HARBOUR RATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 115, 19 May 1942, Page 4

HARBOUR RATES

INCREASE THIS YEAR FALL IN PORT REVSNUE Because of financial difficulties being experienced by the Wanganui Harbour Board, due to war conditions, estimates approved at the annual meeting yesterday provide for increases in rates levied on Wanganui City and those portions of the Waitotara, Wanganui and Waimarino Counties which come within the harbour rating area. It was stated at the previous meeting of the board that, trade with the p >rt had fallen off since the outbreak of war, with a consequent loss of revenue. The rate on capital value in Wanganui Citv has been increased from 16/25ths. of a penny in the £ to Id in the £. and in the’ Waitotara, Waimarino and Wanganui Counties it has been raised from 8 25ths. of a penny to 3 Sths. of a penny in the £ on capital valve. The gross amount from the four areas concerned is expected to pioduce £25,250, less £BBB in commission to” the collecting authority. The new rate has been apportioned as follows: £ Wanganui City - 18,841 Waitotara County 2,803 Wanganui County 3,419 Waimarino County 36 The new rate of £25.250 over the entire harbour area represents an increase of £4107. last, year’s total beinfe £21,143. The incrca'O to he found by Wanganui City is £3191, the Waitotara County's share is £123. and Waimarino’s £5. The Wanganui County will contribute an extra £4BB. Estimated receipts for the year are £23.748, compared with £36,366 last year. Estimated wharfage revenue, due to a decline in trade with the port, is £12,000, as against £18,783. The harbour improvement rate is expected to produce £lBOO, compared with £3146 received last year. Revenue from shipping is also expected to decline, and under the heading “Ship Dues,” estimated receipts total £lOOO, as against £2116. Port dues last year produced £264, but no revenue is expected from this source. The estimated amount from pilotage is also £lOOO, as against £2517. Revenue from the wool store is estimated at. £2400, compared with £2281. Putiki Slip, however, is expected to bring in only £25. a drop of £lB5 on the previous year. In the general account the estimated expenditure is £21,347, compared with £27.602 last year. Chief items are: Now Zealand Railways £2500 (handling charge) and £3<M) (commission); wharfage. £1266; pilotage, £2123; general, £2293; works, £9112. Interest on loans is estimated to cost the board £29,320, compared with £29.592. It. is estimated that £6997 will be paid into the Sinking Fund Account, as against £6741 last year. Cool store receipts are estimated to produce £11,783, an increase when compared with £11,488 last. year. The principal item, storage, is estimated at £ll.OOO. On the expenditure side £11.033 is budgeted for, compared with £11,294.