NEW ZEALAND IMPORTS.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 22, 19 October 1937, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND IMPORTS.

An analysis of the imports into New Zealand during the year that ended on June 30, is illuminating. On the assumption that exports, genorally speaking, pay for imports and overseas debts, there is more than passiiig interest in seeing what New Zealand buyB with its dairy produce mcat and wool. Tho country is still living at least to the fuli extent of its income, and the value of imports rose in one year from £39,000,000 to over £50,000,000. Prido of place is won easily by the motor trade. Motor vehicles alone cost almost £5,1)00, 000^ and motor spirit over £1,500,000. Motor vehicles, motor spirit, motor tyres and lubricating oil togother account for nearly £7,560^000, which in value is over 15 per cent. of the total imports. Next on the list come electrical apparatus £2,277,000, cotton pioce goods £2,000,000, upparel £1,618,000 and eilk and wool piece goods each well over £1,000,000. In fact, adding up the heavy clothing, which includes hosiery, apparel, boots and shoes, drapory and cotton, woollen and silk piece goods, a total of £7,276,000 is obtained, equivalent to over 14 per cent. of the aggregate imports. The analysis could of course, go on indefinitely. For instance, Now Zoalcad imporled last'year over 11,000,000 pounds of tea, vulued at £811, 000, ( 364,000 gallons of whisky valued at £439,000, no less than 440,909,000 cigarettes valued at £434,000, and over 3,000,0001bs. of tobacco vklued at £403,000. The chief impression gaiued from a survey of tho figures is that luxury aud scmi-luxury lines account for the greater portiou of the icuports.