THE TRADE OF THE PORT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 5

THE TRADE OF THE PORT

THE REASON FOR LAST YEAR’S DECREASE. OPINION OP MR HAROLD BEAUCHAMP. Interviewed yesterday regarding the decrease in the volume of cargo handled on the Wellington wharves during tho year ending September 30th last, Mr Harold Beauchamp mado a statement that holds tho recent policy of the Harbour Board in increasing shipping rates up to question. Mr Beauchamp, who is a member of the Board, said ho attributed tho decrease of goods handled on the, wharves to the increased shipping cl«rges instituted by tho Board about a year ago. Tho result of increased dues, especially in regard to transhipments, was that tho shipping companies were not making so much use of Wellington as a direct port as formerly. Whereas formerly they made tho greatest use of the port, it is now their endeavour to go past it with cargo as far as possible. He was not at all surprised at what had occurred, for it had turned out precisely as ho had hinted in his remarks when tho charges were discussed by tho Board. As member of a fipn (lianuatyne and Co.), who were agents for the Tysor Company, he could say that they had been influenced by tho increased dues in tho distribution of cargo, particularly in regard to transhipments. -While giving this as tho reason in tho decrease of imports and exports for tho past year, Mr Beauchamp was of opinion that the chock was only a temporary one in the progress of tho port's trade, and in the near future an expansion in tho volume of imports and exports might reasonably ho looked for. Still, he thought the expansion of oversea trade —more particularly imports and transhipments—would not grow as rapidly in proportion to tho general trado of tho colony as it would liavo done had the Harbour Board not imposed, about twelve months ago, such heavy additional burdens on shipping.