SECONDARY PORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 8

SECONDARY PORTS

LOSS OF REVENUE

DECENTRALISATION URGED

A conference of representatives from the Gisborne, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, -Timaru* and Wanganui Harbour Boards, which met in Wellington this morning under the chairmanship of Mr. W. H. Price, president of the Harbours Association of New Zealand, unanimously passed the following resolution: "That this conference of delegates representing harbour boards who have suffered serious loss of revenue brought about by the centralisation of overseas shipping, is of opinion that the time is opportune to approach the Overseas Freight Allotment Committee with a view to returning to the system of loading and discharging in existence prior to the war."' The following deputation was appointed to wait on the committee: Messrs. A. J. Nicol, chairman of the Gisborne Board, L. Quigley (Gisborne), E. Millward (Wanganui), W. R. Williams (Oamaru), and A. R. Kingsford (Nelson).

CHANGE DESIRED

Before the resolution was put Mr. J. L. Campbell, chairman of the New Plymouth Board, said he did not .desire to have his board represented on the deputation. He had every sympathy with its object, and had no desire to block the other boards, but pointed out that New Plymouth* had its own peculiar problem, and said, 'We are contemplating a scheme of our own." Mr. R. S. Goodman (Timaru) said that Timaru was in much the same situation as New Plymouth. While it had suffered certain losses in revenue, it had been getting shins for its produce. He did not wish to be associated with the deputation, but had no desire to oppose the motion. Mr. Campbell: When control is lifted the ships, if they do come, must go where the goods are. Mr. Nicol expressed disappointment with the attitude of New Plymouth. "Unless we are united, it is unwise going to the committee," he said. After further discussion Mr. Campbell said he would support the motion, though he would not join tindeputation. Mr. Goodman: That is what we think. The resolution was then carried unanimously.' When opening the proceedings, Mr. Price said: "The fact that I am chairman at one of the main ports does not blind me to the fact that the secondary ports have their rights and privileges. The question is an economic one, and one in which the primary producers are vitally interested. . Prior to control, the freight contracts with the overseas shipping companies were negotiated by the Wool Board, the Meat Board, and the Dairy Board, and, after control, by the Government. » Mr. Price said he thought the conference should consider: (1) What would be best in the interests of the industry? (2) What would be best for maintaining the high standard and condition of butter, cheese, and meat.' (3) Rates of oversea freight. If oversea vessels called at a few ports the freight would probably be less than if the vessel were required to call at out ports, but against that would have to be placed the cost ot transportation from out port to port of export. During the war period it has been necessary to load ships expeditiously and get them away within the shortest possible time irrespective of cost, an expensive method. Losses in refrigerated ships had been severe, and it would take two and a half years after the war to replace the losses.

GISBORNE'S LOSSES

Mr JSlicol drew attention to the financial situation of the Gisborne board as a consequence of the centralisation of shipping. It was estimated that the loss m revenueiftom overseas shipping alone had amounlea to £13,800 during the four years to September; 1944. The board had had such financial difficulty that the Government had granted £5000 dm ing 1944 as a subsidy. Taking all revenue into account ana [excluding rates and the Government subsidy, the revenue _in 1939 was £45,746, as against £35,301 in 1944, which showed a decrease of £-10,445. The maintenance of the harbour) ! during the war years had been cut to a minimum, and a considerable sum would need to be spent on renewals and repairs of wharves. The boaid could not afford to embark upon expensive repair works unless the works were to be used. • "If overseas steamers. are _ unable to call at out ports, consideration should be given to the question of making 'feeder boats' available for the. lifting of all frozen meat for transhipment to the main ports until the shipping position returns to normal," said Mr. centralisation during the war years, his board also had lost considerable revenue owing to all meat being railed to Wellington, and it had become necessary to apply to the Government for assistance. Mr. Williams said that.the Oamaiu board was much in the same situation as Gisborne, and members were anxious to see tshipping resumed as soon as possible. A great deal ot the board's revenue had been diverted to the railways, and its finances had been severely punished. It was most unfair, in his opinion, that the railways should compete with the ports. FRUIT FROM NELSON.

Mr. Kingsford, chairman of the Nelson board, said that his port had had no oversea ships during the war, but its finances had not been affected to any great extent owing to the use of "feeder vessels." On the other hand, overhead expenses had increased very considerably. However, his board was looking to the future of the fruit industry, and was anxious to obtain direct shipments again as there was likely to be a definite expansion in that trade and the board would like a definite assurance that it would get oversea ships again. Mr. E. A. Khull (Gisborne) stated the case on behalf of the Bay of Islands which, he said, supported decentralisation.

The chairman said that the first step should be to place the situation before the Overseas Freight Allotment Committee, which could then make representations to its principals in London. "Your representations should carry weight." he said, "because there is a moral as well as a financial principle involved."