IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1933, Page 9

IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE

THE PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH FIGURES FOR .PAST NINE MONTHS. INCREASE MAY NOT BE CONTINUED POSSIBILITIES OF NEXT QUARTER. An increase in practically every item of the trade and shipping returns’’of the port of New Plymouth during the period of nine months ended on June 30 is shown when the figures are compared with those for the corresponding period a year ago. The greater part of the increase occurred in the first six months of the Harbour Board’s year, but though there has been a falling off in imports during the last three months the increase in the total trade has been fairly well maintained. It was pointed out at yesterday’s meeting of tire board, however, that indications were that there would be decreases in the next three months, so that the year would not end with such a large increase. • At the end of six months the increase in the total trade was 7387 tons and at the end of nine months the increase was 8272 tons. Imports were still greater than they were for the corresponding period a year ago, but the increase was not as large as it was at the end of the board’s half-year last March. The increase in exports, however, was 5282 tons at the end of the nine months compared with an increase. of 2416 tons at the end of the half-year. Commenting on the position, Mr. Bellringer said the nine months’ figures still showed an increase in the total trade of the port. Imports were up, but it must be remembered that there had been some extremely good months early in the board’s year. From the shipping lists for July, August and September it did not appear as if the imports for those three months would be as large as for the corresponding period last year. “MIGHT BE MISLEADING.” Mr. Bellringer emphasised that though the figures for the board’s half-year had shown a big increase, the figures for only part of the season could not be taken into consideration in forming a reliable estimate of what the' whole year would bring forth. The figures for six months might be misleading and he did not want it to be thought that there was going to be a big increase all round at the end of the board’s year in September. There would probably be substantial decreases in some sections of the trade in ‘the next three months. Comparative returns for the two corresponding nine months periods are:— Summary.

The comparison of revenue for the two periods shows an increase of £20,705 5s 6d, of which £18,516 4s Id resulted from the rate struck, leaving a nett increase of £2567 4s 8d without the revenue from the rate. The increase is not as great as it wag at the end of the half-year. In the following comparative statement the figures for 193132 and for 1932-33 are given in that order:— Wharfage, £16,105 3s Ud, £16,337 19s 3d; harbour improvement rate, £12,614 Is lOd, £13,258 2s lid; berthage, £4169 Is 7d, £4684 6s 3d; warps, £1299 11s sd, £1424 2s lid; fenders, £45 18s, £54 3s; pilotage, £3754 0s 9d, £4159 10s 2d; port charges, £1296 5s lid, £1476 17s 3d; water, £397 15s 9d, £487 10s 9d; electric light, £224 3s, £313 2s lid; cranage, £623 5s 9d, £Bl9 12s lOd; Sundries, £321 14s 9d, £402 19s Id; total port revenue, £40,851 2s Bd, £43,418 7s 4d. Endowments, £2242 2s, £2043 3s 8d; land revenue, £795 17s 4d, £616.2s sd; rates, , £18,516 14s Id. Grand totals, £43,889 2s, £64,594 7s 6d.

1932. 1933. No. of vessels 217 245 'Gross tonnage • 561,560 615,033 Imports ....... 78,286 81,276 tons. tons. Imports '. 78,286 81,276 Exports 43,479 48,761 Total trade ... ....... 121,765 Trade. . 130,037 tons; tons. Overseas ..... 80;627 84,952 Intercolonial . ■ 2,355 3,914 Coastal 38,783 41,171 Overseas Cargo. Imports tons. tons. 40,800 39,902 Exports ...... 39,826 45,050 Total . . ; 80,626 84,952 Direct Shipments. tons. tons. .Meat 12,121 13,027 Butter ....... 7,021 8,750 Cheese 18,148 20,340 Wool : 482 457 Tallow ....... 751 919 Hides 635 794 Sundries ..... 669 763 Manures Landed. tons. ions. Slag ' 10,605 10.324 Phosphates .. 12,91211,281 Sulphur ..... 2,552 2,685 Other......... 1,530 1,977 - ■ 'l III —■ Totals ... 27,599 26,267 SHIPPING. 1931-32. No. Gross. Nett. Overseas .. . 53 435,136 266,534 Intercolonial . 9 . 18,310 9,478 Coastal .... . 155 108,114 1932-33. 34,591 Overseas .... . 53 457,424 281,922 Intercolonial . 12 23,754 12,794 Coastal . 180 133,855 73,863