PORT OF WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 21, 26 January 1933, Page 20

PORT OF WELLINGTON.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday., Shipping and trade statistics for the port of Wellington for December, 1932, showed for the first time for many months an all-round increase. The returns were presented to the Harbour Board this evening by the chairman, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, in whose opinion they indicated that the country had gradually been gaining more confidence. Mr. Norwood referred also to the newly-fixed exchange rate, stating that it was a pity that it should have been brought into force. Harbour authorities throughout New Zealand, he said, were going to face an anxious year. "The improvement in trade has been small, but it has had a tendency to rise each month," said Mr. Norwood, "and this month, excepting for coal, we are up on all departments of the harbour's trade. The position is that the tonnage of trading vessels arriving has increased by 23,501 tons net, compared with the corresponding figure for the same month last year, while the gross tonnage of cargo handled increased by 17,749 tons. General cargo imports from coastal and intercolonial ports increased by 1326 tons, while exports of butter and cheese increased by 986 tons and 1057 tons respectively. Oils,-in bulk, show a large increase.

"While there is a decrease in the quantity J of coal Handled, this is probably the first month in which we have shown an all-round increase. This, is undoubtedly one of the signs, I think, that the country is-gradually gaining more confidence," said Mr Norwood.