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ploughs, harrows, cultivators, and drills. The manufacturers in these countries are stated to open their own branches in the Dominion, put their own men in charge, carry large stocks at convenient centres, spend money liberally on canvassing and advertising, and give easy terms of payment. Their products are lighter and cheaper, but are thought not to be so good as the British; but this high quality of British products is, in fact, a disadvantage, as it involves a higher price, and the New-Zealander prefers a lighter and cheaper machine. The Canadian and American manufacturers have also the advantage that the needs of New Zealand in regard to this particular class of goods are practically identical with those they have to meet in their own countries. It was, hoxvever, stated that, though British manufacturers xvere formerly conservative in their methods and in adherence to their old designs, they have recently shown a greater disposition to meet colonial requirements; but it is doubted whether it would be worth their while to make the very considerable effort that would be necessary to recover the New Zealand market, especially in view of the fact that New Zealand is now manufacturing very largely for itself. The low prices at xvhich American harvesting machinery is offered in New Zealand caused the Dominion manufacturers to complain of unfair competition, and the New Zealand Government has by legislative enactment armed itself with powers to check such competition, should it think necessary. Enamelled Hollow-ware.—The better-class ware, such as kettles, jugs, pans, &c, made of stamped steel, come chiefly from Austria and Germany; the heavier articles, made chiefly of cast iron and xvhite-enamelled or tinned inside, are supplied by England. The German ware is thinner and wears better than the British, and it has always been cheaper. Wicker and Wood Manufactures. —Bent-wood furniture comes from Austria, and there is a large supply of woodware from the United States and Canada, which have, of course, the advantage of unlimited and cheap supplies of timber. Oils. -The supply of kerosene comes entirely from the United States, which also furnishes the greater part of the turpentine taken by New Zealand. Bengal has a practical monopoly as regards castor-oil, and in regard to other kinds of oil (with the exception of linseed) foreign countries—chiefly the United States—and British possessions furnish more than three-quarters of the total import. Manures.—The bulk of these is furnished by various British possessions and by foreign countries. Artificial manures appear to come largely from Germany, and recently considerable quantities of superphosphates have been imported from Japan. It is expected that the latter competition xvill increase, as the Japanese article has a higher percentage of phosphoric acid than the British, and can also be supplied more cheaply, as the Japanese are said to be able to land the material in New Zealand at about 10 per cent, less than is possible for the British articles. Coal. —The import into New Zealand of this fuel is not very large, amounting in 1906 to only a little over £195,000 in value, and of this practically the whole came from New South Wales. Miscellaneous Goods. —The trade in leather purses, bags, and dressing-cases is said to have been '' practically abandoned to the German makers ''; fancy china ornaments, cups and saucers, and cheap china of every description is also almost entirely of German origin; mattings come from Japan, bags and sacks from Bengal, and toys of all descriptions from Germany and Switzerland. (ii.) Imports in reyard to which there is a Large or Increasing Competition from Foreign Countries or British Possessions. Cigarettes. —This is a rapidly increasing trade, the imports having risen from £37,560 in 1900 to £73,828 in 1905, and then sharply to £105,167 in 1906. Until 1903 the whole of the imports were of United States origin, but since then the British share has rapidly increased, and in 1906 amounted to £46,559, as against £57,614 from the United States. In view, however, of the xvell-known arrangements betxveen the British and American tobacco companies as to the division of the trade in their commodities, it is impossible to draw any exact conclusions from the figures just quoted. Boots and Shoes. —The recent history of the import trade in these articles presents certain curious features. In 1900 the total imports amounted to £194,754, of which £129,464 were from the United Kingdom and only £46,807 from the United States. Then, however, came a vigorous attack on the New Zealand market by American manufacturers, aided for a time by extremely lowfreights, with the result that by 1903 out of the total import of £245,639 the American share had risen to £107,713, whilst the British share had declined to £118,209. Since then, hoxvever, as xvill be seen from the statistics in Appendix No. 5, though the total imports have steadily progressed in value, the share of the trade taken by the United States manufacturers has fallen off with great rapidity, whilst the British exporters have as rapidly recovered their ground, until in 1906, of the total import valued at £297,552, £204,030 (or more than two-thirds) is assigned to the United Kingdom and only £46,846 to the United States. The boot and shoe industry is making rapid strides in New Zealand itself, and there is a growing importation also from Australia. It is stated that in men's heavy boots (i.e., watertights, bluchers, and shooters) New Zealand depends entirely on colonial production, as they are better than any imported goods for the kind of work for which they are used, and it is added that the boots for youths and girls produced in the Dominion are better and cheaper than similar imported goods. It is further stated that among the good qualities of the work produced by the American manufacturer, which enabled him to make for a time such rapid headxvay, were uniformity of quality, greater smartness, and the fact that American goods always opened in the best condition —the goods, cartons, and cases being perfectly dried before packing, whereas in many cases the British shipments arrived in bad condition and xvere stale-looking and musty. Various firms recommended the United States method of packing in 36- and 72-pair cases, packed on end, one tier only, and cases made to fit cartons, xvhich insures