TRADE OF THE PORT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1609, 28 November 1912, Page 6

TRADE OF THE PORT.

q — SUMMARY OF STATISTICS. "BUOYANT REVENUE" AND "A GOOD YEAR." Thero was presented to tho Harbour Boui'd at tho monthly meeting last night a summary of statistics of tho trado of tho port for the twclvo months ending September 30 last:— Tounago of General Goods passing over • Wharves. 1911-12. 1010-11. Tons. Tons. Inwards, foreign 165,625 168,250 Inwards, colonial and coastal 172,555 172,801 Transhipments (record) 151,256 1:18,755 Total (record) 489,410 479,806 Increase over previous year, 9610 tons, or 2 per cent. The total inwards foreign was affected by tho London dock strike- causing several cargoes to arrive too late for inclusion in tho year's returns. 1911-12. 1910-11. Tons. Tons. Outwards, foreign (record) 54,185 47,408 Outwards, colonial and coastal (record) 124,179 119,033 Total (record) 178,364 166,501 Increase over previous year, 11,863 tons, or 7.12 per cent. Wool and Hemp. 1911-12. 1910-11. _ , Hales. Bales. Wool 153,257 147,852 Hemp (record) 98,604 92,897 . Butter, Cheese, and Frozen Meat. ■• 1911-12. 1910-11. Tons. Tons. Butter ~.., •13,152 15,550 Cheese 22,638 '22,344 Frozen meat (record) ... 31,720 29,009 Coal. 1911-12. 1910-11. Tons. Tons. Over wharves and transhipped overside 502,499 477,712 Timber. 1911-12.- 1910-11. Inwards, super feet 11,607,640 13,602,341 Outwards, super feet 1,904,127 1,598,448 Vessel's Arriving (Not Register Tonnage). • Steamers. Sailers. No. T'n'ge. No. TVge. 1911-12 ... 3,287 3,075,714 69 11,668 1910-11 ... 3,533 2,980,139 104 18,065 The aggregate net register tonnage of arrivals, viz.—3,087,382 tons, constitutes a fresh record for the port. But for the lnying-up of many of the coastal fleet in the beginning of the financial year through the officers' dispute, tho figures would have been considerably higher. No credit is taken in the above return for men-of-war and other non-trading craft. Average registered tonnage of vessels arriving:—l9ll-12, 919 tons; 1910-11, 824 I tons; 1909-10, 832 tons; 1908-9, 840 tons; ' 1907-8, 829 tons; 190G-7, 798 tons; 1905-6, 735 tons. Mr. Fletcher said. he had never been able to see why steamers under contract to carry, mails for the Government should be free of harbour charges. It had always seemed to him a monstrous thing. It was time, ho thought, that harbour boards took sonie stand in regard', to this matter. Speaking of the statistics generally, he said that, on the whole, they were exceedingly satisfactory. Mr. J. G. Harkuess said the board was committed to an expenditure of ,£37,000 by December 31, 1913, which meant an increase of ,£2OOO a year in the interest bill. There did not seem to bo an increase in tho business to meet the liabilities falling upon the board. 'Mr. E. C. Eenner said he had foreseen the present state of things. He had seen that expenses wero being increased, and that the chances were that the board would sooner or later have to face the position disclosed by the figures—that the revenue was not rising proportionately to the expenses. Mr. Cohen: Wo have no data for that. Mr. Eenner: That is the case. Mr. Cohen: You can't tell it from this (indicating the list of statistics). Mr. Eenner contended that tho tonnage •of goods over the wharves was not increasing. Mr. Cohen: But it lias increased. Mr. Eenner: Only two iper cent. Mr. Fletcher:. No, that is not fair. That is only on one item. Mr. Eenner: Which is a very large part of the cargo. , y 'Mr. Fletcher said'the revenue was very buoyant, and the board had had a very good year.. : Mr. Daniell: I see there is an increase of 14 per' cent, in our foreign exports, and that should be a very encouraging circumstance to us.