WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

HALF-YEAR’S TRADE.

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON', August 3. With the issue of the Monthly Abstract of Statistics for July the exI, >it ami import returns of the Dominion are available. The exports for the ti months were valued at 238,398,J. as compared with 233,500.99* in the' first half of last year, there being thus an increase ol £4,83i ,205, which was largely due to the abnormal increase in the value of wool as will ha shown later on. For the 12 months ended June 30, the exports totalled L57.L19.07G. Examining the items of export it is found that the value of tho wool exported in the halt-year was L10.009.T7!, as compared with 212,188.971 in the corresponding half „f last year, the increase being 22.820.50!) or about 221 per cent, notwithstanding tint the quantity exported was less by l"."h hales, the actual figure being <175,030 hales as against 191.398 hales. The exports of butter during the half-year yielded L 0,974,533, against £5,910,090, there being the moderate gain of 203.873. due largely to an increase in

volume ol 92,785 cwt., the quantity exported being 7G7,091ewt., against s.9lo,GGOewt. There is a shrinkage in both the value and the quantity of cheese shipped during the half-year. Tho total value was 23,880,395, against L1,70!.159, equal to about 171 per cent.; and the quantity exported was 954,771 ewt against 1.0(17,533, a. decrease til 112, 1 G2ewi. A drop in values has also affected the position. Frozen meats show increases both in value and quantity. Thus frozen beef yielded £511,705. against £117,788, tin increase of £123,917, equal to about 2(1 per tent. The quantity of beef exported was 33«,945ewt against 3f7,lS3ewt. Frown meat (carcases) returned £1.710.887. as compared with £1,310.090. tin increase of 2100,197 equal to roughly 30 per cent, the quantity exported being 580.205 ewt against 513,72J0wt.. an increase of Gi1,539 ewt. Improved prices have been largely responsible lor the substantial increase in value. The Dozen lamb (carcases) exported gave an income of 95.293.281. as compared with LI. 102,023 in the lirst half of last year, there being a gain of 2891,201. equal to about 20 per tent., and tl’.e quantity shipped totalled 1,173.122 cwt, .against I ,0.58,(120cwt.. an increase of BLoo2cwt. Here* again higher prices have been respnnsiblo Tor tlm increased return. Turning to other important products, cattle hides yielded £301.317. against £258,121, rabbit skins £215,923. against Lloq--231. and fewer skins were exported lor the higher return because ol the substantial advance in prices. Call skins yielded 070,591. against C 59,918; sheep skins without wool, L 1,304,748 against £753.921 ; winded sheepskins £113,817. against £155,110; N.Z. hemp 0315,342 against £197.912;

sawn timber 9257,023 against 220.8,901 and gold £213.285 against £305,170. The imports for the year amounted to 925.015,285. against .922,011,103 in tho corresponding half of hist year, an increase of .92.370,882, which, though substantial, is only equal to about the half increase shewn by the exports in the same period. The imports for the 12 months to June 30. totalled 950,898,485, and the excess of exports over imports for the year 90.551,191, which, though substantial, is not sufficient to cover our overseas obligations by about a million sterling. Our imparts of sugar during the lirst half of lids war. were valued at L 595.281, as compared with .9555,108 in the lirst half of hist year. Tea accounted fur 9505.700 against 9433,330, whiskey for 9327,130 against 9281.317, cigarettes 2383,5.81, against 2301,1170, tobacco for 2159.188 against 2100,28.5. apparel and icady-mndo clothing 21.17 I. ,000, against 21.109,220; bools and shoes 2128,350 against 212G.12< ; hosiers* 2237.527 against 9201.308;

cotton pice;;* goods 21,097,8.31 against 2922.898; woollen piece goods 2470.400 against 2515,93:1; silks 2375.450 against £305,517; motor spirit 29*51,504 against 2702,721 : coal 2377,823 against 2447,105: railway and tramway plant 2328,842 against £292,827; electrical machinery and equipment C 1.100.711 against 21.121.855* sawn limber £321,900 against 2227.170; other timber 2253.070 against .2180,115; nicdiciiu.l preparations £158,189 against 2151.858; motor vehicles .22,204,050 against 21,705,511; tires, tubes, etc., for motor vehicles 2503.108 against 2213.250 ami other material and parts for motor vehicles 2128,500 against 2123,558. The values of the motor vehicles, tyros ami tubes, and other material parts for same, together with motor spirit, represent 23.8.50,898, or ever 15 per cent, of the total imports for the half-year. It seems a big expenditure hut the ionsolation is that commercial motor vehicles form no iucnu-iderahle purportion of the total. In the past half year 11,921 motor vehicles were landed in New Zealand, equal to an average of 00 vehicles per day for each of the 181 days, Sundays included. During the half-year the United Kingdom took .230.812,300 of our exports. We. had of course in addition to nay finservices such us shipping, insurance and banking. To the whole of the British Empire we exported .232.700.-7-1 t and imported .LIU. O-17.008 and to foreign countries we exported 25,091,5.15, and imported .05.307.977; there was thus a verv close balance.