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CUSTOMS ANI) MARINE DEPARTMENT. The trade statistics for the calendar year 1928 show a considerable increase, and create a record since the abnormal years of 1919 and 1920. The total trade was £748,728, an increase of £108,381 over the year 1927. Revenue. The total amount collected by the Department during the financial year amounted to £88,308, as compared with £78,580 for the financial year 1927-28, an increase of £9,728. The following headings show increases in revenue : Import duties, £8,859 (which includes the new Port and Customs service tax, amounting to £6,024 7s. Id.) ; shipping fees, £378 ; lease of sheds, wharfages, &c., £1,017 ; taxes, £295 ; other receipts, including sale of medicinal liquor, £638 ; and a decrease is shown in export duties, £1,459, owing to a rebate being granted on duty of rubber due to the low price in the markets. The following are the receipts under the principal headings, showing a comparison with the year 1927-28 : —

Customs Statistics. Statistics dealing with the trade, commerce, and shipping of the Port of Apia for the calendar year 1928 have been published. Imports. The total value of imports for the calendar year 1928 was £326,553, as compared with £304,369 for the year 1927, an increase of £22,184. The following table shows the countries whence imported, with a comparison for 1927 : —•

The principal items (taken from the Trade Report) which may be commented on are : —lncreases : (1) Drapery, £6,432 —United Kingdom, £5,048 ; New Zealand, £2,650 ; and decline from Australia of £1,884. (2) Fancy goods, £1,596 —principally United Kingdom and United States of America. (3) Metal manufactures, £2,460 —United Kingdom and Australia. (4) Oils, lubricating, £1,214 — United States of America and New Zealand. (5) Biscuits, £1,586 —Fiji. (6) Preserved fish, £2,063 — Canada. (7) Flour, £1,210 —Australia. (8) Meats in tins, £1,075 —New Zealand. (9) Rice, unmilled, £1,714 —Australia. (10) Vehicles, including motor-cars, £3,074 —Canada, £2,077, balance United

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I I I 1927-28. 1928-29. Increase. Decrease. | £ £ £ £ Import duties .. .. .. .. 46,855 55,714 8,859 Export duties— Copra .. .. .. .. .. 13,849 14,031 Cocoa .. .. .. .. .. 1,614 1,639 Rubber .. .. .. .. 1,666 Beche-de-mer .. .. .. .. 13 13 17,142 15,683 .. 1,459 Shipping fees .. .. .. .. 2,121 2,499 378 Lease sheds, wharfage, &c... .. .. 1,059 2,076 1,017 Taxes .. .. .. .. .. 9,511 ff 9,806 295 Miscellaneous, including sale of medicinal liquor 1,892 j 2,530 638 Totals .. .. .. 78,580 88,308 11,187 1,459 _ . Less .. .. .. .. j .. ! .. 1,459 Net increase .. .. .. .. .. 9,728

1927. ! 1928. Countries. Value. Percentage. Value. Percentage. £ £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 62,893 20-6 71,253 21-8 New Zealand .. .. .. .. 88,889 29-2 96,412 29-5 Australia .. .. .. .. 68,700 ! 22-5 68,426 21-0 United States of America .. .. 51,345 16-8 49,606 15-2 Other countries .. .. .. .. 32,542 10-9 40,856 12-5 Total .. .. .. 304,369 100-0 ' 326,553 100-0