PORT TRADE DECLINES

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 2

PORT TRADE DECLINES

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED DECREASE IN OVERSEAS IMPORTS. BUTTER AND MEAT EXPORTS RISE. A decrease of 7707 tons in the overseas imports and a decrease in the cheese exports of 26,450 crates are the principal factors contributing, to a decrease of 6028 tons in the total cargo handled at the port of New Plymouth during the harbour board’s year, which ended on September 30. There was a considerable decrease in the imports of slag. Butter and meat exports show an increase of 30,706 tons of .butter and 75,825 freight carcases of meat. The coastal trade, although less, was practically the same as it was in the previous years. Overseas ships calling at the port this year were six fewer than last year, there being 59 with an aggregate tonnage of 506,763, compared with 65 with a tonnage of 556,919. There were 72 ships in the peak year of 1929. Altogether 337 vessels visited the port compared with 343 last year, the numbers of coastal vessels (262) and intercolonial traders (16) were the same for both years. The total aggregate tonnage of vessels calling at the port was 784,952 in 1933 and 730,405 in 1934. The decline of 6643 tons for/the total overseas trade at the port during this year compared with that of last year is on the whole due to the Contraction in the amount of imports. With the recent economic conditions it was only to be expected that imports would decrease heavily. The outstanding feature of the export trade this year was the increase of 30,706 boxes of butter. The total was 405,679 boxes, compared with 374,973 for the previous period. Meat exports also improved, there being an increase of 75,825 freight carcases.. The total was 645,296 freight carsases. On the other hand the manufacture of cheese for export purposes decreased by 26,450 crates, the total exportation being 260,365 crates. Shipments of butter to London and west coast ports were respectively approximately 16,000 and 18,000 boxes more than last year. The decrease in cheese exported to London was 21,321 crates. Overseas imports for 1933 were 43,321 tons, compared • with 35,614 tons for 1934, a decrease of 7707 tons. The following table gives an indication of the comparative trade of the past eight years:— ** ...

No meat figures for previous years are available. The figiires prior to and inclusive of 1932 are for the calendar year, January-December, while the 1933 and 1934 figures are for the Harbour Board’s financial years ending September 30. Broadly speaking, the position pf the fcoastal trade Was very satisfactory. Although a decrease of 4070 tons was recorded in connection with the amount of Government cargo handled the decrease oh all cargo was only 455 tons. The decrease of Government cargo was brought about by the increased demand for northern coals for steam purposes. This coal is brought overland. Last year Government cargo to the extent of 17,936 tons was imported, while 13,866 tons entered the port during th? last 12 months.

A pleasing feature of the returns is the increase in intercolonial trade. Although the number of intercolonial vessels to visit the port was the same as last year the cargo handled showed an increase of 1070 tons. The aggregate tonnage was <4504 more than last year. A total of 22,226 tons of manures was imported through the port during the year. A comparison With last year’s figures discloses a decrease of 4066 tons. The principal feature contributing to the decrease is the wholesale collapse of the slag trade. Whereas in 1933 10,324 tons were imported for use bnTaranaki farms only 550 tons entered the province through the port. Economic conditions have nd doubt brought about the dimunitibn in the demand for slag. This is reflected in the increased importations of phosphate, Which is responsible for over two-thirds, of the total manure imports. Sulphur has also met with a greater demand, while other hnanures are oVer 900 tons in excess of last year’s figures. t In the following details the past two harbour board years are given for comparison:—

TOTAL OVERSEAS TRADE. Year. Tons. 1925 65,122 1926 87,256 1927 95,627 1928 99,966 1929 108,471 1930 .... 99,066 1931 .... 95,468 1932 ..... 94,308 1933 96,254 1934 .... 89,611 TOTAL OVERSEAS IMPORTS. Year. Tons. 1925 . v 46,348 1926 .... 58,681 1927 .... 61,387 1928 61.036 1929 .... 74,115 1930 55,843 1931 52,675 1932 .... 47,314 1933 43,321 1934 35,614 TOTAL OVERSEAS EXPORTS. Year. . .-Tons. 192518,744 1926 28,575 1927 34,240 1928 38,979 1929 '. 34,456 1930 .... 43,223 1931 42,793 1932 46,994 1933 52,933 1934 53,997 DIRECT BUTTER EXPORTS. Year. Box&s. 1925 59,166 1926 145,740 1927 221,314 1928 192,131 1929 s .... 225,661 1930 313,229 1931 310,859 1932 303,260 1933 374,973 1934 405,679 DIRECT CHEESE EXPORTS. Year. Crates. 1925 49,647 1926 128,924 1927 175,792 1928 200.972 1929 204,012 I960 235,230 1931 214,746 1932 259,505 1933 286,816 1934 ... 260,366 1 DIRECT MEAT EXPORTS. . Year. Carcases. 1930 .... 471,771 1931 484,555 z 1932 520,803 1933 569,471 1934 645,296

1933 1934 Slag ... 10,324 550 Phosphate ,.. 11,281 15,137 Sulphur ,.. 2,685 3,578 Other Manures ... ... 2,002 2,961 Totals .. 26.292 22,226 Decrease 4,066 tons.