TYNE’S GROWING TRADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1930, Page 3

TYNE’S GROWING TRADE

LACK OF IDLE VESSELS'. That, the steadily rising trade of the Tyne has been well maintained was revealed at a recent meeting of the 'Tyne Improvement Commission, which, as is usual in the holiday season, had not met for two months. Coal, shipments in ihe past eight months totalled 13.037,020 tons, or 2,494.238 tons higher than in the corresponding period last year; the revenue from dues shows a. substantial increase ami there are practically no idle ships in the Tyne. The chairman of the board. Sir Wil liain J. Noble, Bart., who' has recently paid a brief visit to Canada, presided. Mr Francis Piiesfman, ch<iinnnn of the Finance Committee, staled that Ihe increased trade of the first hall' of (he year had been well maintained. I he river dues for July and August showed an increase of £ll,OOO over the corresponding months last year. Coal and coke, shipments would have been larger if more tonnage had been available. The Docks Commitlee reported that the coal am] coke shipments from the

Tyne imAugust and July were 3,543,382 tons as compared with 2,765,527 tons in the corresponding months last year, an increase of 777.855 tons. In the first eight months of the year 621 vessels shipped 455,877 tons of coal bunkers as compared with 593 vessels and 555,833 tons in the corresponding period last year —an increase of 28 vessels but a decrease of 89.956 tons. The Ferries Sub-Committee of the Harbour and Ferry Committee reported upon a suggested new combined passenger and vehicular ferry boat for ihe North ami South Shields service, and staled (hat Messrs Philip and Son, 1,1 d.. Dartmouth, whose tender bad been provisionally accepted, including a stipulation I>\ Ihe Unemployment Hrants Committee that orders of not less I han £17.000 for materials should be placed with firms in the, north-east coast area, had intimated that they were unable to comply with this stipulation. The position had been placed before the Unemployment Grants Committee, who intimated that, in the circumstances Hie. promise of. a. grant in aid must be withdrawn. In the- absence, of Mr IL S. Dalgleish, who is in Alaska, Mr Everett

proposed the adoption of the Docks and Trade and Commerce Committee report, which recommended an. extension of the transit shed at the Riverside Quay, Albert Edward .Dock, at an estimated cost of £20.735. The proposed extension had been approved for grant purposes by the Unemployment Grants Committee. The traflic at the quay was developing, the estimated merchandise of 20.000 tons for the past year in respect of the Norwegian mail and passenger steamers having reached 47.000. The proposal was carried. Sir William Noble referred to ihe recent application of the London and North Eastern Railway Company to increase their dock dues percentage on pre-war rates, and isaid the decision of the Railways’ Committee was not as satisfactory as the commission would have liked. The latter had hoped in persuade ihe committee to make the increase not more than 40 per cent., but the committee had decided to make a uniform increase of 60 per cent.