OVERSEAS TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1922, Page 4

OVERSEAS TRADE.

ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. CHAMBER OF CO'* lERCE VISIT PORT DI. .SON. The members of the council of the Taranaki Chamber <- Commerce were the guests of Captain Hutchinson, of the Port Denison, on that vessel yes terday afternoon. The visitors were shown over the vessel, which i« the largest yet accommodated at Moturoa, and later sat down to afternoon tea with him. Captain West, Marine Superintendent in New Zealand for the C. and D. line, was also present. Before leaving the president of the Chamber (Mr. T. C. List) expressed the thanks of the Chamber for the hospitality extended tp the council, remarking that* they had witnessed that day the consummation that had evtr been before the people of Taranaki, viz., unloading goods direct from England, and loading produce from the province direct to the Old Country. The Chamber had been very glad to co-operate with the local agents (Messrs. Collett and Co., Ltd.) to obtain the minimum cargo required for the vessel to load for New Plymouth direct, and it hoped that this would be but the forerunner of a regular quarterly, if not more frequent, service between the United Kingdom and Taranaki.

He reminded the captain that the province was a particularly productive one, whilst much of it had yet to be brought into production, and in a few years time at the present rate of progress the trade would assume considerable proportions.

Captain Hutchinson said it had been a pleasure to meet 'die Chamber and rhow the members a little hospitality, for he had heard it was a live body and had strongly supported the efforts of Messrs. Collett and Co., Lid., in getting cargo for his .vessel. He had not ’seen much of the province, but he had seen sufficient to appreciate its possibilities from a trade point of view. Mr. E. P. Webster spoke appreciatively of the splendid services rendered by Messrs. Collett and Co., to -whom the whole province was indebted for the coming of the Port Denison, a fine ship, and he particularly "eferrod to the activities of Mr. J. R. Cruickshank, with whom the Chamber had been delighted to co-operate. Mr. Cruickshank acknowledged the help this direct shipment had received from the Chamber, whom, he assured Captain Hutchinson, was a particularly enthusiastic body, whose hearts were in the development of the resources and trade of the province. They all had faith in their province, and particularly in its harbor, which all were anxious to improve. Mr. Arthur Humphries also spoke.

Mr. S. W. Shaw said they were greatly indebted to Capiain West for bringing such a large and fine vessel as the Port Denison into New Plymouth. He had as Marine Superintendent been a good friend of the port. Captain West said the people of New Plymouth and the- province of Taranaki generally believed in and worked for their port, and they deserved every help and encouragement. It was a district worth working for: he knew of no finer in the Dominion, nor one having a better future. He paid a tribute to the work of Captain lyaller (harbormaster), one of the greatest assets the port had. ('.Hear, hear). All marine men had great faith in the judgment of Captain Waller. He looked forward to big things for New Plymouth as a port, and the erection of a new wharf would help considerably. Later the party witnessed the loading of butter, thousands of boxes being carefully stowed away. The day before the discharge of the inward cargo had been completed, and the loading of dairy produce from all parts of the province and frozen meat from Waitara and Patea was significant of the part the port was playing and would continue to play in ever increasing measure ia the future development of the trade of Taranaki.