IMPORTS FOR FOUR MONTHS

Southland Times, Issue 18838, 3 June 1920, Page 2

IMPORTS FOR FOUR MONTHS

The following comparison of the aggregates of the diiTerent divisions of imports for the four months ending April. 1920, 1919, 1918, and 1917, is given by the Trade Review;—

totals £14.059 £10,5-15 £7.922 £7,417 *Mxcluding gold. The total of merchandise shows an increase of £3,568,060 or 34 per cent, over 1919, and the total is very nearly double those of 1918 and 1917. Fach section ol trade shares in this growth except soft goods, which shows a decline on the very heavy total of 1919. The total of imports for the month of April was £4.261.094. which is particularly heavy for a single month.

Soft goods exhibit a decrease of £276.000 or nearly 1(1 per cent, on 1919. but the total is far ahead of the two preceding years. The chief cause of those fluctuations is the fact that cotton piece goods attained an ex Tcmely high level last year. Hosiery, drapery, linen and silk piece goods also show decline on the heavy totals of 1919, while woollen piece goods, hoots and carpels show big increase this year. The hardware section shows steady improvement, the increase for the latest year being £353.000. There are, however, decreases in fencing wire, iron pipe, dairying machinery, nails and tin. The increases in hardware, bar and corrugated iron are particularly heavy. Foodstuffs show fairly heavy increase, chiefly in confectionery, fish, fruits, sugar and rice. These increases would be largely

title to enhanced prices. Beverages have a particularly heavy increase. in which each item shares. Tintwo items whisky and tea account for twothirds of the total. Whvky has an increase of 50 per cent, over 1919. but is still slightly behind the level of 1918. The total of tea is nearly five times that of 1919, and over three times 1918 level. This is largely a price increase, the average value being about double 1919 and 1918. The .separate figures for coac, and coffee are. cocoa 490,1621b, £58,375; and coffoc, 74,4531b, £466,0.

The miscellaneous division continues lo show considerable expansion over earlier years, in spile of decreases in cerf.ain items. Motor vehicles account for half the increase in the total o? this division, imports bein'; particularly heavy.

D.I.C. NEW SHARE ISSUE. The Drapery and General Importing Company, Ltd., has announced a special meeting of shareholders on June 7 lo deal with various amendments to the articles of association, The most important is intended to give the directors authority, from- tune to time, to increase the capital of the company by the creation of new shares of such amount as they may deem expedient. It is also intended lo give the directors the right to determine whether such shates shall lie offered, in the first instance, either at par, or at a premium, to the ordinary shareholders, in proportion to the amount of capital held by them.

1920. 1919. 191S. 1917. £ £ £ £ UOOO'si (1000's 1 (1000'si (1000's) Soft Roods 2,005 2,971 1,030 1.700 Har.lwa re 1,302 97!) 034 722 Foodstuffs 1,175 749 750 498 Beverages 043 357 507 323. Miscellaneous 3,821 2.370 1.S54 1.S90 Other goods 4,072 3,04! 2.444 2,175 Tot al goods 14,011 10,473 7.SH2 7.377 Sprcic* IS *72 40 40 Grand — — — —