9

A.-4

reason why New Zealand's share of the Fijian business should not be at least equal to that of Australia. We understand that the freights from Great Britain to New Zealand are no greater than to Sydney, harbour charges in New Zealand are less, the distance between Auckland and Fiji is shorter by one-third, and the freight is slightly cheaper. Under circumstances such as these New Zealand should sell a much greater proportion of goods to Fiji than she is at present doing. Imports. Comparative Statement of Values of Principal Imports for the Six Years 1913-18, showing the Countries whence imported and whither exported, also the Total Trade of the Colony.

It will be seen that New Zealand merchants could do much more of the trade in Fiji than they are doing if they set their minds seriously to the task. A splendid market is at their very doors. Fijian merchants and traders generally are favourably disposed towards New Zealand ; some of them, indeed, are anxious to have a closer trade relationship. The following is a list of imports of products and goods wholly or partially manufactured in New Zealand, showing the total trade in those articles and the amount sold by New Zealand merchants and manufacturers. All goods not at present produced in New Zealand have been omitted from the list.

2—A. 4.

1913. I9U. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. niports from United Kingdom Canada India Australia New Zealand Germany United States of America .la pan Parcel-post Other £ 152,998 20,976 57,405 494,161 89.903 17,440 50,217 4,309 16,559 £ 185,771 18,207 42,835 493,458 70,288 18,981 58,702 7,590 31.406 £ 135,552 37,939 41,523 439,422 133,908 219 48,685 11,464 14,962 16.634 £ 146,025 28.127 43,166 425.735 113.254 658 56,292 19,136 16,785 29.322 £ 125,598 26.504 24.205 525.536 174,379 278 68,575 21,786 18,539 26,008 £ 118,104 30,793 32.074 656,164 134.395 4: 113,058 35.724 19.861 26.187 : Total 903,968 927.238 880,308 878,500 1,011,408 1,166,367

New Zealand's Proportion I Total Value of Imports. New Zealand's Proportion. Total Value of Imports. Ii Biscuits Butter Cheese Coffee and chicory Confectionery Fish, tinned Flour, sharps, and pollard Fruit and vegetables ,, preserved Oats, New Zealand Honey, New Zealand Hops, New Zealand Jams and jellies Lard and dripping Meats, preserved Milk, preserved Oatmeal Pickles and sauces Sugar Bricks Coal Coke Manure, artificial Timber for fruit-cases ,, dressed ,, rough Basketware Boats Boots and shoes Boxes and trunks £ 336 4,186 807 157 689 1,040 1,034 3,498 318 85 97 318 74 284 15,041 1,678 213 112 4,276 8 750 69 337 11,480 4,002 513 21 48 43 27 £ 20,420 10,970 1,243 873 2.937 28,392 69,910 14,746 4,692 919 174: 480 2.234 1,530 25,901 5,314 670 1,129 4,326 687 23,864 177 23,837 14,201 19,752 18,329 392 267 14,909 1,458 Brushware Candles Cement and lime Church furniture Cordage and rope Doors and sashes Drapery Drugs Furniture Grease and tallow . . Hats and caps Leatherwaro Fishing-lines Agricultural machinery ,, steam £ 306 6 3,965 5 1,333 393 18,150 698 55 4,060 127 275 62 4 15 1 68 131 968 529 15 42 1,603 17 888 109 331 192 19 £ 1.297 231 4,545 116 8,269 683 222.498 10,422 934 5,111 2,417 8,064 1,344 4.755 9,263 757 3,289 3,333 5,917 540 187 2.591 11,726 409 11,622 1,292 872 2,135 2,688 Oars Paints, dry and in oil ,, mixed Paper (wrapping and bags) . . Pipes, earthenware Putty Soap, fancy ,, plain Starch Stationery Tar and pitch Tinware Twine Umbrellas