TRADE EBB AND FLOW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1874, 7 September 1918, Page 2

TRADE EBB AND FLOW.

TRADE statistics arc not generally interesting:-to others than students of commerce and economies, but they are indispensible as the framework of facts; sometimes startling facts. The Government Statistician shows in his August abstract that while in 11)07 the United Kingdom’s exports to New Zealand were valued at £10,278,011), those 0f.1917 fell to £8,817,511). Hut to the United Kingdom New Zealand sent in 1007 produce and oilier goods worth £10,533,403, and for 1017 these had increased to £25,333,371,, for all the shortage of shipping. Here New Zealand was n substantial gainer in trade at the expense of Britain. But the most remarkable growth of trade as against this country is that of Japan. From Japan in 1007 New Zealand imported goods valued at £04,208, and sold to Japan goods to the value of £1,307, an advantage in Japan’s favour of £02,831 then. In 1017 imports from Japan were valued at £028,822, and what New Zealand sold in return to that country totalled £4,388 only. The United States figures are also striking. Imports by New Zealand from America in 1007 were valued at £1,425,500, By 1917 they had reached £3,900,058. New Zealand's exchange of products will) the United Stales against these imports was in 1907 £714,003; but in 1017, the exports were valued at £1,894,317 —a considerable expansion, but still against this country whose best customer on the' Government Statistician’s showing is Great Britain by a long way, with a credit balance to Ibis country of £10,515,852. Canada is a Jong second, having in 1917 purchased from New Zealand imports valued at £001,053, but selling in exchange goods valued at £757,001 only. All other countries are gainers by their trade with New Zealand, some of them to a very huge extent, particularly Australia,. Fiji, (he South Africa Union, India; and other. British possessions; also United States and Japan, and France.