TRADE OF WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 55, 28 November 1929, Page 12

TRADE OF WELLINGTON

RECORD SHIPPING TONNAGE INCREASE IN IMPORTS GENERAL POSITION MAINTAINED While the tonnage of trading vessels arriving at Wellington during the twelve months ended September 30 was a record, the actual trade of the port as expressed in total tonnage of cargo handled during the financial year, when compared with the previous twelve months was practically stationary. This was shown in a detailed analysis of the shipping and trade presented at last night’s meeting of the Harbour Board. During the twelve mouths ended September 30, 3045 trading vessels totalling 3,644,487 net registered tons arrived at the port as against 3080 ships of 3,543,222 net tons during the previous twelve mouths, <in incred.se of 101,265 tons or 2.8 per cent. The increased size of present-day trading ships is shown by the growth in the average net registered tonnage of vessels arriving at Wellington as follows: 1923-24, 1006 tons; 1924-25, 1087 tons; 1925-26. 1122 tons; 1926-2 i, 1129 tous; 1927-28, 1150 tons; 1928-29, 1196 tons. Increase in General Cargo Imports. ' The trade statistics reveal a very considerable increase in the general merchandise imports during the yeniAs compared with the previous twelve months there was an increase in the imports of general cargo from British and foreign ports of 81,731 tons, or 27.8 per cent., and from coastal and Australian ports of 15,533 tous, or per cent., the total increase being 97.264 tons, or 18.3 per cent. On the other hand there was a slight decrease in the general cargo transhipments and a net decrease of 2614 tons, or 1.1 per cent, in the general cargo exports. The “outwards” wool handled during the year showed a decrease of 9613 bales, or 4.6 per cent., compared with the previous twelve months, and there was also a small net decrease of 584 bales, or 1.1 per cent., in the hemp and tow "outwards.” There has been a continuous decrease in recent years in the export of hemp and tow. In butter, cheese and frozen meat sent to British and foreign ports only, including transhipments, there was a net decrease of 3355 tons, or 3,u per cent Frozen meat showed a decrease ot «x>B< tons, or 14.9 per cent., and butter a decrease of 1043 tons, or 6.2 per cent., but there was an increase of 32(5 tons, or S.l per cent., in cheese. Decreases in Coal and Oil. There has been a general decrease for some years in the quantity of coal handled at Wellington and the last year was no exception. A decrease of 2a,001, or 10.2 per cent., in the imports paying wbarlage was offset to some extent by increases in the tonnages of Government coal and bunkers, making the net decrease 10.140 tons, or 2.7 per cent., compared with the twelve months ended September, 1928. At the same time there was a large decrease in the bulk oil handled, inward tonnage showed a drop of 54,855 tons, or 25 per cent., and the transhipments a decline of 16,41 b tons, or 43.4 per cent. There was an increase. chiefly in imports of 4,i0-,4(0 super feet, or 16.5 per cent., in the quantity of timber handled. Increases in the inwards cargo from Britain and foreign countries and coastwise were onset by a largo decrease of 36,471 tons, or 28 per cent., from Australia. There was also a decrease of 3 per cent, in the outward cargo to Australian ports. 1 he total transhipments handled during the twelve mouths showed a decrease of 13,514 tons, or 4.3 per cent. Coal v. Oil. “This is the first time we have seen a decrease in the importation of coal and oil,” declared Mr. T. R. Barrer, who remarked that it would be thought that where a decrease was shown in the consumption of coal there would be an increase in oil. The position was difficult to account for. Probably the importa-tions-of fuel oil in bulk Inst year had exceeded the sales companies had expected to effect to consumers. It might also be said that hydro-electricity had come into more general use and Hint that had a on the position. Air. Barrer went on to .say that another outstanding feature revealed by the figures was that the imports bad in-

creased and the export value of goods hnd declined by a million and a half. “That must give us cause to think.” he added. The chairman (Mr. J. W. McEwan) agreed that the development of hydroelectric power had been largely responsible for decreased coal importations. In regard to oil it could hardly be said that there had been over-importation. New Zealand hnd now reached something like level going in the consumption of oil, and the imports had dropped. The following table gives a detailed analysis of the cargo bandied at. Wellington during the twelve months nnd affords a comparison with the figures for the previous year:—

