WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

FIVE MONTHS’ TRADE. (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, July 7. 'Hie export and import returns for the five months were made available last week, or about 5 weeks after the close of the period. Why there should he this inordinate delay has never been explained, but perhaps the Statistical Department is undermanned, or if that is not the ease there must he a {treat many “go-slow” professors in the Department. In the course of a week

or ten days we will he plated in possession of the trade figures of the United Kingdom for the first half of the year, hut for the N.Z. figures wo must wait until about the first week in August. However we must accept the position as it is for there does not appear to he any remedy for it as tilings stand. For the 5 mouths the exports amounted to L9L99. Ji9i. as compared with 990,310.9 17 in the corresponding term of last year, an increase of L 4.187.290. due mainly for the higher nriees obtained for wool in the earlier months of the year, prices' that are not likely to he realised again tor some time. Excluding specie the imports for the five months aggregated L 21.220.207, as compared with ClB,701.021 for the corresponding five months of 1 924. an increase of 93.458.070, equal to about 10 per cent, which is rather a substantial increase, and if

this expansion is continued will mean trouble lor some section of tbo community. However, it is to he said that importers have not yet had time to curtail imports for as a rule orders for goods have to he placed six months ahead. The increase is equal to an average of .9700,000. I lie greatest in-

crease in a single item was in motor vehicles imported during the 151 days, comprising the 5 months of this year was 91.908.591 as against C1.252,bi1l i:t the corresponding five months of last year, and 981-hi! I 8 in the five months of 1924. Our expenditure on motor vehicle- ha- more than doubled

in two years, and during the first five months of the year spent .914,040 oil new vehicles every day. Sundays included. Tide looks it hit extravagant hut it may not he so. flic number of motor vehicles imported in the first five molt lit e was 10.202, as compared with 7.953 in the same term ot last year, and 4.802 in the five months of 1929. Thus in the first five months <>i this year there was a daily procession of (18 motor vehicles into the country, ami the average value was C 192 pet car as against. Cl 159 for the vehicles imported last year. This seems to indicate that a good many more commercial vehicles have been imported this year. Taking the groups of imports: Soft goods accounted for 91.189,290, its against C.'1,859.7 IS: hardware 99,115.950 against 1*2.7:11.725 ; IVmdsf till's 91,101,459 as against CI, 194.499, beverages C9!!.l7ti against .9791,090: miscellaneous 90.999. 190 against 95,-175,-171, and other goods 91.019.410 against 99. 117,9 ft 1. The principal countries of origin ot our imports tor the live months were: l.’nited Kingdom Cl 9.522. bi11. Ended States 93,282.5(M. Australia C2.152..‘119, Canada C1.752.9:18. India and Ceylon 9824,-l{>9, Fiji 0504.997, Era nee 0.457,950, Dutch East Indies 1299,157, Japan 0242.927 and Belgium 0199,191. VALUELESS CHEQUES.

The ease with, which some criminals can pass valueless cheques on shopkeepers is amazing, and ax Mr Hartholomew, S..M. of Dunedin said the other ilny, it was surprising that people went in for other fornix of crime when it: wax so easy to obtain large sum-, by means ol valueless cheques. He thought it was lime business men tightened up on a good many tilings and to improve eommervial morality ol the country, which nitl'oi Innately appeal's to he gelling steadily worse instead of heller. Among the largest business houses 'in Wellington it is very diifive.lt for a scoundrel to pass a cheque. When cue is tendered by a stranger a g I many questions are asked and local lefcrenccs demanded. if these are not fort booming then various excuses are made to delay delivery of the goods until the cheque Ims been taken to the bank, and if it happens to he a valueless one the eat is out of tlie hag. A cheque drawn on a hank in another town is invariably refused without substantial leva! referem.e.s. One old scoundrel is reported to have travelled from Dunedin to Wanganui using valueless cheques for finding the money. Among certain classes of shopkeepers it is said to lie a trade practice to accept cheques indiscriminately and although it was recognised that lltera were risks yet ill's i Ittimed that if the practice was stopped there would he practically no business doing, which does not appear to he a sound defence for the galling carelessness displayed. The knowledge that valueless cheques could he passed with tt little bluff and it little plausibility tempts many a voting fellow to have ;i good time at somebody else's expense. It is time the trade practice ol accepting cheques indiscriminately was ended and ruled out, for if there is any full in produce prices and tt tightening up of the money market hundreds of people will he forced into rigid economy and some of them mav be tempted to ease the situation for themselves by issuing valueless cheques. 1 lie moral hazard becomes more intense in a time of stress, as the insurance companies know too well.