EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 8, 10 June 1913, Page 5

EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

EXPERIENCE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Per Press Association.

Wellington, June 9,

Mr H. Spence, who represented the New Zealand Customs Department in Great Britain, reporting, says that in over 00 per cent of the cases he has dealt with he has been accorded every facility to gain the necessary information to settle any difficulty which has arisen. In no case had he been actually refused any information whatever, though in a few isolated cases the information had been of a verbal nature only, and unsupported by documentary evidence. He had on many occasions been gratified to find the high estimation in which the trade of New Zealand was held in England, and he had lost no opportunity of placing New Zealand before manufacturers in a favorable light. He believed the recommendations he had been able to make as the result of his inquiries would benefit the New Zealand Customs by some £4OOO or £SOOO annually. In no caße had he found or seen any cvidenee of intention to assist in any direct fraud on the revenue. Differences, wherever they occurred, were mostly accounted for by lack of knowledge of technical points in connection with the working of' the New. Zealand ad valorem tariff. In the case of preferential goods, he found a very wide misconception on the per cent, basis for composite articles of part foreign and part British make. Mr. Spence has investigated 154 important cases, besides manv minor matters, with the result that'in 111 cases, the investigations resulted in a direct 1 gain to New Zealand.

TRADE WITH THE MOTHERLAND.

Wellington, Last Nicht. Accounts relating to the trade of the United Kingdom for the three months ending March 31/sho\v that the values of merchandise imported into, and exported fiom, the United Kingdom during the quarter were:—lmports £290,000; re-ex-ports of the United Kingdom, produce and manufactures, £127,000,000; re-ex-pcrts of foreign and colonial merchandise. £31,000,000; gold, silver and bullion imports, £16,000,000 y do. . exports, £149,000,000. The values'of ■ imports from New Zealand and exports and re-exports thereto during the first quarter of 191213 were as £<i,'Boo,ooo. In 1913 .they were £7,018,000. Exports of .the United Kingdom, produce and manufactures, in 1912 were .£2,749,000, and ini 1913 <£2,781,000. Imports from New ZealAnd for 1913 were: Mutton (frozen); 1 * fOS.V.OOO';" butter, £817.000; cheese;' !: £7fl4;000; wool, £3,727,000; tallow: (unrefined), £138,000; sheepskins; ! '£124,000. The exports of the United Kingdom and produce manufactures to New Zealand were; Iron, steel and manufactures thereof, £347,000; cotton piece good's, £217,000;' woollen and worsted tissues, £136.000and apparel, £260.000:: '