TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8341, 30 January 1913, Page 6

TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND

The import and export returns for die quarter ended December 31st last save now appeared in the ‘ Gazette.” they compare with the corresponding quarter of 1911 as follows, omitting peck’ : 1012. 1911. Increase. £ £ £ ! m ports 5,723,939 4,745,428 969,511 .exports 4,128,625 3,344,6.35 783,970 An excess of imports is usually seen hi this quarter, as it is a heavy one for imports, while it is only the beginning of the export season, and not a heavy one for exports, and is also liaible to fluctuations according to whether the season is eanv or late. For this reason the calendar year is not a • cry satisfactory on<i for the purposes of statistical comparisons of exports. Wo now turn to a comparison of the imports and exports for the full twelvemouth with the figures for previous years. Tho totals, apart from specie, compare, for the last three years, as follows:

£ £ £ Exports ... 21,511,233 18,987,467 22,147,700 Imports ... 20,575,081 18,791,967 16,74-4,322 Excess of Exports 936,207 f 90,500 5,403.378 Tho balance shows a decided improvement over the previous year, but is very far short or what is needed to meet outside obligations. In 1910 our exports bounded up to a higher level than ever before, while our imports were on a comparatively moderate scale, and this resulted in a splendid surplus of exports over imports. Since then, however, exports have not maintained that high level, while imports have increased very considerably, and the result is a very much reduced surplus, which is tho principal cause of the present tightness of the money market.

For the last three years our imports have increased by roughly two millions each year, which is a decidedly excessive rate of increase. Even allowing for tho fact that the 1009 total of £14,815,464 was a low one, an increase of practically six milldions in three years is abnormal. Following are tho imports at the chief ports for tho last two years:

£20,975,076 £19,555,208 Tho increase apart from specie is £1,783,114 in the year, and of this £764,169 is at Auckland. There are no details available of the classes of goods comprised in these imports, so it is impossible to say what proportion of the increase is duo to extravagance and indulgence in luxuries, and how much is in goods really needed for the open-ing-up of the country. There has been a good deal of settling of fresh country recently, especially in the Auckland district, and this calls for the importation of fencing and building materials, etc. The greater use of motor-cars and cycles is certainly a factor in the increase—in 1911 the imports of motorcars, cycles, and materials totalled £567,452, and wo believe that in 1912 this will reach £760,000. The increase in our exports for tho year, £2,523,821, is highly satisfactory. The following Comparison of tho principal articles of export shows where the bulk of this increment accrues:

Totals ... £21,770,243 £19,035.772 Tho falling off in the export of gold, amounting to £471,523, or nearly 26 per cent., is abnormal, and is duo largely to the prolonged strike at Waihi, and tho fewer number of miners employed there since the collapse of the strike. The principal increase, accounting for nearly 40 per cent, of tho total increase, is in butter and cheese, and amounts to just over a million. In considering this, howeyer, it must be remembered that tho period under review covers part of two seasons, and tho latest year’s figures only include one quarter of the current season. Wool and skins have an increase of £687,000, grain of £434,000, frozen meat £329,000, and all the other lines have very satisfactory growth except gold and live stock. In wool the increase is rather more in weight than in value. The weight for 1912 was 188,363,7801 b, an increase of 11 per cent., while the increment in value is 91 per cent. In frozen meat and tallow the growth is approximately the same in weight and value. With butter and cheese the value growth is much more owing to tho greatly improved prices ruling. Hemp shows no growth in output, but an improvement of 21 per cent, in value. The hulk of the increase in grain is found in oats. Shares of the various ports in these exports compare as follow for tho last two years:

Each port shares in the general improvement, and Wellington has somewhat the largest share. It will be observed that East Coast ports of tho North Island show great progress. Napier’s total for the year places the Hawke’s Bay centre fourth on the list, while the grouping of the neighbouring ports of Gisborne-and Napier would bring them up to third place. Prospects for the current season appear very bright for our main exports, and at the end of the season the total should show up very well. Imports are too high, and a reduction might very well bo made here. Caution should be exercised by importers in this respect, and a reduction would go far to improve tho financial position generally.

1912. 1911. £ £ Auckland 6,241,590 5,487,421 Wellington 5,340,854 5,062,201 Lyttelton 3,035,421 2,922,136 Dunedin 2,731,702 2,522,992 Minor N.I. ports 1,225,032 1,115,853 Minor S.I. ports 1,616,886 1,277,070 Parcels post ... 434,596 374,294 Specie -—. 399,995 763,241

1912. 1911. £ £ Wool and skins 7,812,789 7,125,212 Meat, frozen, etc Butter and cheese 4,059,362 3,670,107 3,769,202 2,768,974 1,816,628 336,321 Gold 1,345,115 Grain, all kinds 770,880 Tallow 684,739 607,344 Kauri gum ...... 401,305 395,707 Timber 490,617 439,409 Hemp 381,596 315,065 Hides 221,594 165,759 Live stock 113,931 201,045 Other N.Z. produce 1.221,370 947,742 Re-exports 238,791 198,154 Specie 258,955 48,305

1912. 1911. £ £ Auckland .. 3,356,147 8,256,943 Wellington .. 4,476,958 3,793,731 Poverty Bay ... .. 1,192,067 1,008,727 Napier .. 1,768,171 1,307,952 Taranaki .. 2,895,698 764,277 Lyttelton 2,751,012 Dunedin .. 1,588,679 1,343,496 Timaru .. 1»148,385 1,140,212 Blug .. 1,413,029 1,294,402 Minor porta .... .. 2,708,696 2,287,194 Parcels post .... 39,432 39,521 Specie 258,955 48,305