HARBOUR BOARD STATISTICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16713, 22 January 1919, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD STATISTICS.

Hie statistics o£ the Tiinaru Harbour Board for the years 1912 to 1918, of which -we have received a copy from tlie secretary, bear .mournfiil witness to the Sffecfs of the g-reat war. TJp' to, *ud including, tlie first year ,of the War tlie Board's figures annually showed records in more than one department. Since 1915 tliere have been no records worth considering-, and the total figures of all kinds show practically a ?outinuous decline, due directly to war causes. The total revenue received last year—£-27,268--was slig-htly more than the receipts of the preceding- year, awing- to -increased charges, but Ihe war fig-urea make a poor showing beside those of five years before, when the receipts were £41,990. Total imports and exports last year (excluding- coastal ti-ade) were valued at £1.130,627. as compared with the record of £1,907,483 in 1915. The exports had dropped from £1,545,904 to £831,764, or from 84,500 to 66,564 tons, the result of the reduced number of ships available to get goods away. . Tlie Shipping- which arrived at' the port was no more last year than '170.244 tons, as compared with '419,200 tons in 1913. 267,234 'ton* in J 916, and 208,815 tons in 3917. One record achieved last year, which we hoT>e will not be repeated, was the importation of 66.888 sacks of wheat. The slightest survey of. the figures is sufficient to show what an anxious time the Harbour Board must have had in maintaining its finances durinir. the long period of the war-. Most harbour authoritiV<= in the world, no doubt, have had mucn tfie same experience, hut the credit due to the local ?oard for its wise control in conation* of great difficulty iir not : 'djmimslied bv that consideration; Kow that the worlds shipping has been largely freed from military needs, and new shins are heiirn- brnlt as fa*t as -lossible to tnke the places of '+^W""liTj«w? J -ntim-' ; Tmm-s sunk, we can hon* fliit tlfe" IWd's returns will, soon show' ao-ain the f>msriAmn,s records 'vyhidi distingiiished them in prewar years.