REVENUE FALLS SHARPLY

Southland Times, Issue 24447, 29 May 1941, Page 4

REVENUE FALLS SHARPLY

ACCOUNTS OF BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

A sharp drop which had occurred in revenue as a result of the curtailment of shipping was reported to the Bluff Harbour Board last night by the secretary, Mr R. N. Porter, in his report on revenue and trade.

The total receipts credited to the harbour fund account for the month were £2889/15/6, compared with £4806 18/3 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of £1917/2/9. A comparison of the receipts for the first seven months in each of the last three years shows the position to be:—l94o- - £22,536/12/8; 1939-40, £25,349/19/3; 1938-39, £31,250/8/8. The expenditure for the month was £2832/0/10 as against £3357/2/4 for April 1940. For the first seven months of this financial year expenditure exceeded receipts by £5780/13/2, as against an excess of expenditure of £5lBB/5/10 in the previous year. After deducting special items not budgeted for, the total receipts amounted to £21,605 as against estimated receipts of £21,751 for the seven months. A close watch was being kept on expenditure and of the total expended, £25,971 came within the scope of the annual estimates as against an estimate of £26,781 for the seven months ended April 30. This was £BlO below estimate for the seven months, while receipts for the same period were £146 short of the estimate.

For the month of April the tonnage of cargo handled over the board’s wharves was 21,502 tons as against 9441 tons for the corresponding month of last year or an increase of 12,061 tons. Imports totalled 4845 tons and exports 16,657 tons. Coastal shipping handled 9875 tons and overseas shipping 11,627 tons.

Compared with last year there was an increase in coastal imports of 6102 tons, but a decrease in overseas imports of 1905 tons, or a total increase in imports of 4197 tons. There was an increase in. coastal exports of 8562 tons and an increase in overseas exports of 7094 tons, or a total increase in exports of 15,656 tons. Total cargo showed an increase of 19,853 tons in comparison with the 1940 totals. During the month 28 coastal and four overseas and intercolonial vessels worked the port.