BRITISH SHIPBUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 35, 9 February 1906, Page 3

BRITISH SHIPBUILDING.

EXTRAORDINARY ACTIVITY. $Bj Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHTJRCH, this day. Mr. Joseph Gould, well-known in Christchurch business circles, who has returned to New Zealand aiter ail absence of two years in England, in conversation with a "Press" representative, said: "Speaking broadly, trade at. Home is very good indeed. The iron trade is exceedingly brisk. The prices of steel plates for shipbuilding were raised twice in one month. The advance on each occasion, being 10/. equaj to 75 pe r cent, is spoken of as Tme of thfc speediest rises ever known- Shipbuilding has been particularly active, a number of very large contracts being let last summer. One syndicate ordered twelve steamers, each of 600 tons, in one week. The cause of this activity in shipbuilding could not be accurately accounted for. In strange contrast the whole of the shipping companies of the United Kingdom had experienced bad times with the exception of the P. and O. Company and the British. India Company. The increased tonnage is likely to have a very disturbing effect; it will no doubt result in throwing out of use ships which are perfectly sound and good, but unable to live against the new tonnage. Many people are of opinion that the improvement in trade will not long continue. It is worth noting that at Christmas several shipbuilding firms in the. north of England and Scotland i let their contracts for eteel plates two years ahead. This is a fair indication of the opinions of these men as to the prospects for the future.