GROWTH OF TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1921, Page 5

GROWTH OF TRADE.

LINERS FOR NEW PLYMOUTH. FIVE DUE IN PORT SOON. NECESSITY FOR MORE BERTHAGE. The growth of the trade of Taranaki’s deep sea port at New Plymouth will be strikingly illustrated towards the end of this month, when the Harbor Board will he faced with the problem of finding berthing space for four ocean liners, besides the routine coastal shipping. With only one overseas berth at their disposal the difficulty presented promises to be greater than any yet met by the board. The four liners—the Port Hacking, the Waimate, the Liberty and the Port Pirie —are all due from various overseat* ports at about the same time, and a fifth vessel, the Australcrag, from Antwerp with a cargo of about 3000 tons, is due to arrive early in May. The Port Hacking will load 9000 freight carcases of meat from the Smart Road Freezing works and probably a quantity from Waitara, and the Waimate will lift 6700 carcases from the Smart Road works, afterwards proceeding to Waitara to take in further frozen cargo. The Port Pirie is bringing general cargo from the United Kingdom and will lift 200 cases of tallow, while endeavors are beihg made to secure an allotment of span# for meat. From New York with benzine to discharge the American steamer Liberty is due also to- ' wards the end of £he month. The Australcrag, it is understood, is bringing a total cargo of about 3000 tons, consisting chiefly of basic slag from Antwerp, but it is anticipated that the port will be clear of overseas shipping before the vessel arrives here early in May. Speaking in regard to the shipping position to a Daily News representative last night, a gentleman closely connected with the work of the port stated that’ it was particularly unfortunate that at the present time, when such a large amount of shipping was offering, that (here was not more berthage available to provide accommodation for the various companies’ ships. In our informant’s opinion, the most urgent work at present in regard to harbor work was to bring the present partially completed breakwater extension to its permanent level and then to proceed with the erection of an additional overseas berth, probably involving the building of a new wharf. He was keenly optimistic in his references to the future of the port, and said that no efforts should be spared to < gain the confidence of the shipping companies. He emphasised,the advantages and growing popularity of Plymouth as a distributing centre for the West Coast of the North Island, especially for coal, manure, and case oil. Referring to the abnormal amount of shipping visiting the port in the near future he said that every effort would be made to provide accommodation, but he feared that some delay must occur in despatching the vessels.