WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

TRADE OE NEW ZEALAND

(Special to “GuftrdJ-n”.)

WELLINGTON, February fi

The export anil import figures ol Non- Zealand for the year 1924 are I impressive. 'The exports amounted to 1 £52,612,711 and the imports to £4B,007,(503 the total trade thus being ; £101,140,314, which is positively magnificent, for it is equal to nearly £IOO , per head of the population. Compared with the figures for 1923, the exports show an increase of £6.615,592, „„d the imports an increase of £5,041, 019. Tlio excess of imports over exports for the past year being £4,035,108. The value of the dairy products exported last year was £19,209,858. as compared with £18,255,204 in 1923, mi increase of £104,054; frozen meat lust year accounted for £9,500,240, against £9,012,720, an increase of £193.520; wool £15,2(57,3(54, against £10.901,(553, an increase of £4,3(52,706; hides, skins and pelts, £2,338,(50(5 against £1,868,172, an increase of £170,434, and other items show smaller increases. The aggregate gain from wool, frozen meat, dairy produce and hides, skins and pelts is £(5,371,314, and this is due not to increased production, but to increased prices and therein lies the danger, because it is so easy to delude ourselves into the belief that all is well. Prices have an inconvenient habit ol falling and supposing that the gain through high prices of 1924 drops away-50 per cent there would bo serious trouble for the community. The imports show that in the past year we. imported wheat t„ the value of £1,591,342, as against a value of £(59 in 1923. Our merchants me regarded as such incompetents that the Hon W. XosworLhy, as Minister of

Agriculture, retained in his own hands the importation of this huge quantity of wheat and it is believed that there has been an all round loss of Is fid a bushel. There must he continued heavy importation of wheat and as there is a world shortage we will have to pay higher prices than in the past year, lin'd ns there is a heavy tax on wheat and flour it is quite clear that after the close of this year there will lie a sharp rise in the price of wheat, which will not please the residents of the North Island. Motor spirit cost us

last year £1,000,053 as against £1,110,138 in 1923, motor vehicles were easily the biggest item in the imports. the value of these last year being £3,541,035 against £2,41(5.985 in 1923, an increase of £1.121,650, fcqual to over £l(s per day for every day (it the year, Sundays included. There was a very heavy importation of electrical machinery, which is not surprising in view of the expansion of the electric power plant Last year £2,050,451 was spent on electrical machinery against £1,448,881 in 1923 and timber was another important item the figures being £1,402,329 against £637,302. AN ILLUSION OK CONTROL. The question of assuming absolute control of the dairy export trade bv the Hairy Control Hoard was wan'd*

discussed at the last meeting of the Board and considerable opposition developed. Finally a resolution affirming the principle of control was passed, but as to the measure of control no details were arranged. The “Host ' in discussing the subject in a leading article points out that by pure coincidence the return of the delegate's ol the Daily Produce Export Control Board to Now Zealand synchronises with a depression in the export value of butler. Ibis fact is being used for all it is worth to bring pressure to hear upon (lie Board as a whole to exercise absolute control of dairy produce tor disposal overseas. And the paper adds, “Control as we understand it, and as must farmers understand it. means wtihdrawing large quantities ol produce from sale until such prices are obtainable for it as the controlling authurity luiiv dctci mine." Al ter quoting a report from its Auckland correspondent in which was ex|>iessed the hone of Waikato farmers, “that by contiolliug prices in Kngland a satisfactory rotiu n will be given to the •• Post ” sues, “ We admit inability to define what" is ‘ a satisfactory return.’

in the opinion of the farmers or anyone else with goods for sale or services to render. Whether absolute or modified control of dairy produce should or should not he exercised by the Hoard, we will not discuss; but it is important to point out that hope of control of prices in the Englsih market is illnsorv. Not oldv were imports for eleven months of 192-1 (4,832,880 cwt) greater by I.OOO.CIOOcwt than in 1922, hut supplies 'from 'almost all other foreign sources are increasing in volume, so

too are imports of foreign mnrgcmio. The reason is simple, Great Britain is an attractive market and welcomes all comers. To the British imports of hotter for the above period of 1024, Xew Zealand contributdd 086,1 licut and Denmark 1,592,21-lcwt, of a total

of 4,832,550ewt. What then is the use of talking about improving prices by controlling supplies when our quota is so small in comparison with the total? To tell New Zealand farmers now receiving Is 2d or Is 3d for their butterfat that with control of exports they will receive possibly Is fid or mote is misleading. Business is not done that way.” Waikato appears to he the. sore spot in the dairy trade. The dairy farmers there seem to have ventured into many side lines and the deductions from the milk cheques are, in consequence, appreciable.