H.—44.

In recent years trade with Canada in seeds has been far from satisfactory, principally owing to severe competition and extraordinarily low quotations from foreign countries. The trade is now, however, showing some improvement, and it has been possible to induce renewed interest in New Zealand grass-seeds. Efforts are being made to arrange sales, particularly in grass suitable for pastures, lawns, and golf-links, and when economic conditions improve it is hoped that the trade in these lines will show a very definite improvement. Toheroa soup is now being sold in retail stores and in one of the best chain restaurants in Canada. It is anticipated by the Commissioner that a demand from leading hotels and clubs will follow, and that a response from the public will fully establish this product on the Canadian market. For high-class jams and conserves, such as New Zealand produces, a market cannot be secured at the present time as similar industries are well established in Canada and can more than supply domestic requirements. When supplies of tinned pears and apricots are available from New Zealand in exportable quantities there should be a market in Canada, as considerable supplies of these tinned fruits are imported annually. Australia has achieved some measure of success in the sale of canned fruit, but the prices are fine and competition is very keen. Every effort has been made by the Commissioner to establish a market in Canada for certain products of the New Zealand woollen-mills, and the results were most encouraging so far as woollen rugs and floor-rugs were concerned. Unfortunately drastic increases in the Canadian tariff have now made business in these lines impossible. Despite the decided setback occasioned by the cancellation of the application of the Trade Agreement to New Zealand and by the high duty against butter, it is hoped that business in many primary products will improve. Our future bulk trade with Canada, assuming the existence of satisfactory tariff arrangements, appears to lie in sales of butter, wool, casings, hides, sheep-skins, pelts, and meat —particularly lamb. Limited and variable markets exist for such commodities as fresh apples, hemp, frozen beef, casein, eggs, onions, peas, seeds, dried and preserved milk, and kauri-gum. Island Trade. Fiji. Exports from New Zealand to Fiji in 1930 were valued at £110,033, as compared with £135,652 in 1929. Imports into the Dominion from Fiji, on the other hand, showed an increase in 1930 as compared with 1929, the figures being £200,877 and £174,894 respectively in the two years. The values of exports and imports in each of the last five years are set out below for comparative purposes : — Year ended Exports to Fiji. Imports from Fiji. 31st December, £ £ 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 152,323 892,894 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 120,202 424,785 1928 .. .. .. .. .. 138,706 571,728 1929 .. .. .. .. 135,652 174,894 1930 .. .. .. .. .. 110,033 200,877 Imports from Fiji consist almost entirely of sugar and fresh fruits, the values of these items in 1930 being £141,626 and £49,931 respectively. These two items together constituted 95-4 per cent, of the value of total imports from Fiji in 1930. Imports of sugar into New Zealand from Fiji showed a considerable increase in 1930 as compared with 1929, the values in the two years being £141,626 and £64,177. Fresh fruits, on the other hand, showed a substantial decline, the values being £49,931 in 1930 as against £101,655 in 1929. The values of fruit crops during the 1930 season have doubtless been adversely affected by the hurricanes which have occurred during the last year or so. Bananas are the chief item included under the heading of fresh fruits, imports from Fiji being valued at £97,232 in 1929 and £45,856 in 1930. The fluctuations in the values of the two main items may be seen in the following table, covering the last five years : — IMPORTS INTO NEW ZEALAND FROM FIJI. Year ended Sugar. Fresh Fruits. 31st December, £ £ 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 737,320 145,753 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 270,992 144,730 1928 .. .. .. .. .. 425,733 135,970 1929 .. .. .. .. .. 64,177 101,655 1930 .. .. .. .. .. 141,626 49,931 Tonga. The value of our exports to Tonga in 1930 was £47,958 as compared with £58,599 in 1929—a reduction of £10,641. The value of our imports from Tonga is insignificant each year, owing to the fact that the export trade of that Kingdom is essentially confined to copra, a commodity which does not enter into New Zealand's import trade. Imports into Tonga from various sources consist principally of drapery, hardware, flour, tinned meats, sugar, kerosene, benzine, timber, and gunny bags. The following table shows the values of exports to Tonga from New Zealand and imports into New Zealand of goods of Tongan origin in each of the last five calendar years : — Exports. Imports. £ £ 1926 .. .. .. .. 67,765 36 1927 .. .. .. .. 68,155 79 1928 .. .. .. .. 86,695 14 1929 .. .. .. .. 58,599 138 1930 .. .. .. .. 47,958 19

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