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Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1920, Page 2

As indicating the volume of trade to and from tho Dominion, the abstract of exports and imports published in the monthly statistics for November, is of interest. For the ten months ended Oct. 1919, the exports were £47,380,-

870; for the toll months of 1920, thoy wore £39,091,475. This was roughly a | decline of eight and a quarter million i sterling. In regard to imports, the i fiures for the ten months ended Oet. 1 I .DID, were £25,263,871; and for the ten months ox October last £49,505,896. Tills was nearly double an iucreuse, or £24,300,000. The trade balance for the period against the Dominion is theretoro very substantial. It is iiifornm- I tive to study the lines of principal im- j port, and consider how supply is being made good in the country. Some of the" j increases in imports in special lines are enormous, (though increased values | have to be taken into ’account) and i should over Btock the demand, so that where importers need cash and have to unload for the purpose, prices must drop. This will be good for the eon- | sumer and a hardship for the importer, who to finance himself as best ho can, must reduce his profits very materially j if he does not clear many lines at an actual loss. It is this contingency which is now opproaching and which will be a severe trial to the financial strength of many concerns and iudividI unis. Imports are coming in "too fast for local consumption, and with the difficulty in raising money to pay for , the goods, unless credit is extended, (a doubtful contingency) many people will be in deop water financially. Here is a I list of several general lines in regular i consumption, showing the importations for the past ten months, compared | wit htlio ten months of the previous 1 year, and the results as to volume of I now importations are certainly surpris-

ing : Article 1919 1920 Apparel 948,891 1,990,394 Beer 4,646 24,745 Bicycles 81,958 180,744 Boots 351,367 1,045,35/ Carpeting 195,736 568,344 Coal 292,560 398,051 Confectionery . 96,977 , 428,994 Chinawaro ■■■... 93,879 301,664 Raisins 44,458 333,426 Glassware 190,059 431,576 Hardware 303,419 659,800 Hosiery 393,623 549,514 Corrugated iron 244,756 916,27/ Fencing wire ... 40,718 100,664 Jams 6,339 32,927 Leather 182,129 650,895 Matches 16,206 66,631 Millinery -89,120 163,086 Nails 204,284 110,200 Benzine 412,117 ’601,/89 Newspaper ... 266,397 349,91,4 Pianos *38,596 105,770 B,; t . e 60,665 134,355 Whisky 269,366 755,770 Su „ ar ‘ 835,420 1,351,408 Cotton goods .. 2,309,330 3,235,801 Woollen goods 399,525 1,993,404 Timber ‘ 30,749 84,039 Cigarettes 344,572 813,408 Motor cars .... 899,470 2,217,244