BRITISH TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1933, Page 6

BRITISH TRADE

RETAIL, BUILDINGS, SHIPS.

OVERSEAS NEGOTIATIONS.

(British Offu'al Wireless.)

RUGBY,. January 27

Returns relating to real trade preared bv tli’e incorporated association of retail' distributors, and the Bank of England, show the money value of sales in December was only 0.3 pet cent below that of December, 1931. Tiie decline . was. the smallest since January, 1931. The total sales for 11 month, February to December, was four per cent below those for the corresponding period of{£l93l.

The Ministry of Labour gazette reveals that the value of new buildings including houses approved in 110 lar•ger towns of Britain iu the last throe months of 1932 was £19,815,000. This figures compares with 13 mil ions for the corresponding period of the pro-, vious year, and is only £150,000 lower than the second quarter 0f.3929, when, thrt building boom was at its height. The shipbuilding industry is enjoying one of its best fillips for several years. Orders have, been placed since November for fifty-eight vessels of all types, while the Admiralty will place contracts in March for the vessels authorised under the 1932 programme. This improvement, following ten months of almost complete stagnation, is attributed partly to the co-opera-tion of the steel-makers who are supplying materials at rates enabling 1 shipbuilders to tender at tempting prices.

The department of overseas trade states that a delegation representing coal, iron, steel, flour, cattle and foodstuffs is going to Finland shortly to discuss the possibilities () f increasing United Kingdom export trade with that country.

The Lithuanian Minister has communicated to the foreign office prelimnary suggestions regarding commercial negotiations with the British Government. These will follow later in the year.