WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1931, Page 6

WELLINGTON NEWS

DIGEST OF STATISTICS.

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 19.

on e cause of the difficulties of the Minister of Finance in Balancing the Budget is the shrinkage in the Customs receipts. This shrinkage, is due to the curtailing of imports because of the drop in exports, and to the increase in duties. The imports into the Dominion for the seven months to wio end of July at £25,582,256 show a <fecline of about 20.60 per cent, compared with the corresponding period of last year. The shrinkage appears to be well spread, the luxury trades, being most severely bit. The number of motor vehicles imported totalled 2733 against 10,040, a reduction of / ,30/, and the value of £401,261 against £1,515,140.

The number of pianos imported was 75 against 732 and the value £5078 against £21,174. The value of other musical instruments imported was £85,575 against £198,716. There has been a. slump in the imports of timepieces the values being £29,096 against £71,526. Cinematographs and films dropped from £147,829 last year to £ll6941; tobacco pipes and smokers’ requisites imported were valued at £l4> _ 420 against £19,656, but sporting requistes accounted for £25,788 against £48,840.

The imports of sawn timber have contracted very much, which should be good news for the local sawmillecs. The quantity imported for the seven months was 7,164,412 sup. ft. against 29,404,204 sup. ft. and the value £Bl,812 against £342,137. Nearly all classes of machinery showed shrinkages. Thus the value of the agricultural machinery imported in the seven months of this year was £21,424 against £123.388; the dairying machinery imported was valued at £54,361 against £119,000, and the value of the electrical machines was £679,933 against £1,010,896.

Telephones and accessories also showed a. heavy decline, the figures being-. £181,491 against £243,077. Mining machinery, on the other hand shows an increase which is very promising, the figures being £7,879 against £4692. Sewing machines, calculating machines and typewriters . all show shrinkages. The imports of leather fell heavily, the figures being £71,564 against £150,913. The imports of jewellery were just about one-third of that of the previous period, the totals being £22,344 against £65,739. The country is economising on books, papers and music for the imports totalled £191,932 against £255,136. The quantity of motor spirit imported was 37,551,895 gallons against 39,968,003 gallons and th e value £819,451 against £1,273,075.

In the apparel line ready made clothing imported was valued at £806,619 against £1,355.321, drapery £149,013 against £283, mtbn pi'ettA &ortds £630,774 against £1,070,907, woollen piece goods £274,857 against £399,905, and silk, satin, velvet, etc., £31,871 against £550,025. Apparently there is now a restricted demand for spirits for the quantity of whisky imported was 145,505 gallons against 239,519 gallons and the value £152,328 against £255 098. The' brandy imported was valued at £17,293 against £28,813, and gin, geneva, etc., £30,618 against £44,. 548.'

The imports in l tea show an increase in quantity but snot in value. The quantity imported was *,<38,61 lb. against’ 6,588,266 lb. and this increase was mainly due to importers anticipating an increase in duty. The-values were £441,831 against £451,084. Smokers are apparently forced into economy, the" cigarettes impoitod during the period under review was 297,277 lb. against 629,003 lb. and the value £112,372 against £285,185. The tobacco imported amounted to 1,675,438 lb. against 2,396,606 lb., and the value £285,857 against £466,644. The 'reduction in both cases is to some extent due to the increased consumption of locally produced tobacco. Tlie lower level of prices for exports and the contraction' in imports have reacted in other directions. Thus in the seven months the over-seas shipping entering N.Z. ports was 1465 of„ a net tonnage of 5,242,493 against 1560 vessels of 5,751,068 tons. The tonnage of cargo handled exclusive of transhipments was inwards 949,331 tons against 1.255,666 tons, and outwards 485,367 tAns aginst 564,059 tons.