BUSINESS STATISTICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1930, Page 3

BUSINESS STATISTICS

MONTHLY REVIEW. The October number of the Abstract of Statistics records the following information of general interest:--DAIRYING INDUSTRY. The quantity of butter received into store for grading during the month of September shows an increase of 144.2 per cent over August, and of 21.8 per cent over September, 1929. The total for the two months of the present season is 15.7 per cent ahead of a similar total for hast season. Cheese is also in a favourable position, production during Soptembei being 35.6 per cent greater than that for September of last year, while the aggregate for the two months is 34 per cent higher than that lor the corresponding period of the precoding season. BANKING. The volume of debits placed to individual accounts (excluding Governnijon.t .accounts) duping '.the inoi(th shows a reosMsion of 12 per cent as compared with that for Septemlier, 1929, but is 2.5 per cent ahead of the total for September, 1928. ’The cumulative total for the nine months records a decline of nearly £12,090,00x9 or 7.6 per cent.

Deposits shows a decrease of approximately. £2,000,000 for the month as compared with August, Government deposits decreasing by £2,250,000, and other deposits actually showing a small increase. 'lt appears that new deposits are being placed at fixed terms only, and also that a. certain proportion of the money at call is being gradually transferred into fixe) deposits. •Sentcm'ber shows v. recession of £300,000 In free, deposits while those on fixed terms increased £589.000. This apparent disinclination to leave money at call in favour of fixed terms of interest became prominent in April, since when fixed deposits show a continuous increase, amounting, in the aggregate tb £2,370,000; the amount on current account lias decreased £4,000.000. Advances ’have remained at a stationaii figure for throe months but the decline in total deposits during this period Las increased the ratio of adavenes to deposits from 90.6 per cent in July to 96.5 per cent in September. FINANCE. Land transfers registered during the month of September record a decrease of 9.6 per cent in number end 10.0 per cent in value as compared' with September of last year. The totals for the six months of the fisca.l year also record decrease of 15.2 per cent and 19.8 per cent respectively over similar totals for 1929. The decrease has been greater for two ami suburban properties than for country properties. Compared with last vear, the decrease in mortgages registered in September was not nearly ais great as the decline in the preceding months, the figure reaching Ibut 3.5 per cent, against an average of 21 per cent foi the four previous months. r I he improvement is also noticeable for discharges, the decline lor feeptembei being 13.5 per cent, compared with 21 per cent for the four preceding onins. 'The cumulative total ior the six months shows registrations to he down 9.5 per cent, and discharges 18.7 per cent, compared with the corresponding period of 1929. RAILWAYS.

The railway traffic returns for tlr four-weekly period ended 'September 13th, show that railway activity was considerably below that for the coiresponiling period of last year. Passengers carried were less by 10.2 per cent, and the tonnage of goods by 11.1 per cent. Cumulative totals for the period April Ist to September 13th, record a falling-off in goods traffic, of 6.8 per cent, and in net ton-milejs of 3.9 per from similar totals in 1929. Passing rs carried were 2.8 per cent lower. Naturally, the operating revenue for .the four weeks shows a fall (9.1 per cent), making the total fall for the cumulative period 3.7 per cent. During the four weeks expenditure decreased by 7.7 per cent, bringing the . aggregate totals for 1929 and 1930 to practically the same level.