PORT PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 183, 29 April 1920, Page 5

PORT PROGRESS

ANNUAL MEETING OF HARBOUR

BOARD

THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

£29,000 PROFIT

The annual meeting of the Wellington Harbour Hoard was hekl yesterday afternoon in this board's rooms. Sir. J. G. Harkness (chairman) presided. In moving the' adoption of the annual statement of receipts and expenditure, Sir. Harkness said that generally speaking tho last six years had been to all coiicernod a period of constant anxiety and strain, and the executive officers deserved a great measure of appreciation and praise for tho work accomplished. Financial Position. "Whilst the financial position as indicated by the accounts showed satisfactory progress, this had. not, however, been brought about by what all desired, the natural development of trade, but by .the unfortunate exigencies of tho period. In support of this contention the statement announced that tho total shipping tonnage visiting the port was 2,236,002 as against 3,153,071 tons in 1915, the best year since 1893. General goods, inwards" and transhipments, totalled 497,30!) tons as against 557,982 tons in 1916. General goods outward were 191,273 tons compared with 190,366 in 1915, the previous record year. In wool and hemp shipments outward and transhipments totalled 319,853 bales as against 334.535 bales' in 191 G. However, these figures could not be relied upon' ns absolutely accurate by way of comparison. when the restricted shipments were taken into account, but they pfoved if other sources of revenue available to the board had not increased, the financial ]»sition would have been less satisfactory than it is to-day. A decrease in tonnage of ship's berthing and of goods inward and. outward meant reduced receipts. "The secretary, in his comprehensive report pointed out the increases and decreases in the various items of revenue and expenditure as compared with last year. In considering the receipts from all sources and the annual expenditure as contained in the statement, it was proposed to submit for consideration n rough balance-sheet, with the results grouped und?r the various departments. Let' it be understood that the accounts were absolutely correct, nor was it suggested with the object of. altering the present method of bookkeeping, but to point out that the time had arrived when tho Vard should adopt-some system of costing, applicable to each department if possible, that would approximately give all concerned some indication of the cost to tho board of services rendered for' and on behalf of the public,

Future Prospects. ; "It was anticipated that prior to this date conditions would have become somewhat approaching normal. Expectations have unfortunately not. been realised. The effects of the aftermath of the Great Wnr are slill in evidence. Tho congestion of shipping facilities, the immense volume of foodstuffs and raw material awaiting shipment, the high values of all imported manufactured roods, together with the strikes in the Commonwealth, liad had a disastrous effect on trade and commerce. This was reflected in the last six months' revenuo a 8 compared with the corresponding period ended March 31, 101!). General cniv<i storage had decreased from £17,265 to £15.422. Wool and hemp storage from £14.151 to £3067. and the cool storage of cheese from <£23.392 to .£5977, a total shortage of £30,542. The present month, however, showed some improvement.

"On the other hand, the statistics for the above period in many lines showed advances. In 1920 the net register of to'inane of mercantile arrivals was 1,267.201 tons as against 999,310 tons in 1919, an increase) of 207.891 tons, co ual to 26.8 per cent. British and foreign general care--, inwards,. 77,929 tons, as against 64.951 tons, an increase of 12,973 tons, ciiual to 19.9 per cent. General cargo inwards, coastal and intercolonial 106,437 tons, as against 97,784 tons, an increase of F653 tons, equal to 8.8 per cent. General cargo transhipped 87,771 tons, as against 78,883 tons, an increase of 8888 toils, equal tc 11.2 per'ccnt. British and foreign ports: General cargo outwards, 42,863 tons, as against 32,743 tons, an ii ci case of 10,115 tons, equal to 30.8 per cent. (oastal and intercolonial ports: General catsc outwards 64,784 tons, as against 42,751 tons, an increase of 21,033 tons, equal to 43.0 per cent. The further ijerer.scs were; Hemp, 5409 bales; butter' and cheese transhipped over wharves. SCOG tons. Timber: Inwards increase. 1,177,153 ft.; outwards, 916,879 feet. Coal: Suburban wharves, increased 274 tons; Government coal, exempt from wharfage., 10,107 tons. The. decreases were as follow:—Wool, 90,224 bales; butter and cheo-'e outward, 1185 tons; cbal over city wharves!, 6804 tons; eonl transhipped overside at wharves, 1132 tons, in stream 279 tons.

In regard to the latter commodity 28(i6 tons had been handled in the port tor the six ■ months ended March 31, 1920 ill excess of the quantity for the ccriesponding period of 1919. not sufficient to be adequate in meeting increasing demand. These statistic? <n the w]h':l" disclosed a marked improvement in thi' business of the port

Works in Progress. "The new works to be undertaken and tho.-se in progress were of considerable magnitude. The main one, Pipitea Wharf, in course oi: construction, was making steady progress". The difficulty of procuring material and labour liucl been a serious hindrance. Its completion would supply a needed want in the port's equipment. probably the next work of importance was the supply of labour-saying appliances to several sheds on the waterfront. The present high cost of requisite machinery as compared with pre-war values had prevented the necessary appliances being installed. The Taranaki Street shed should have been available for storage of goods, but its completion had been delayed by tho non-arrival of steel."

In conclusion,. Mr. Harknes? expressed his indebtulnees to the secretary, Mr. Nicholls. for his 'uniform courtesy and assistance during the last year, and appreciation of tlie services rendered by the executive officers and tlie respective heads of the various departments, to iiim personally, and to tho interests of the board service.

The motion [o adopt the report was seconded by Mr. M. Welch and carried.

Another motion adopting the annual roiwrts of the secretary, engineer, ami harbourmaster was also passed.