PORT OF WANGANUI

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 205, 25 May 1921, Page 3

PORT OF WANGANUI

EXPORT TRADE RANKS FOURTH IN DOMINION.

The annual report of the chairman of the Wanganui Harbour “the board commenced tho V® ar , S: d ukl b be la added £ the 6 ’sum l of Wgdu r ri» dl making the expenditure was £22,m 9s. 7d.. and the credit balance at the termination oi the year £22.297 14s. lid-, showing that the receipts exceeded the expe J l( J lt^ re Ji« £1385 3s. Id. This surplus revenue Ms been placed on fixed deposit at the of New Zealand, and the board has now the total sum of £20,000 standing to the credit of its general account by . way or fixed deposit with its bankers, this being the only method allowed bv law fo investments of tins class. While the total receipts for this year are not quite so good as last, there Is no reason for dis annointment in respect thereto, the main cau™ foretime being that there was not so much wool offering for storage the receipts under this head being £1934 15 s. Sd.. as against £3213 is- while year the sum of £560 19s- 3d- was received for sale of coal brought out by the Kaione. which, of course, did not.re cur this year. There is also a in the receipts for hire of » lan k this year the amount being £56 12s. 6d., as against £377 13b. These accounted for. the sum of £2160 55. .100. The wharfages, dues, and rents show an increase of £530 14s. 3d„ thus proving that toe board’s ’bread and butter’ revenue is gradually growing. A peculiar feataie in this connection is that although the pilotage and ship dues show a, fallinß off the wharfages on the other hand show au increase. The reason for this, I assume, is that while shins have been making fewer trips they have carried fuller cargoes. Another factor which has no doubt caused the board to lose'revenue is the trouble which was experienced at the coal mines. , “The sinking funds of the board arc tn a good position, there being ample margin on the securities lodged for advances by way of mortgage. It is interesting to note that whereas the board has set aside the sum of £14,500 by way of sinhing funds the value of the funds at December 31. 1923. is no less a sum than £l9 094 35.. nn increase of £4594 35.. the whole of which has been derived from investments, with the exception of £3lO transferred from a previous loan. “The sinkincr fund commissioners ha-ye invested the sum of £6089 in War Loan, stock. Of which amount £lO5O was invested during the year under review in the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Loan. “I think that from the above, figures It must be considered that the financial position of the board is in a. most, healthy and satisfactory condition, and it would not ho out of place to mention here that un to the end of the year-now closed loan moneys to the extent of ±,.<48.iN0 have been expended on the improvement of the port, and yet not one penny piece haa been collected from the ratepayers bv way of rates to meet the interest ana other charges in respect to such loans, while the port and other charcea levied bv the board are among: the lowest in the Dominion.” “The trade of the port continues to increase, and Wancanui has now reacneci the proud position of ranking as the fourth export port in the Dominion. The total value of exports for the year was £4,037,116, as acainst the previous year of £3,975,354. and there is every rcaeoh to believe that the position will bo maintained in the future. At the present momeat large Quantities of wool, frozen meat. etc.. are waiting shipment, this position being caused by the scarcity or oversea shipping. , “The total tonnage (exclusive of goods for the use of the Government) of imports and exports for the year was 135,564 tons 16$cwt.” Tho report of the harbourmaster Includes the following statement, showing the number of ships using the port, with the aggregate tonnage •.-’Coastal steamers “1737; tonnage. 373.122. Intercolonial steamers—2o: tonnage, 21.360. Intercolonial rziilers—9- tonnages 4960. Ocean liners (roadstead)—l6: tonnage. 173.750.