WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

INCREASING IMPORTS

(Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON. September 11. In spite ol tin; repeatetl warnings in respect to the dangers of over importation the imports into the Dominion continue to expand. According to the monthly Abstract ol Statistics the, imports for the seven months to July 31, amounted to L 29.513,521, or .L2.0.t0.171. more than the value of tlm imports m the corresponding seven mouths of last year, which in turn in-re L‘2. III?, IDI more as nuniparod with 1923. It is difficult to see how inis can he prevented, lor as long as i here is a demand lor the goods they v, ill he imported. Compared with two years ago the imports show an increase nf C1.707.H70, hut the greater part ol i his increase is due to the importation of motor vehicles, and while a good uianv people are inclined to deplore i his a- a form of extravagance it must not h- overlooked that a great many cumirei'ial motor vehicles are now being used in the Dominion and they arc not luxuries representing extravagance. In the imports oi soil goods there has been an increase of over nofl.l 100 in the seven months, nut a very big expansion. Ii would be interesting to know to what extent the imporls have swollen through borrowings on the part of iho Government and local bodies in London. The money that has been so hollowed has been remitted to New Zealand mainly in gnnds and some of the money has been used to pay lor services. Recently a shipload of material out for the works at Arapuni. all of which have been paid for out of icy borrowed I,the Government. Rut. il the im-

ports show an increase mi do the ex

port s. 'l l • Millie ol the exports for the seven months ol this year was C10.175.5f;.-). and for the corresponding -even months nf last year L31i.35J.0i3, an inerease ol CI.I 1i ■>-, while the increase in the imports was only L2,.i39.7||, We could afford to buy more because we received more for what we sold. Taking all the (actors into consideration there does not appear In leant real extravagance in imports generally. although there may be some line in respect to which there is exi es-ive importation. The substantial increase in the exports as shown above was largely due to ll.e high prices which were obtained tor wool, the shipment of which during the seven mouths were valued at C 15.:i 13.399. as compared with L12T7U.51U. in the seven months of last tear, an increase ol L 2,572.999. which reorcseuts more than halt the total inerease. Frozen leuttnu and lam 1 > represented a value ol C7.(i.'i 1. 771? against L'5.551 .199, an increase of Cl. 111:1.21:1. Rutter and cheese on the other hand declined and particularly cheese. Ilutier dropped from L 5.223.to .95,137.537, whiih i- not very marked hut cheese fell from Cl.R7R.ndti to L 3,958,357. a decline of practically C1.0110.0t l(l. SKINS AND 111 DKS. New Zealand does a very good export trade in skins and hide- and the probability is that tins trade "■ i 1! expand with each passing year. e>|,eei.illy the trade in calfskins which is certain to increase with the grow tII ni the dairying industry. In the first 1 month nf this year the call skins exported were valued at L72.SSI, against '555.(119, an inciea e ol els'.Ron. »ii ill I- a substantial gain. It is said that a slump i- approaching in calfskins and that an actual drop of a penny a 111 has occurred in the overseas markets. The explanation appears to be

(hiit there was a coni raci inn in the ( uitiueual demand owing In financial dillieulties and speculator- who held large stock- Icl ruined from ollering, honing t heronry to force the market. They iailed in this and now it is said that Kiev will ho heavy losers. Tanners arc not disposed to liny on any large .-ea!" while (he market remains depres-cd. This movement has nut yei been collected in the New Zealand market for dairy farmers have had no difficulty in disposing of ta If skims at -al.isl’a-tnry prises. The number of 1 all’s kins cxpiutod during the ii is t 7 months uf [his year wa- 215.955, as compared with 17'.“J0. in tlm (orresponding period of last year. The value 111 eatlle hides e\p'>| *-d was C l llt.Rs-t again -I 93211.*- 11. the inerease in value being due to a large number having been exported, the figures showing 319.273 this year against LMJ.OsO. The. exports of hor'C hides is a small affair, the iiuniher shinned being ITS, against lIP. and the value 9195 against 915. J’ahliit skins show increase Roth in value and number exported. In the 7 monili- of this year the skins ol 9.370,t’M rabbits were exported, as compared with 3.1.5-L732 last year, the values being 9313.531 against 91:25,05 I. Tile furriers are limii’ig rabbit skins very profitable and are giving very good prices for them. If the demand keeps up the rabbit population of the Dominion should steadily decrease.