N.Z. Ports Handle More Cargo

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31011, 17 March 1966, Page 6

N.Z. Ports Handle More Cargo

Nearly two million tons more cargo was handled at New Zealand ports during 1965 than in the previous year, says the Government Statistician (Mr J. V. T. Baker). Most of the increase was because of the movement of additional oil and oil products to and from the Whangarei refinery. Total tonnage handled was 19,241,000 tons, 1,918,000 tons more than in 1964. There was an increase of 789,000 tons in inward coastal cargo, and 1,172,000 tons in outward coastal cargo. Inward overseas cargo decreased by 13,000 tons, and outward coastal cargo decreased by 30,000 tons. Lyttelton handled less cargo last year than the year before: from 1,519,000 tons the amount handled fell to 1.480,000 tons. Whangarei had the largest increase in cargo, from 3,259,000 tons to

5,333,000 tons. Auckland had the biggest drop, from 3,823,000 tons to 3,615,000 tons. Wellington’s tonnage fell from 2,871,000 to 2,808,000 tons. At Picton cargo rose by 55,000 tons during the year to a total of 731,000 tons, the increase being mainly because of the operations of the Aramoana. Timaru’s increase of 78,000 tons to 346,000 tons arose mainly from the export to Japan of pine logs. After some years of steady decline in tonnages, Wanganui showed an increase of from 95,000 tons to 110,000 tons. Commodities that showed a significant increase during the year were cement, from 846,000 tons in 1964 to 906,000 tons in 1965; iron, steel and pipes, from 553,000 tons to 635,000 tons, and softwood timber, from 512,000 to 583,000 tons. Motor spirits and kerosene increased from 2,068,000 tons to 2,633,000 tons.