The Chrønicle LEVIN WESNESDAY JULY 19, 1916. GREAT BRTIAIN'S TRADE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1916, Page 2

The Chrønicle LEVIN WESNESDAY JULY 19, 1916. GREAT BRTIAIN'S TRADE.

J lie war notwithstanding. British trade is maintaining a highly satisl.ictory standard. We had thought that some diminution in Groat I3rii.iin s exports would bo uiiesv'apable in present conditions, but the latesi <1 railablc lignite show that so far from this having becm the case there is a marked increase in exports, as well as in imports. A London authority who wrote 011 this subject un-der date of IITh May, remarks:—"Our foreign trade during the mosth of April was remarkably good, even after making alnwance for the inflated values which now prevail as compared with a year ago. The most satisfactory point ;S that our exports show a further expansion, the total being £36.817.839. an advance of £4.648.106, or 14.4 per cent. It almost goes without raying that imports have again increased, and mainly because of the continuing advance in the value of goods, particularly foodstuffs. Imports aggrogflted Ci 5,685.362, or £2,0-t6.780 more than in April, 1915, and the increase would have been greater but for the fact that flic past month included one working day less than the same period of Inst year. However, comparing April with the preceding month there is a drop in imports of 10} millions sterling. Re-exports fell £1.863,605 or 18.7 per cent, to £8,0.93.449. Therefore the adverse balance works out at 30J millions—a big figure—but still 9i millions below that of March. As usual, the imports of food, drink and tobacco show an advance in value, on this occasion the total being £32,330,619, a rise of £2,43?.821 conpared with' April, 1915, of £11,2457,339 in the first four months of the current year. Grain and flour rose £1.676,670 to £11,094,21' J. The advance in: values :heav< had already gone so far that fortunately little progress was made lafit month. For instance, wheat went up 24.3 per cent in; value compared with 1915, but in quantity the advance was 21.3 per cent, and in the matter of flour the position ifi very similar. Meat fell 47.2 in quantity a.nd 40.7 per cent in value; butter receded in quantity 50.6 per cent, 'and in value 39.1 per cent, but refined sugar jumped 139.2 per cent as regards quantity and 188.5 per cent as regards value. The imports of tobacco were 011 the moderate scale at £3(39,215, which is £193,872 /ess tlian a year ago—a small figure— but it must bo remembered than an

embargo is now placed on the import of the leaf to the United Kingdom. To oßtain at a true retrospect of the advance iiii the values of foodstuffs it is necessary to compare pre-war with present prices. British rib • beef on April 1 last was 40 per cent more than in July 1914, imported rib beef was 55 per cent higher; home bred mutton, breast 54 per cent higher; frozen mutton, breast 89 per cent; fish 91 per cent; flour <30 per cent; granulated sugar 128 per cent; cheese 45 per cent; flour GO per cent; mid fresh eggs 3(5 per cent, The most astonishing feature of tlie statistics isued by the Board of- Trade, from which the above figures are taken, is that Hie higher values have been followed by the importation of greater quantities. The Briflsh public is now eating more food than before the war, despite the higher prices.