1 12 niths. e nded Stent. 30. Increase. Decrease. 129 below 1928. tn?!). 1928. 1929 over 1928. 1! General cargo imports: Tons. Tons Tons. p.c. Tons. p.c. From English ami foreign ports 374.70!) 292.978 81.791 27.8 — — From coastal and Australian ports 2;»3.2.>9 237,706 15,533 6.5 — — Tot* 1 ! inwards 627.948 .530.084 97,264 1S.3 General cargo transhipments ... 13(1.583 130.901 — — 318 0.2 Total inwards and transhipments 7(14.531 607.585 96.946 14.5 — — General cargo exports: 5.7 To English and foreign ports 7 < 9«>.i 82,722 4,767 To coastal and Australian ports 147.28S 145.135 2.1 ;>3 1.4 — — Total outwards 225,2-13 227.S57 — — 2,614 1.1 Wool outwards: Bales. Bales. Bales. p.c. Bales. pc. 55.081 57.051 — — —— 1.967 3.4 Ex shore and rail 140,442 14 8. OSS . — — 7.646 5.1 195.526 205,139 9.613 4.6 Henin and tow outwards: 5,624 8,398 14.022 . .. —— 40.1 Ex shore' and rail 39.934 34.894 5.010 14.4 — — 48,332 48,916 584 1.1 Butter, cheese, and frozen meat to British & foreign ports only (including transhipments): Tons. Tons. Tons. p.c. Tons. p.c. 15.081 16.724 - — 1.043 6,2 43 554 40 279 3,275 8.1 — Frozen meat 31,71.7 37,304 — o.ohi 11.9 Total* 90,952 94,307 • — — 3.355 3.5 Coal: Imports over wharves paying 15.2 141,9119 1 (17,580 — 25,581 Government coal exempt from 9.851 89,262 79.411 12.4 ., — T/s. overside at wharves 120,171 120.581 5,590 4.6 — — T/s. overside in stream — — — — 357,432 367,572 — — 10.140 2.7 Timber: » Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Sup. ft. Inwards 32,008,990 27.(128.113 4.380.877 15.8 — —• Outwards 1,416,786 1,045,188 371,598 35.5 — Totals 33,423,776 28,073,301 4,752,475 16.5 __ — Oils in bulk: Tons. Tons Tons. p.c. Tons. p.c. Inwards 163.957 21S.S12 —— — 54,855 2.J.0 Outwards 125.168 121.639 o,«)29 2,9 — — Transhipped 21,324 37,740 ... ■ — 16,416 43.4 310,419 373,191 — — 67,742 17.9 . w Tonnage of all classes handled at the port: Inwarus6.1 (al British and foreign .... th) Australian 367,271 93,623 531.595 130.094 32,676 36 471 28.0 (cl Coastal 408,(100 110.018 28.648 6.5 — Total inwards .1,129,500 1,104.707 24,853 2.2 .— — Transhipped— 13,584 16.7 (a) British and foreign ...... (17,319 12,241 217,905 80,903 10.459 '219,617 .. — (b) Australian 1,782 17.0 — (c) Coastal — 1,712 0.7 ... — Total' transhipped 297,405 ’ 310,979 — — 13,514 4.3 Outwards— 4,649 3.1 (a) British and foreign 153.171 48,957 245,788 148.522 50.492 ”45,758 — (h) Australian — 1,535 3.0 (cj Coastal 30 0.01 — —— ——. Total outwards 447,910 444,772 3.144 0.7 Tidal inwards, outwards and 14,483 0.7 transhipped 1,874,941 1,860,458 Manifest tonnage: Transhipments included in im969 0.0 ports as well as in exports .. 2,172,406 2,171,437 — —