TRADE OF THE PORT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 13

TRADE OF THE PORT

Satisfactory Total REVIEW OF PAST YEAR Decrease Expected A total of 61,261 tons increase in the trade of the port of Wellington, or 2.8 per cent., during the year ended September 30, as compared with the preceding year, was reported to the Wellington Harbour Board at its meeting last evening by Mr. J. Marchbanks, general manager. In view of the conditions existing in the second half of the year the total trade was very satisfactory, it was stated, but it might be pected that there would be a very marked decrease in the present year, which would continue until prices improved. A record tonnage of vessels was reported. The net registered tonnage of vessels arriving at the port increased from 3.644,487 tons to .3,839.810 tons, an increase of 195,323 tons, or 5.4 per cent., which is a record for the port, the report stated. A large portion of this ■increase was occasioned by the greater use made of the port by. whaling ships with their chasers on their voyages to and from the Antarctic. There is also a small increase in the average size of vessels arriving,. the average tonnage of vessels in 1929 being 119 b tons, and in 1930 1217 tons. General goods Imports decreased from 627 918 tons to 560.886 tons, or by 61.064 tons, or 10.7 per cent. Nearly the whole of the decrease occurred in the second halt of the year, and the decrease, which is still continuing, may be expected to last until prices for produce recover or until a new balance is reached. English and foreign imports decreased by 62,516 tons, or 16.7 per cent., and coastal and Australian by 4546 tons, or 1.8 per cent. There was a slight increase in general cargo transhipments, the figures being 136,583 tons in 1929, and 142,528 tons this year. Large Imports of rails for the Government had the effect of increasing the tonnage and cannot be taken as a criterion. General Cargo Exports. General cargo exports showed an increase of 19,738 tons. The totals were in 1929 225,243 tons, and in 1930 244,981 tons. The increase was due to large quantities of fruit, frozen meat, and butter exported, but there was a slight decrease in cheese. The bulk ot the increase was to English and foreign .ports, which amounted to 13,132 tons, or 16.8 per cent., and is satisfactory. Wool outwards decreased by 34,205 bales, the totals being 195,526 bales in 1929, and 161,261 bales this year, a decrease of 17.5 per cent. This was caused by the large quantity of wool unsold and held back last season. A fair proportion of this wool should be shipped during the coming season; and will improve the returns. Hemp and tow also showed a decrease, the figures being 48.332 bales In 1929, and 39,124 bales in 1930, a drop of 9208 bales, or 19.1 per cent. Butter and cheese and frozen meat to foreign ports only, including transhipments, totalled 97,359 tons for the year, compared with 90,952 tons for .the previous year, an increase of 6107 tons, or 7.0 per cent. Frozen meat Increased from 31,717 tons to 36,398, or 14.8 per cent.; butter increased from 15,681 tons to 18,280 tons, or 16.6 per cent.; while cheese decreased from 43,554 tons to 42,681 tons, or 2 per cent. The exports of butter; cheese and frozen meat, while showing a substantial increase over the last three years, were still slightly below the 1a26 figures. Cool, Timber and OH. The total tonnage of coal imported and transhipped last year was 380,210 tons as compared with 357,432 tons in 1929; an increase of 22,778 tons, or 6.4 per cent. Coal passing --over the wharves and paying wharfage increased by 18,139 tons, or 12.8 per cent., and Government coal exempt from wharfage increased by 13,757 tons, or 15.4 per cent., while coal transhipped overside decreased by 9118 tons. The quantity of timber imported was 28,315,249 super feet, a decrease of 3,693,741 super feet, or 11.5 per cent. Timber outward totalled only 1,720,377 feet, which was slightly greater than the previous year. There was a large increase in the quantity of bulk oil pumped at the port, the figures being 365,775 tons as compared with 310,449 tons last year, an increase of 55,326 tons, or 17.8 per cent. Oil inward was 216,543 tons compared with 163,9u7 tons, an increase of 52,580 tons, or 32.1 per cent. Oil transhlpped/was 38,010 tons, an increase of 16,686 tons, or 78.2 per cent., while oil outward decreased by 13,946 tons. It is anticipated that there will be a decrease in the quantity of bulk oil landed during the coming year. The total tonnage of all classes of Inward cargo handled at the 1,163,804 tons, as compared with 1,L.9,0bU tons, au Increase of 34,244 tons, or 3 per cent. Transhipments increased from 2973®5 tons to 310,007 tons, or by 12,042 tons, or 4 2 per cent. Outward cargo increased by 1933 tons, or 0.4 per cent. The total manifest tonnage for the year was 2,233,607 tons as 2,172,406 tons, an increase of 61,-61 tons, 8 view C of the conditions existing In the second half of the year, the total trade was very satisfactory,” added the report, “but It may be expected that there will oe . very marked decrease in the presenyear, will continue until prices improve.” __________