BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 4

BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

REDUCED REVENUE REPORTED INCREASE IN HANDLING OF CARGO A substantial drop in revenue during January and increased expenditure compared with the previous year were reported at the meeting of the' Bluff Harbour Board last night by the secretary (Mr R. N. Porter). The total receipts for the month were £3303/19/11 as against £3906/15/7 for the corresponding month of last year, being a decrease of £602/15/8, stated the report. Under separate headings the receipts for the month of January for the current and the preceding two

A comparison of the receipts for the first four months in each of the last three years shows the position to be:—

The expenditure for the month was £7971/3/- as against £6666/1/10 for January 1939. For the first four months of this financial year, expenditure has exceeded receipts by £8551/14/7 from which can be deducted £754/4/8 being the expenditure on the new reservoir construction which will be recoverable from loan. This leaves an excess of expenditure of £7797/9/11 as against an excess of expenditure of £6772/7/- for the same period last year. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS For the month of January 1940 the tonnage of cargo handled over the board’s wharves was 11,256 tons as against 10,239 tons for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 1017 tons. The totals for January 1940 were made up as follows:—

The principal lines of imports were:— Fruit, 111 tons; motor spirit and kerosene, 131 tons; sugar, 610 tons; wines, spirits and ale, 103 tons. Exports • were:—Butter, 169 tons; cheese, 1590 tons; fish (frozen and fresh), 44 tons; frozen meat, 1520 tons; milk products, 607 tons; oats, 129 tons, oat products, 174 tons; seeds, 37 tons; skins, 97 tons; tallow, 173 tons; timber, 379 tons; wheat, 46 tons; wool, 1018 tons. As compared with last year there is a decrease in coastal imports of 1661 tons and a decrease in overseas imports of 5483 tons or a total decrease in imports of 7144 tons. There is an increase in coastal exports of 1612 tons and an increase in overseas exports of 676 tons or a total increase in exports of 2288 tons. Total cargo shows a decrease of 4856 tons in comparison with the 1939 totals.

years were:— 1940 1939 1938 £ £ £ Wharfage dues 1283 1820 703 Ships’ charges 1151 1814 1298 Miscellaneous 868 271 499 £3303 £3906 £2500

1940 £ 1939 £ 1938 £ Wharfage dues 5247 5587 4117 Ships’ charges 4434 5190 4647 Miscellaneous 2952 3556 1978 I — — £12,634 £14,334 £10,743

Coastal Overseas Total Tons Tons Tons Imports 2194 1767 3961 Exports 2588 4707 7295 TOTAL 4782 6474 11,256