OUR TRADE OUTLOOKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 89, 22 April 1913, Page 6

OUR TRADE OUTLOOKS.

AN ENCOURAGING REPORT. Wellington, April 22. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, the President, referring to'trade outlooks, said money stringency was all New Zealand had to fear, and commercial •uen were necessarily acting with caution until the position became more settled. Fortunately, there was some indication 1 that an improvement had set infi for the Bank of England had reduced the rate of interest last week, and, if the political outlook improved, no doubt the rate would be brought down another half per cent, presently. He quoted figures showing the favourable progress made in New Zealand produce. If the pre l sent prices were maintained, he said, it was safe to say New Zealand exports to the 30th September next bade fair to exceed last 'year’s total by something over £1,000,000 or £1,250,000. The increase was a large one, and would'bring the year up to about the level of the best previous year—l9o91910*. The price of wool Had advanced the value of the season’s clip about a million. Wellington had become the leading selling centre in New Zea-I land for the first time. Dairy pn> duce had now passed - the three million mark in exports,( and was running cl6se to frozen meat for second place on the list. To sum tip,, the position of the export lines was satisfactory, but it would have been more satisfactory if the increases had been quantity-increases and not price-in-creases, as the former were the result of increased productiveness, and might bo considered permanent. The latter were subject to market fluctuation!?.' ' /