LIVESTOCK TRADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 4, 26 July 1946, Page 8

LIVESTOCK TRADE

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS INDIVIDUAL VALUES HIGH The import and export trade in livestock has been-fully restored in volume to the level of the best prewar years. A table covering all classes of stock for the two years ended March 31, has been received from the Comptroller of Customs. Particulars are given of country of origin and of ports of shipment. For the year ended March 31, 1944, when the country was most affected by the war, trade had fallen very low, the total turnover for imports and exports being £46,602. With horses deducted (mostly racing stock) sheep, cattle and pigs provided only £20,812. The total in some pre-war years exceeded £IOO,000. In 1945 the turnover was £122,643. With the amount for horses deducted (£77,500), there was a balance of £45,000 for farm stock—double the 1944 figure.

An unusual feature of the 1945 returns was the adverse balance. Imports (£80,517) exceeded exports (£42,126) by £38,391. For the* year ended last March, the turnover had grown to a grand total of £169,238. Horses provided almost three-quarters of this total at £124,500; leaving farm stock a balance of £44,700 —aproximately the same as for 1945. Unlike the previous year, there was a credit balance of £57,654, and exports (£113,446) exceeded previous records. Horses provided £86,381 of that total, sheep £17,497, cattle £8527, pigs £744 and dogs £297. Imports for the past year were: Horses £38,123, sheep £12,927, cattle £4274, pigs £243 and dogs £225.

The individual values of stock imported last year were high. Sixteen horses from Britain averaged over £7OO and. 19 from Australia almost £SOO. Cattle imported: two animals from Britain.