OVERSEAS TRADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 9

OVERSEAS TRADE

SHIPS FOR EUROPE AN INTERESTING ANALYSIS [ Special “Chronicle” Service. J WELLINGTON, March 23. An attempt to obtain a regular direct service between the Dominion and chief ports of the Continent of Europe has been made recently, but with no success. The effort came from M. Armand Nihottc, the Consul for Belguim who wished the service to be I between Antwerp, the great Belgian 'port and New Zealand direct, but the Overseas {Shipowners’ Committee has refused his request. The Committee’s Statement is that ships are sent from New Zealand to European ports direct whenever this is necessary. An examination of the figures of the Dominion’s exports, however, reveals a different position. The trade of New Zealand with European countires is much larger than is generally appreciated- The following official figures show how much produce sent from the Dominion to London was re-exported from 1921 to 1925: Year £ 1921 2,700,000 1922 4,699,000 1923 5,443,000 1924 7,300,000 1925 7,426,000 Practically all this, states the official report, went to th© continent of Europe. Thus it will be seen that our trad-e with Europe through London has grown by almost 200 per cent in four years, and while the 1926 figures are not yet available it is stated that they are expected to reveal a further increase. Most of the European trade, of course, is wool. The following figures give the total value of our wool exports for the years 1922-26 and th© amount which was destined for Europe and included in the re-exports given

The shipowners state that there has been no request from European shippers for direct carriage of the exports from New Zealand to European ports. It is inferred by them that the exports are small, but it will be seen by the above figures that in 1924 continental buyers took over one third, and in 1925 over one-quarter of the total wool exports. In addition to onequarter of our wool exports in 1925 they took 2| millions of other goods. It is hoped that the lines trading with our Dominion will modify theif programme to permit of a trial of a regular direct service at least during the wool season. If it proves that the difficulties of shipment are too great no harm will be done. Meantime, however, Mr Nihotte intends to attempt to i- luce other lines to enter the New ealand trade.

above:— Year Total Ex. Euro. Ex. £ £ 1922 11,882,000 2,790,000 1923 10,901,000 15,267,000, 1,103,000 1924 5,467,000 1925 17,739,000 4,749,000 1926 11,830,000 Not Avail-