DOMINION TRADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2924, 9 November 1916, Page 8

DOMINION TRADE

A RECORD OF PROSPERITY

INTERESTING FIGURES

The volume of New Zealand's trade, as indicated by the returns of imports and exports, continue to expand under war conditions. Figures for the first nine months of the present year are now available, and they show that last year's totals, whifch constituted records in almost evory direction, are being exceeded by big margins. Tin's result is duo in the main to increased prices rather than to an actual expansion of trade, but the effect is to produce the most favourable trade balance that New Zealand has over enjoyed. The Dominion's trade (imports and exports) for the first nine months of 1916 reached a total of £46,944,582, as compared with £36,645,733 for the corresponding nine months of last vear, an increase of close upon £10,300,000. The position is shown by the following figures:— Excess of Imports. Exports. Exports. 9 months, 1916 ..'. 19,488,499 27,456,083 9,127,434 9 months, 1915 ... 16,140,206 20,505,527 5,055,019 Increases 3,348,293 6,950,556 4,072,415 Three of the best export months of the year—October, November, and Decomber—remain to be included in the annual totals. The exports in the last quarter of 1915 were valued at rather more than £11,000,000, and if .the figures are similar this year tho Dominion's exports for 1916 /will represent a value of something like £38,000,000, as compared with £31,748,912 in 1915. The highest total reached prior to the war was in 1913, when the exports were valued at £22,986,722. Tho excess of exports over imports (excluding specie) in 1915 amounted to £10,772,102, nearly twice the amount of the largest trade balance previously recorded. If the trade of the -next three-months gives approximately the same totals as the corresponding quarter of 1915 (the calculation obviously is an uncertain one), the excess of oxports over imports for 1916 will he in the neighbourhood of £15,000,000. The increase of £3 348,293 in tho value of tho exports for tho first nine months of this year, as compared with tho corresponding period of last year, is explained to a large extent by in.creased prices, but the details of the imports show that the people of this country are continuing to spend money freely on, articles that may bo classed among the luxuries. The figures do not suggest economy at any point, the reductions in certain lines being duo apparently to prohibitions of export in the United Kingdom or to shipping difficulties. Some of the figures are as follows: — Nine Nine months, months, 1916. •1915. £ £ Drapery • 231,701 166,444 ■Earthenware' and chinawaro 107,127 65,030 Furniture 32,558 23,7.74 Hosiery 270,526 140,519 Brandy 81,475 37,891 Whisky 363,973 189,886 Cotton goods 1,200,318 767,583 Silk 224,055 146,292 Cigarettes 138,514 During the nine months Now Zealand imported 5291 motor vehicles, valued at £682,279. No fewer than 741 cars were landed in the month of September.