H.—l7

8

Monthly Export Leaflet. This publication by the Department is now in its third year of issue, and the additions in detail made have been much appreciated by exporters and producers. Tt is forwarded to the Press throughout the Dominion, to Chambers of Commerce, farmers' unions, merchants, and shippers ; and, owing to the constant requests from new sources for regular monthly copies, it has been found necessary to considerably increase the issue. Complaints have been made on several occasions that these returns are not reliable ; and there is some ground for these complaints. The information can be obtained through one source only —viz., the Customs Department —and the Customs Act provides for six days' grace to shippers in handing in export entries, and the Customs Department finds it very difficult to get even this liberal allowance observed. It therefore follows that shipments made during the last six days of any month, and often for a greater period, are not recorded until the following month. In my opinion the days of grace should be greatly reduced, and the shippers compelled to strictly observe the law. The returns would then be sufficiently accurate for all purposes. Advice of Exports Shipped from New Zealand. I have again to thank the various shipping companies for their courtesy in supplying the Department with correct copies of their steamers' manifests. The principal particulars of these are cabled to the High Commissioner, who in turn transmits the information to trade papers in Great Britain, and to merchants and brokers. High Commissioner's Cable. The weekly cabled reports from the High Commissioner have been regularly received and published, and the prices obtained at the opening and closing of the wool-sales have also been promptly advised. The appended schedules give the current prices as cabled, and the average price received for every line of produce each month during the past two years. The New Zealand Press Association has the contents of this cable promptly despatched to all its subscribers, and, in the case of a paper not being a member of the association showing good cause why it should have similar information, it is supplied by the Department direct. I consider that the cabled market reports from the High Commissioner could be made more valuable if they were sent with greater frequency when important fluctuations in the market take place, or when any special conditions are operating for or against the market. At present the cables come once a week, and any noticeable fluctuations which may occur between the regular cables are not advised. It may at any time happen that immediately after the sending of the weekly cable a sharp rise or fall may take place in the price of any particular line of produce, and I think it is advisable that when circumstances of this kind arise the particulars should immediately be cabled by the High Commissioner.