BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 24241, 26 September 1940, Page 2

BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD

LOWER REVENUE AT PORT DECREASE SHOWN IN TRADE Reduced revenue and increased expenditure were reported by the secretary of the Bluff Harbour Board (Mr R. N. Porter) in a financial statement presented to the board last night. The report also showed a reduction in trade through the port. The total receipts for the month were £3186/13/10 as against £4424 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of £1237/6/2. Under separate headings the receipts for the month of August in this year and last year were:

A comparison of the receipts for the first 11 months in each of the last two years is as follows:

The expenditure for the month was £4897/0/4 as against £3715/4/10 for August 1939. For the first 11 months of this financial year expenditure has exceeded receipts by £4416/3/6 from which can be deducted £761/17/6 expenditure on ! the new reservoir construction which [is a loan job, leaving a balance of £3654/6/- over receipts. The balance of receipts over expenditure for the corresponding period of last year was £4422/15/8. After deducting special items not budgeted for, the total receipts amounted to £38,726 as against estimated receipts of £35,894 for the 11 months. This leaves an amount of £431 to come in during the current month to reach the figure shown in the annual estimated revenue. The average for the last 11 months has been £3521. The expenditure to August 31 was £46,117, of which £41,695 comes within the scope of the annual estimates, as against the estimated figure of £34,832 for the period of 11 months of this financial year. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS For August the tonnage of cargo handled over the board’s wharves was 12,702 as against 14,068 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of 1366 tons. The totals for August 1940 were made up as follows:—lmports, 5415 tons coastal, 1091 tons overseas, a total 6506 tons; exports, 5274 tons coastal, 922 tons overseas, a total of 6196 tons. The totals were: Coastal, 10,689 tons; overseas, 2013 tons. The trade of the port for the 11 months of the financial year was 53,842 tons of imports and 90,000 tons of exports, compared with 75,474 tons of imports and 81,123 tons of exports in the previous year. As compared with last year, there was a decrease in coastal imports of 747 tons and a decrease in overseas imports of 20,885 tons, or a total decrease in imports of 21,632 tons. There was an increase in coastal exports of 7837 tons and an increase in overseas exports of 1040 tons, or a total increase in exports of 8877 tons. The total cargo showed a decrease of 12,755 tons in comparison with the 1939 totals.

The number of vessels working the port for. the month was:—Coastal, 32, overseas and intercolonial, 7, a total of 39. The figures for the same month in 1939 were:—Coastal, 37; overseas and intercolonial, 9, a total of 46. The board decided to make a grant of £3/3/- to the funds of the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs Association.

There were present: Mr W. J. A. McGregor (chairman), Sir Robert Anderson, the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., and Messrs A. H, Aitken, D. H. Cockburn, W. M. Norman, G. Wraytt, L. W. Spencer, C. B. Tapley and W. A. Ott.

1940 £ 1939 £ Wharfage Dues Ships’ Charges 2031 2143 819 1617 Miscellaneous 335 £3187 663 £4424

1940 1939 £ £ Wharfage Dues 22,478 24,037 Ships’ Charges 12,610 18,454 Miscellaneous - 6,611 7,235 £41,700 £49,727