TRADE OF THE PORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21167, 27 April 1932, Page 13

TRADE OF THE PORT.

HALF-YEAR CARGO RETURNS. DECREASE OF 18 PER CENT. SECOND PERIOD IMPROVEMENT. A decline of 160,636 tons in the total amount of cargo handled at the port Auckland for the first six months of the current financial year to March 31, compared with the total of 876,940 tons handled during the corresponding period in 1930-31, was reported to the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday by the superintendent and secretary, Mr. 11. B. Burnett. The decrease is equivalent to 18.32 per cent., but Mr. Burnett stated in his report that, in spite of the decline, a decided improvement had been noted in the returns for the current year during January, February and March, compared with those in the first quarter. Mr. Burnett said the percentages of decrease for the first quarter of the current year ended December 31, and the half-year ended March 31, compared with the position in the corresponding periods of the previous year, were as follows: — Quarter. Half-year. Inward cargo . . 33.32 p.c. 21.92 p.c. Transhipments . . 15.12 p.c. 43.08 p.c. Outward cargo . 7.15 p.c. 4.19 p.c. Total decreaso . 26.G9 p.c. 18.32 p.c. Mr. Burnett pointed out that the only branch of cargo which showed a greater decline, instead of an improvement, in the second quarter, comprised transhipments. The heavy decrease shown for the half-year was accounted for by the abnormal transhipments which were experienced in March, 1931, as agajnst March of the present year, owing to the cargo discharged at Auckland from the motor-vessel Ilauraki after grounding at Now Plymouth. During the half-year, 716,304 tons of cargo wero handled, as against 876,940 tons during the corresponding period in 1930-31. The half-yearly figures for the several divisions of cargo, and the decreases shown, wero as follows: 1930-31. 1931-32. Decrease , Tons. Tons. Per cent. Inward cargo . . 630,653 492,443 21.92 Transhipments . 30.613 17,24 2 43.68 Outward cargo . 215,674 206,019 4.19 An increase of 26,657 tons in the amount of inward cargo handled was shown during January, February and March, in comparison with the position during the first quarter of the current year, but thero were decreases of 1734 tons and 1003 tons in transhipments and outward cargo respectively.

DECREASES IN SHIPPING. RETURNS FOR LAST MONTH. A decrease in the tonnage of shipping at Auckland during March, compared with tho corresponding month last year, was reported to the Auckland Harbour Board at its meeting yesterday by the harbourmaster, Captain 11. H. Sergeant. Tho harbourmaster said 519 vessels, including 452 local coastal, of a gross tonnage of 350,528 and a net tonnage of 206,100, arrived, the departures being 529 vessels, including 459 local coastal, of 349.842 gross tons and 203,946 net tons. Compared with the figures for March, 1931, the returns for oversea merchant shipping showed a decrease of nine vessels of 80,219 gross tons and 50,698 net tons. While there were decreases also in large coastal and local coastal shipping, the intercolonial shipping showed an increase of two vessels of 24,079 gross tons and 14,752 net tons.