TRADE OF PORT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 100, 25 October 1934, Page 7

TRADE OF PORT

GENERAL IMPROVEMENT

REPORT TO HARBOUR BOARD

A general improvement on last year, which was the lowest for some years, is shown.in the summary of statistics for the twelve months ending September 30 last, presented to the Harbour Board by the General Manager Qlr. A. G. Barnett) last night. ".Exports continue to increase," said Mr. Barnett, "while imports, although still small, show an improvement. The net registered tonnage ot vessels arriving remained about the same as last year, the figures being 3,053,110 tons, as compared with 3.00-2,7(54 tons. General cargo imports increased from 31G.918 tons to 371,9a6 tons, or by 55,038 tons, or 17.4 per cent. Transhipments also show an increase, the figures being 115,092 tons, compared with 103/357 tons, an increase of 12.305 tons, or 11.9 per cent. "Exports of general cargo continue to increase, the totals being this year 258,506 tons, compared with 232,069 tons, an increase of 20,797 tons, or 11.5 per cent. Wool shows a further increase, the quantity for 1934 being 234,107 bales, as against 221,604 bales in 1933, an increase of 12,503 bales, or 5.6" per cent. Hemp and tow this year show a decrease of 3039 bales, or 20.5 per cent. The total shipped this year was 14,124 bales, which is considerably below the exports of former years. "Butter, cheese, and frozen meat shipped to British and foreign ports totalled 122,030 tons, compared with 111,211 tons in the year preceding, an increase of 10.3 per cent. The principal increase was in frozen meat, which amounted to 7451 tons, or 10.5 per cent. Butter increased from 20,734 tons to 23,375 tons, or by 12.7 per cent., whilst there was also an increase in the quantity of cheese shipped of 1327 tons, or 2.9' per cent. ''The total tonnage of coal increased from 209,001 tons to 223,944 tons, or by 11,943 tons, or 5.7 per cent. Timber imports show an increase of 127.6 per cent., hut the total Ognres are still well below normal times. This year's imports were 5,155,174 super feet. The exports of timber haveincreased by 33.9 per cent. Bulk oil inwards, outwards, and transhipped increased from 314,391 tons to 344,993 tons, or by 30,002 tons, or 9.7 per cent. "The total tonnage of all classes of cargo handled inwards, outwards, and transhipped this year was 1,452,270 tons, as compared with 1,292,576 tons, an increase of 159,700 tons, or 12.4 per cent. The manifest tonnage, which includes transhipments outwards as well as inwards, was 1,640,774 tons, which is 172,582 tons above last year, an increase of 11.8 per cent. "It will be seen that both the imports and exports have increased, and it is hoped that during the coming year trade will show a further improvement."