WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1927, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS

HALF-YEAR’S TRADE. (Special to “ Guardian ’’.) AY ELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The exports from New Zealand lor the six months ended June 80th last amounted to £.'80,592.811 which contrasts with 029,172.881, there was thus an increase of 0f.119,507 which, though small, is very satisfactory. Wool and butter are the principal contributions to this increase which has been due largely to expansion in the volume of exports, and less to improvement in prices. The wool exported during the six months was valued at 010,858,708 as compared with 09,200.020 in the first half of last year, an increase of about 01.058,788 equal'

to about II per cent. Although wool values did show a slight improvement still the increased export-—520,102 hales against 197.021 hales—was rosponsihle lor the greater amount of the increase. The sum received from the export of butter was .t 0,758,777, against £4,092.437. an increase of C 10.00,310, and here also there was a substantial increase in the quantity exported, for the figures arc 800.34 7cwt against Gl2.Gloc\vt. Cheese appears to have suffered heavily from the droj) in ! values for notwithstanding that there was an increased quantity exported the returned was loss. Thus the quantity exported was 1,001.07-lcwt, an increase of 2(1.1 fi'-’cwt. and the return was L'3.358.2-12 against Ct, 150.225. a decline of £000,983. frozen meat shows no recovery. Although there was an increased export of frozen lambs they failed to realise as much as in the first half of Vast year. The weight of the carcases exported during the period was 1,100.201ewl against i .151,750e\vt, ami the returns were Cl ,182, l.'l I against £-1.31-1.088. Thus, although 38.-151 cwt more lamb carcases were shipped during the half-year, (lie return was less by C 132.551. The export of mutton showed an increase of SO.OOO ewt. and the return was L'1,073,91 I against Cl ,01)0,575. The position ol frozen beef is becoming worse. In the first half of this year only 130.835i-wi was exported against 102.331ewt, and the value was {.‘189,101. against C 215.-118. Sheepskins with wool yielded C 155.110 against Cl 15,899. ami sheepskins without wool £839.924 against C50d.215. and in both eases there were increases in the quantities shipped to account for the increase in value. The value of tallow exported was C 001.200 against C 173.121. and the decline is partly accounted for by the decrease in quantity. Kauri gum exported was less by 227 tons, and the value was C I-Vi.335 against £177.399. There was a decrease in the quantity and value of In-nip. the vai'uo being £280.170 against C 232.015. hid the quantity shipped contracted by about three million super feet. The exports for the year 1920 gave a return of C1d.000.000 levs than in 1925. and there does not seem to he any possibility of that deficit being made good this year. As a matter of fact we have only recovered about L'l. 120.003.

so wo have a long way to go. The imports for tlio half-year totalled in value C'JI’.'JUO.ZOI. against L' - J1,710.080, a cleerea.se of t’2.510.!<7(1. This contraction hcoame inovitahlo when the exports (inclined, and it is donhttnl whether the shrinkage is yet sufficient to restore e(|nilibrium. All the divisions of imports declined. Ihe value of soft -tends imported was L' I ..'Fid.L’flS

against C l.liL’li. 107, a decrease ol over C27t).IMV.), the hull; of the decrease being in apparel and cotton piece-goods. Hardware and metai' floods imported were valued at. I'.'I.ISI .IS!) against L'd.dd'l. 7,’11. a decline of iNK.NS’i. Foonstulfs at Cl,(171,711 were less by C.»7.SS(i. and this Wits due to a shrinl;age of CIdO.OOO in wheat, hut Hour exhihited tin increase of 1' Id,ooo. There was tt decrease of L'i'2,slol in beverages.

tea being responsible tor £27.000 and whiskey for £29,000. This latter would have been larger, but for the heavy clearances in tbe June quarter in anticipation of increased duties. In the miscellaneous section the value of the imports was £7,492,085 against £9,(507,137, a decrease of £2,115,052 nr 22 per cent. This mainly was due to a shrinkage of £1.116,301 in motor vehicles. The number of motor vehicles imported during tbe first ball of this year was 6857 as compared with 13,499 in the first half of last year and 11,924 in the first half of 1925. Tbe values were £1.071,817 against £2.188.181 In the first half of fast year, a chop of 50 per cent.