INCREASED TRADING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 7

INCREASED TRADING

PORT OF, NEW PLYMOUTH

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS HIGHER.

MUCH MORE FERTILISER LANDED.

POSSIBLE REDUCTION IN RATES.

Substantial increases in the trade at the port of New Plymouth for the six months ending on March 31, 1935, compared with the same period ending on March 31, 1934, were shown in a comprehensive statement submitted to the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday by the chairman, Mr. C. E., Bellringer. The increase • hi the number of ships calling at the port was 34 and the increase in the total trade was from 81,254 tons to 88,997 tons. Imports and exports both showed large increases. The possibility of a rate reduction next season was indicated. The total gross tonnage of the 193 ships which visited New Plymouth this year was 447,086, compared with 407,455 tons. The total was made up of 38 overseas vessels, 11 intercolonial and 144 coasta. ships, increases of four, three and 27 respectively. The overseas trade showed an increase of 7073 tons, the.total for 1935 being 57,328 tons, but the coastal trade showed a decline of 23 tons on the 1934 period. The intercoloriial trade was 3313 tons this year, compared with 2620 tons for the same period last year. The imports showed an increase from 46,860 tons to 52,208 tons, and the exports from 34,394 to 36,789. Although there was a decrease of 547 tons in cheese exports, there were substantial increases in both butter and meat. There was a slight increase in the wool exported, but tallow, hides and sundries all showed decreases. Butter and meat expdrts accounted for an increase of 1206 tons in the direct shipments.

An increase’from 11,584't0 14,648 tons was disclosed ■ in 1 the manure imports. Slag imported in 1934 was nil, while this year 1220 tons entered Taranaki through the port. Phosphates increased by 597 tens, but sulphur dropped from 2187 tons to 979. However, since the returns were compiled 1000 tons of sulphur were landed ex Sydney Maru. Other manures showed a 100 per cent, increase. - But for the loss of slag cargoes last year and the effect of the exchange, the board would not have had to collect the rate, Mr. Bellringer told the board. Benzine, etc. dropped from 4735 tons to 3581 tons.

Totals H. 584 14,648 Benzine, etc.: 1934, 4735 tons; 1935, 3581 tons. . .

A statement of the financial position of the board’s working for the half-year was submitted and showed. an increase of £3442 2s lid in the revenue account. Endowment rentals showed a slight increase, while additional revenue from land amounted to £66 17s 7d. The amount of harbour rates collected showed a decided decline from £20,21? 9s 6d to £16,450 13s 3d for 1935. Thus the increases from the other sources of revenue scarcely balance the deficit in the rates collected up to March 31, 1935. The revenue accounts for the two periods are:— . 1934 1935

Totals 49,948 3 8 49,647 0 7 The percentage of rates collected- was: 1931-32, 95 per cent.; 1932-33, 91 per cent.; 1933-34, 84 per cent. The figures for the half-year were very gratifying, said the chairman. The gross and net tonnages of the vessels showed an increase, while there was a definite increase in imports. Regarding the railway coal, upon which the board did not collect revenue, there was a decrease of approximately 4000 tons, so that the increase of 5348 tons was an increase in articles from which the board collected revenue. The position was most satisfactory, he said. When preparing the estimates last year it was generally thought that there would be a falling off in revenue, but

that was not the case. The total port revenue was £30,578 5s 3d, compared with £27,136 2s 4d for the same period of last year. The endowments rentals were very little less than last year, but land revenue was slightly up. This April would be much better than the same period of last year, he said. On the other hand he understood there were 60,000 less boxes of butter in store at this period than was the case last year. It was impossible to say what might happen in the next six weeks, but it was certain that April might assist tne board to hold its own for the next six months. The rates had come in exceedingly well. He was hopeful that the board would have so progressed and the revenue so increased that it would be possible to make a reduction in the rates next year.

The following are the comparative returns submitted to the board: 1934 1935 No. of vessels .... 159 193 tons. tons. / Gross tonnage .... 407,455 447,086 Net tonnage . 241,385 264,639 Imports 46,860 52,208 Exports ... 34,394 36,789 Total trade ... 81,254 88,997 , SHIPPING. 1934. Gross Net No. tonnage. tonnage. Overseas i. 34 299,535 184,618 Intercolonial ... 8 18,014 10,282 Coastal ........ 117 1935. 89,906 46,485 Gross Net No. tonnage. tonnage. Overseas 38 320,760 198,466 Intercolonial ... 11 22,201 12,318 Coastal ........ 144 104,125 53,855 TRADE. 1934 1935 Tons. Tons. Overseas . 50,255 57,328 Intercolonial ... . 2,620 3,313 Coastal . 28,379 28,356 OVERSEAS CARGO. 1934 , 1935 Tons. Tons. imports . 17,784 23,651 Exports . 32,471 33,677 Total trade . 50,255 57,328 DIRECT SHIPMENTS. 1934 Tons. 1935 Tons. Meat > 9,809 11,246 Butter 7,040 8,101 Cheese 13,611 13,064 Wool 331 380 Tallow .......... 600 231 Hides 539 511 Sundries 541 144 Total .. 32,471 33,677 MANURES LANDED. 1934 . Tons. 1935 Tons. Slag 1,220 Phosphates .. 7,354 7,951 Sulphur ......... ... 2,187 979 Other ... 2,043 4,498

£ s. d. £ s. d. Wharfage 10,251 0 3 11,623 5 10 Harbour improvement rate .... 8,015 10 3 9,196 9 10 Berthage 2,873 9 7 3,265 16 10 Warps and moorings 916 11 3 992 14 7 Fenders 34 2 0 . 40 17 0 Pilotage 2,753 10 9 3,092 6 11 Port charges .... 1,031 13 10 1,117 1 0 Water supplied . 360 11 3 358 8 9 Electric light .. 143 0 0 113 11 10 Cranage 507 5 7 515 5 4 Telephones ..... 24 5 0 34 5 0 Sundries 38 0 3 38 5 6 Sale of material 92 11 9 111 12 1 Hire of plant .. 39 10 2 13 5 3 Magazine fees .. 55 0 5 64 19 6 Endowment rent1,855 18 7 1,814 11 1 Land revenue .. 736 13 3 803 11 0 Harbour rates (amount coled) 20,219 9 6 16,450 13 3