SHIPPING TRADE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 29, 26 January 1933, Page 2

SHIPPING TRADE

AL L-R() LN D IN CREASE. SIGNS OF GROWING CONFIDENCE. WELLINGTON, Last Night The shipping and trade statistics for the port of Wellington for December, 1932, showed, for the first time for many months, an all-round increase. The returns were announced to the Harbour Board this evening by the chairman, Mr Norwood, in whose opinion they indicated that the country had gradually been gaining more confidence. He referred also to the newlyfixed exchange rate, saying that it was a pity that it should have Ireen brought into force. Harbour authorities throughout New

Zealand, he said, were going to face an anxious year. “The improvement in trade has been small, but it has a tendency to rise each month, and this month, leaving coal out of the order, we are up on all departments of the harbour's tradee,” said Mr Norwood. “The position is that the tonnage of trading vessels arriving increased by 23,501 tons net compared with the corresponding figures for the same month last year, while the gross tonnage of cargo increased by 17,749 tons. General cargo imports from coastal and inter-colonial ports increased by 1326 tons, while exports of butter and cheese increased by 986 tons and 1057 tons respectively. Oils in bulk show a large increase, while there is a decrease in the quantity of coal handled.

“This is probably the first month,” Mr Norwaad said, “in which we have increased all-round in every particular department, and it is undoubtedly one of the signs, I think, that the country is gradually gaining more confidence.”