THE FBEIGHT JIAEKET POE 90 YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 14

THE FBEIGHT JIAEKET POE 90 YEARS

Strictly speaking it is not exactly the object of this column to delve into trade statistics, but, in view of tho immense part shipping has played and coutinues to play in the economic life of this country, it is not amiss to pass a casual, eye over a few relevant figures on the subject. While no one could possibly doubt the importance of niercaiitilo 'marine in New Zealand's history there is often a tendency to regard, with a regrettable neglect, the services wo have received from our shipping firms. When it is realised that in the course of 1853 a total of 467 ships visited and departed from this country, and that, ten years later, the figure had swollen to 2248, it will be seen how greatly Now Zealand's trade had increased even over that brief space of time.

For tho purpose of enlightening those who retain some interest in this perhaps rather cobwebby aspect of our history I have unearthed a batch of figures that may merit a moment's appreciative thought for those silent and faithful servants of ours—the mercantile marine. I have selected the following figures over five-yearly periods from IS4O to 1930, and, in lieu of precise totals for 1840 and 1830, have given .the Customs revenue for those years

i Tho first year in which tho Colony's exports exceeded her imports was in 1887,, when a total value of £6,551,081 worth- of. produce 'and gjld left this country, and £6,245,515 worth of goods w.as brought in. Since 1887 —and the

Responsibility for tho reversal may to sqme extent be laid at the door of increasing frozen meat exports—our imports havo exceeded our exports in-four '.years only—l9oß, 1911, 1920, 1926. Nineteen hundred and twenty was the peak year in. import history, and, since then, 1925 presents the largest import statistics.

Nineteen hundred and twenty-eight saw our export trade at its peak— £56,158,481 of goods being taken away by. overseas ships. 1929 (with £55,262,272), 1925, and 1919 (with £53,970,075) follow in th&t order of importance.

Down to tho last reluctant shilling all this wealth of trade has been carried by ships—hundreds of millions of pounds worth of goods conveyed to the world's markets. What this has involved in numbers of ships, cost of transport, and millions of nautical miles traversed may be left to the more ac-tive-minded section of our statisticians, but it is certain, that without the reliable service of our merchant marine New Zealand would have practically no history at all.

(By "Martingale")

Exports. Imports. £ £ 1S4O (£92li in Customs Revenue) IS45 ...... 76,911 116,980 1850. ....... (£, 43,012 In Customs Revenue) 1855 365,86" 813,460 1S.60 540,133 1,548,333 IS65 3,503.421 5,594,977 ]S70 4,541,632 .1,639,01.-, 1S75 5,475,841 S, 029,172 1SS0 ...... 0,102,300 6,162,011 1SS5 G,591,911 7.479,921 ISSIO : 9,428,761 U,260,525 1895 8.390,153 6,400;i29 1900 13,246.161 10,646,096 1905 15,G55,947 12,S28,S57 ■1910 22,1SO,2O9 17,051,58:) 1315 31,748,912 21,72S,831 1920 - 46,441.946 61,595,828 1925 55,262,272 52,456,407 1 1930 ......< 44,940,602 .43,025,914