TRADE DEPRESSION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18890, 4 January 1927, Page 10

TRADE DEPRESSION.

IN UNITED STATES. [THB FBESB Special Serriee.j AUCKLAND, January 3. The United States of America is passing through a period of depression, especially in the farming areas according to statements by passengers who arrived Uom Vancouver by the Aorangi. "Things are not booming in America at tbey were, and it is gratifying to note on the other hand that England has turned the corner," said Mr B. J. Coates, of Auckland, who returned from a world tour. "Depression is particularly noticeable in the farming districts of the Middle West, where land is still valued at a high level, while prices for products have dropped. One cannot help noticing that almost anything, from clothes hangers up, can be purchased on the hire payment system, and in times of stringency the goods fall back into the hands of the manufacturers."

England, Mr Cpates aaid, was now out of the throes of the coal strike, and renewed activity waa to be noticed on all sidei.

Mr Coates was particularly astounded at the volume of business being done in tho motor-car factories. One firm ■lone bad 150,000 orders for 1927, while others were similarly besieged with orders. In many respeets England was now changing from a free-trade to a protective policy. Under the McKenna Act, a duty of 33 1-3 per cent was imposed on motor-cars, and while that was bad for America it was proving beneficial to British firms. America was badly handicapped on the Continent by protective duties and that no doubt, aggravated the depression. A duty of 62 per cent, was imposed on American cars in Germany, 60 per cent. in France, and 55 per cent, in I^ly. "The large exporting business of the United States is falling away and she is now being foreed back on her internal trade," Mr Coates said.

TRADE WITH CANADA.

PEMAND FOB DAIBY PRODUCE,

[THE 72Z88 Special Service.]

AUCKLAND, January 3. Mr J. C. Irons, manager in Vancouver for the Union Shipping, Company and the Canadian Australian Bcyal Mail Line, arrived in Auckland yesterday by the Aorangi. Mr Irons is a New Zealander, and j this is bis first trip to the land of his birth since he left for Canada twenty years ago. In the course of a brief chat to-day, Mr Irons was optimistic with regard to the New Zealand trade in Canada. Dairy produce met with a steady demand in Western Canada, he said, and there was every prospect that the demand would increase. The seasons in Canada were opposite to those in New Zealand, and production here was high when dairy produce was selling at good prices in the North American Continent. _ Mr Irons also commented on the good feeling existing between Canada and the United States. There was a -good deal to admire in the American business methods and the States were a great country, but he was convinced that the credit and prestige of the British Empire had never stood higher than it did to-day.

FOOD PRESERVATIVES. fyiVrauLLUH tso x.z. cable association.) (Received January 2nd, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 31. The food preservation regulations, which operate from the Now Year, do notj it is considered, affect Australian exports with the exception of wines, for which the maximum sulphur dioxide content is fixed at 450 parts to 1,000,000. Already orders are booked for the 1927 vintage, in contract with South Africa, from which export is not permitted under eighteen months. There is a danger that over-much preservative will prevent the fermentation of the rif new season's wines.

TRADE MISSION. CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. (raox oua owjr coebesfohdmt.) LONDON, November 16." Sir Thomas Allen. Mr W, T. Charter;''Mr J. English (directors of the Co-operative Wholesale Stores), together with Mr G: D. Macfarlane (director of the New Zealand Produce Association) have left'on their trade mission to Australia and New Zealand. "It is- extremely • fitting," says the "Co-operativo News,"'"that Sir Thomas Alien should be one of the deputation, seeing the enthusiastic interest he.has talpßß in the work- of the Imperial Economic. Committee and the Empire » 7". ""fßMttiu'n. *" w*.' 'wether with his ""*' Marfcefantf •'tJoaVf 'ttf V the wide ramiunboanded knowledge oi +, Home and nations of co-operation ai U e<) executive abroad as a member of Alof the International lianoe. It is an interesting cot . t 'hange that in addition to this intereidTtAusof riews between English and traltan co-operative leaders, Mr A. VJ <J Alexander, M.P.. should be at the present, time in the Antipodes with the Parliamentary delegation. "This new mission to our Australian cousins marks an important development'in the co-operative movement, and is likely to lead to a wider expansion of 8 trade in the future. It indicates that the co-operative movement is not content to run in an insular groove, but that it has an enlightened vision of the possibilities of iinkine up the Dominions with the Mother Country on lines of cordialitv and mutuality by securing a free and effective channel for co-operative produce." CUSTOMS RETURNS. COLLECTED AT WELLINGTON.(aim amocutio* tiuobak.) • WELLINGTON, January 3. Th» amount collected at Wellington for December In Customs revenue was £230,210 l«i lid, and in bur duty 15088 lis Id. tot the quarter the figures were:—£64B,777 Of lid, and £14,890 9s 6d respectively, and ■H in the year £2,534,011 12i and £54,379 10s nayaettvely. ' The IS2S totals were:—Dafor fb« quarter £684,309-9s 2d and £15,313 IS*; and for the year £2.460,192 Oi 6d and