TRADE OF THE PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18135, 6 July 1922, Page 8

TRADE OF THE PORT.

PROGRESS DURING 50 YEARS.

INTERESTING RECORDS. A number of very interesting diagrams illustrative of the progress and expansion lof the Port of Auckland have been prepared by Mr. W. H. Hamer, engineer to ! the Harbour Board. The revenue of the board is dealt with in one diagram which shows that in the I first year, ending in 1872, the total revenue was £12,498. Last year it was £278,363. The principal source of revenue, I import wharfage, contributed £4581 in 1872 and £79,568 in 1921. Rente in- ! creased from £1358 to £38,727, pilot dues from £1230 to £19,705, crane dues from £70 to £15,746, port charges from £446 to £14,292, and shipping wharfage from £1264 to £13,462. A particularly interesting item of increase, as showing the growth in the volume of exports, is the fact that in 1872 export wharfage accounted for only £93, while in 1921 it I was £12,167. Storage was responsible for £29,088 last year. The increase in the gross revenue since 1895 is depicted in a graph, together with the cost of maintenance, working expenses, interest, sinking funds, reserves and depreciation. The principal exports from Auckland are enumerated in a coloured diagram dealing with th«> period from 1903 to 1921. The fluctuation in the quantities of butter and cheese,, hides and skins, copra, kauri gum, meat and wool exI ported is indicated, the decline consequent upon th« war being particularly marked. Recovery commenced in 1916, and the quantities mounted up far above the former levels. Wool was the first to fall again, from about 12,000 tons in 1919 to just over 4000 tons in 1920, rising slightly in 1921. Meat fell from about 25,000 tons in 1920 to 17,000 tons in 1921, kauri gum from 33,000 tons to 20,000 tons, copra from 34,000 tons to 24,000 tons, and hides and skins from 38,000 tons to 28,000 tons. Butter and cheese are the only exports that have maintained an unchecked increase from 1916, the quantity in that year being 40,000 tons and in 1921 70,000 tons. The distribution of trade forms the subject of another diagram. The imports in 1921 were valued at £14,677,000, of which £6,407,000 came from the United Kingdom, £2,507,000 from the United States, €2,122,000 from Australia, and £1,909,000 from Fiji. The exports were of the value of £11,943,000, of which £9,773,000 went to the United to the United States, and £5797)00 to Australia,