BRITISH SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 65, 17 March 1928, Page 14

BRITISH SHIPPING.

GREAT BUILDING REVIVAL

DOUBLE LAST YEAR'S RECORD.

('Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, Friday,

A renaissance in the British shipbuilding 1 trade is revealed by the latest returns made by Lloyd's Register at the end of December last, which have just reached New Zealand.

The tonnage under construction !n Great Britain and Ireland at the end oi December was 1,579,000, or more than double what was in course of construction twelve months ago. Moreover, the latest figures include no tonnage on which work was suspended, while the returns at the end of December, 1923, included over 100,000 tons, contracts in which work had been suspended owing to labour difficulties.

Of the vessels built in Great Britain during the last recorded quarter 200,000 tons nre for British Dominions and 200,000 tons for foreign owners. After the severe depression which has ruled in the industry during recent years it is remarkable that the total under construction during the period exceeded the combined output of the rest of the world. Nevertheless, yards are still not working at their full capacity and are in a position to deal with new orders.

The following figures show the tonnage under construction for the past quarter, and the final quarter of 1928:—

December, 1027, number of vessels 338, gross tonnage, 1,579,000; December, 1920, number of vessels, 168, gross tonnage, 760,000.

Of the total of 338 ships, 244 were for Great Britain and Ireland, and 39 fen- the Dominions.