WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, August A. The monthly Abstract oi Statistics

lor July gives the usual volume of statistical information, some of which is of recurring interest. 'Jhe mortgages registered during the twelve months ended June Jfllh, 1925, amounted to L'12,188, MS, as compared with IS 1(1,992.0(>2, in the previous year, an increase of Cl, 19(1,.')!)(>, which is a very moderate increase. The number of registrations increased from 43, ||<) to -1-I.Mod. The mortgages discharged totalled ,C:i2,GIG.M-I against eo I. 405,0-13, an increase ot .itS ,210,501, which is also very satisfactory. 1 bus 'luring the* past 12 months the mort^a-

iCC*s registered exceeded the mortgages discharged by 99.572,914, and presumably that amount has been added to the total of the mortgages. In the previous year the registrations exceed'd the discharges by C1fi.550.410. Transfers of land under the Land Transfer Act during June numbered ;J2H) and the consideration totalled Cd.ll9.dHi, equal to nearly CIOOO per transfer. The Imlk of the business was in town and suburban properties, in respect to which there were 22id transfers, the consideration being Cl. 181 .did. as compared with 2190 transfers for Cl. 108,780 in June of last vnor. The transfers of country property numbered 070. ami the consideration totalled Cl.(id. .90d, while the corresponding month of last year there were (Hid transfers for C1.d80.108. Taking the three months to the end ol June, town and suburban transfers show very little change. I here wore •"dll transfers and the consideration was CI ,d 17,921, while in the corresponding quarter of last year the transfers numbered f>7)o7 and the consideration 04,822,935. There was thus a slight falling off this von.r. I raiislers ol country properties on the other hand show considerable expansion. Ihe transfers for the three months of this year numbered 2dlid, and the consideration was C I ,H7d,7).| 4, as compared with li)05 transfers for C1.9d1.l 11. There have been reports recently ol there being more inquiry lor farm lands and the above figures tend to confirm the reports.

The Post Oll'ice Savings Hank returns for the six months to Juno dOtli, rml including the figures lor Western Samoa and Rarotonga show that the deposits aggregated L 15,831 .-’9O, as compared with Cl 1.91 4,8-10 in the iirst. half of last year, while the withdrawals amounted to CM,892,1(M, attains! CM,827,-MM. The excess of deposits over withdrawals was thus C9d9.-ISL, as compared with 987,392. in the corresponding term last year. I his substantial gain can be easily understoo 1 when it is remembered that the exports for the half year increased by well over I millions sterling. Ex css of deposits were shown by all postal districts in the North Island, hut in the South Island Nelson, Cicymonth and AYestpo.c disclosed excess ol withdrawals over depoits. During the halt year the deposits in the Wellington District totalled .Cd.G29.ti2l. and the withdrawals to 93.387.050. ’1 lie Auck-

land District figures were deposits 92.770,004. withdrawals C 2.718,128. Christchurch, deposits 92. >03,;il I, withdrawals .92,315.400; Dunedin deposits 9 1,2:52.25ft. withdrawals 91,220.III; Napier deposits 91.001.ti1, withdrawals .9883.020. ('ALE-SKINS. The farmers of N ./. dispose of a good many calf-skins in the cottr-e ol a rear and with the expansion of the dairy industry, this business will increase. During the iirst half ol this year 201,7)07. calfskins wore ex,ported, and the vaulc was 970.7,91. and there v.cro increases in number and in value a- compared with the exports in the lirst half of last year. The Cnited States is the largest user of calf-kins such us N.Z. produces. N.Z. .-kins mostly neigh from -til) to iilh. with a percentage of ML to .-lb. It is slated that the (alt leather business i- not in a satisfactory condition, and most of the overseas tanneries are reported to he working on a restricted basis, and are finding it diifieult to do business with the shoe manutaeliners on a basis of reasonable profit. Owing to ibis

depress ion, it is estimated that i?.I U>O.0(10 light skins iirc in the hands of various Kuropoait dealers who are hohlinor tiitoi! lor the American demand. At first tlit- drillers showed a disposition to hold for liijxh prices, hut their ideas arc gradually weakening under the pressure of ueoutimhitine; supplies. Xaturallv, tliis state o! aflairs is being reflected in the calfskin market, and dealers in their turn are operating with extreme caution. Unless the dealers considerably reduce their prices the .Americans will not he buyers this season, and the skins may therelore he carried over to next Continental soamiii, thus piling el) stocks. Should the X.Z. farmers line! the prices much lower thill! last season they will know the reason and use tin ir jndjtmeat ahout selling or holding.