 18 9 0 6658 12 8 Less outstanding cheques 7 16 0 Credit £6650 16 8

Coastal Overseas Total 1937 Tons Tons Tons Imports 24,372 35,835 60,207 Exports 15,314 39,112 54,426 39,686 74,947 114,633 1938 Imports 22,280 34,748 57,028 Exports 15,695 37,992 53,687 37,975 72,740 110,715