THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1919, Page 4

THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

For the nine months ending September 30 the exports reached the extraordinary liigh figure of £40,267,800, compared with £22,393,104 for the same period of the previous year. The imports for the nine months were £22,080,228; whilst in 1918 they were £18,236,767.' Wool showed the greatest increase, the figures being: 1?19, £16,106,119; 1918, £7,527,266, whilst the value of frozen meat increased from £4,957,036 in. 1918 to £6,952,691 this year. Cheese also showed a substantial increase, from £4,087,178 to £5,835,083. This expansion is due partly to the improved shipping enabling the accumulated stocks in the stores to bo emptied, hut partly also to the steady increase in prices. The value of the imports is about the same as for the twelve months of 1913. As most imported goods have risen by at least 50 per cent, it shows that New Zealand is either buying cautiously or that requirements cannot be filled at Home. The value of soft goods imported "in the nine months increased from £4,014,000 to £5,213,000, and hardware from £1,258,000 to £2,689,000. - Thanks to the war prices, the balance of trade has been steadily growing in our favor, that for the past three quarters amounting to £17,874,000, so that -New Zealand can be accounted a very fortunate country indeed just now when so many countries—especially the Motherland and France—are being hard put to it to carry on. At the same time, we will require all out resources and the most capable administration of our public affairs, to meet the war liabilities and find the money for development work and the renewal of the loans falling due.