BRITISH SHIPPING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 7

BRITISH SHIPPING

SHARP DROP IN TEN YEARS OTHER NATIONS EXPANDING MORE OIL FUEL USED Some surprising facts about Britain's shipping position are disclosed in the statistical tables of Lloyd's Register Book for 1936-37, which contains a detailed record of merchant vessels throughout the world. The tables show that during the past ten years Britishowned shipping has shrunk by 2,122,000 tons, while in the same period nearly every other country has largely added to its merchant fleet, Norway by as much as 1,436,000 tons and Germany by 702,000 tons. Since 1014 there has been a net decrease in British tonnage of 1,709,000, or 9 per cent, whereas the aggregate increase abroad represents more than 76 per cent of foreign-owned shipping in 1914.

The Daily Telegraph states that from the viewpoint of national defence these figures are very disturbing, showing that Britain has nearly 1,750,000 tons less shipping to-day than in 1914, though she has become much more dependent on imported foodstuffs and raw materials. In 1901 Britain owhed just over 50 per cent of tho world's tonnage. In 1914 her percentage was 41.6. It has now fallen to 26.8. As all authorities agree that tho mercantile marine is as vital to national defence as the Navy, the significance of these figures need not bo stressed.

Lloyd's Register points out that the present century has witnessed phenomenal development in tho world's carrying fleets, power-driven tonnage having increased from 24,000,000 tons in 1901 to 64,000,000 in the current year. Since the war sailing tonnago has declined by 2,900,000 tons, and is now less than 2 per cent of tho world's total.

The growing dependence of shipping on oil fuel is clearly shown. In 1914 only 3.1 per cent of world shipping used oil, whereas tho present percentage is nearly 50. In tho same period coalburning tonnage has decreased by 12,000,000. Compared with foreign fleets, the British mercantile fleet is fairly modern and up-to-date. Nearly 10 per cent of her tonnage is less than five year old, and 59 per cent is under 15 years of ago. Of existing foreign tonnage, only 36.3 per cent is bciow tho 15-year mark.

DUNLOP-PERDRIAU YEAR £50,000 TO RESERVE FUND PROFIT HIGHEST SINCE 1930 Further details of tho accounts of the Dunlop-Perdriau Rubber Company, Limited, Melbourne, for the year ended Juno 30, show that it is proposed to transfer £50,000 to general reserve, raising that account to £150,000. This is tho first allocation to tho reserve fund sinco 1929. Results compare as follows: lfm 1035 i n.'io £ .C £ Brought forward 47,348 53,004 81,010 Net profit .. 287,0-20 143,016 3<;.~>,050 335,277 107,010 380,690 Tax reserve . . General reservo Dividends— Frrf., 10 p.c. 03,000 03.000 93.000 Ord., p.c, .. 5 r> Amount ISS.'JK.I Carried forward 53,904 81,010 55,407 The net profit of £305.680 is the highest reported since 1930. WOOL SUBSTITUTES EXHIBITION AT LEIPZIG CLAIMS FOR NEW VARIETIES LONDON, August 30 Tho Daily Telegraph's Leipzig correspondent savs new types of artificial wool made from cellulose products of the German Dye Trust were shown for the first time at the autumn fair. Whereas existing artificial wools can bo used 011I3' when mixed with a large proportion of sheep's wool, "Lanusa," one of the new varieties, can bo used alone for men's suits. This, and a variety known as "Vistra XT," are claimed to be equal to wool in most respects. They will be turned out by seven State-assisted factories by the end of the year. Chemists claim that tho new w°°l ' s 30 per cent cheaper than pure wool, but the latter in Germany is 30 to 40 per cent above the world market prices.

! C. J. GREEN'S MONTHLY REPORT I C. .J. Green, Limited, stock and sharebroker, reports the following I sales for August:—Government securities: Bonds, 16/1/37-40, 4, £101; | 35/?.' 13-4G, 4, £lO3 15s, £lO3 10s. Debenture..: Amalgamated Brick (Auckland.)j 6, £lOl 10s, £102; New Zealand Dairyfarm Mortgage Company, £!()(); Public Mutual Insurance, 8, £lO3. Miscellaneous shares: Allen Taylor (cum div.), 7s .'id (ex div.), (is 3d; Associated Motorists, prof., 2(is Od (3), 275; Auckland Farmers' Freezing (20s paid), 225; (£5 paid), £5 ss; Auckland Gas, 235; (odd lot), 22s Gd; Hank of New Zealand, 30s 3d, 30s (id, 30s Od, 30s lOd, 40s; "D" mortgage, 28s; .Broken Hill Proprietary, 74s Gd, 745; Commercial Bank 18s sd: Granwells (Australia), 38s 6(1, 38s; Dominion Breweries, prcf., 28s Od, 30s Gd; ord., 275, 27s Id, 27s 3d, 27s 6d, 27s 10.1. 28s, 28s Gd, 20s 3d, 20s Gd, 28s Od, 20s; (cum. rights), 30s, 30s Gd, 30s lid. 31s 1d,.3.1s Gd; (ex rights), 30s id, 20s Od, 30s; rights, 38 parcels, from 5s to Gs G(i; Dunlop-Perdriaii, 18s 2d; Klcctrol.vtic Zinc, ord., 41s 3d; Fanners' Co-operative Auctioneering (£2 paid), 20s Gd; Farmers' Trading, 20s, 10s Gd, 10s, 18s lid; C prcf., 20s; G. .J. Coles, 82s Gd, 70s, 78s Gd, 80s, 8 ls ; Bls 3d, 83s Od, 70s 3d, 70s, 70s Gd, 70s, 70s Od, 80s, 80s 3d, 80s; liarvie Oil Turbine, 14s Gd, 15s; Kauri Timber, 24s sd; M.K. Millinery (fully paid), 51s Gd; (10s paid), 38s Gd; Mort's Dock (cum. div.), lis Id, Lis 2d, lis; (ex div.), 10s 3d; 10s 4d, 10s 5d 10s Gill; National Tobacco, Gss. Gss Gd; New Zealand Farmers' Fertiliser (ex div.)| 20s Gd, 20s, 10s Od; Now Zealand Perpetual Forests, 58s Gd, 50s, 58s 10d, 50s Gd; New Zealand ; Woolpack and Textiles, 4s (id; Renown ! Collieries, 13s Od, 13s lOd, 13s lid; | Selfridges (Australia), 25s 7d, 25s Id; Smith's Newspapers, prof., 17s; Siiknit (New Zealand), 40s, 38s (id; South Westland Instates, lis; Wairnkei (ex div.), 4s Gd; Wilsons Cement, 38s Gd; Wool worths (Svdnev), £5 15s, £5 16s Od, £5 18s Gd, £5 19s, £o 10s Gd; second prcf. (ex div.), 25s Od; (New I Zealand), £5 6s (id, £5 ss, £5 Gs, £5 7s Gd, £5 Bs, £5 0s 4Jd; Yarrn Falls, ! 40s, >'i!)s Od Mining: Emperor, lGs; j (•olden Crown. Is od, Is 8 A (1, Is Gd, 4s 3d; King Solomon; Is 2d; (six weeks forward), Is Id; Komata Reefs. 5s 6d; Martha, 18s Gd, 10s ljd; Mount I,yell, 28s, 28s IOAd, 20s, 28s lid; Mount Morgan, lis sd, Ms, 13s lid. 12s Od, 13s; Mount Morgan Developments, 2s Id, Is 10d; Placer Development, £5; Skippers, Id, -tid; Tavua Developments, 2s 2d.