H.—44.

Trade with the United States. The value of our exports to the United States for the year ended 31st December, 1930, was £2,116,752, as compared with £3,653,327 for the previous year—a reduction of £1,536,575. Imports aggregated £7,571,460, as compared with £9,319,926 for the year ended 31st December 1929- a reduction during 1930 of £1,748,466. The value of our export and import trade in each ot the last five years, and also its importance relatively to total export and import trade, is shown m the table which follows :—

Not only has the relative value of our exports to the United States declined in recent years, but the absolute value has also declined substantially. This is clearly indicated by the table which is given below, showing the values of the principal items exported from the Dominion to the United States during the last three calendar years.

As far as imports are concerned, the most important decrease occurred in regard to motor-vehicles and materials and parts for same. The recorded-value of this item in 1929 was £2,054,782, whereas in 1930 it only amounted to £839,356, a reduction of £1,215,426. Trade with the East. In accordance with a decision of the Government made some months ago, the New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner in Australia left Sydney on the 23rd May last for the Dutch East Indies and Singapore for the purpose of ascertaining on behalf of the Government the prospects of marketing the products of this Dominion in the East, and also the prospects of developing tourist traffic between those countries and New Zealand. . There should be no insurmountable obstacle to a development of the markets both m the Dutch East Indies and Singapore for such of our exportable products as are required in those territories. The absence of a direct steamer service is a decided disadvantage, but this is a handicap that would probably be removed if the volume of our trade with those portions of the East could be developed to sufficiently large dimensions to warrant the inauguration of improved regular shipping facilities The value of our imports from those countries annually exceeds by a large margin the value ot our exports In 1929 and 1930, for instance, the values of exports from New Zealand to the Dutch East Indies were £19,191 and £13,029 respectively, while the values of imports into New Zealand from that source in the same years were £1,152,705 and £811,372 respectively. Butter was the principal item exported in each year, this being valued at £8,808 in 1929 and £6,530 m 1930. The values of exports from New Zealand to the Straits Settlements (Singapore and Penang Islands &c )in 1929 and 1930 were £26,556 and £20,360. Imports into New Zealand from that source in the same two years aggregated £103,782 and £57,996. Here again butter was the principal item exported, the value recorded being £18,035 in 1929 and £16,778 in 1930 Dried preserved and condensed milk and cream was next in importance, being valued at £5,707 m 1929 and £2,114 m 1930. It is obvious that a balance of trade more favourable to New Zealand than at present is highly desirable. t commo dities which it is hoped to market in increasing quantities in the East are butter : casein ; dried, preserved and condensed milk ; cheese ; honey ; and fruit. Our present sales of such products to the East are comparatively insignificant, but it is hoped that by carefully ascertaining market requirements, and by paying strict attention to such matters as packing, branding, and advertising appropriate to the East, New Zealand may be able to find m that part of the world an increasingly valuable outlet for her principal exportable products.

10

_ I Per Cent, of Total T nmnrt, Per Cent, of Total Year. Exports. j Exports. Imports. Imports. £ ! £ 1926 .. .. •• 3,818,232 | 8-43 10,000,507 20-05 1927 .. .. 2,681,091 5-53 8,079,467 18-04 1928 .. 4,260,315 7-58 8,204,197 18-28 1929 .. .. .. 3,653,327 6-57 9,319,926 19-10 1930 .. .. .. 2,116,752 4-71 7,571,460 17-60

1928. 1929. 1930. I £ £ £ Hides, pelts, and skins .. 1,874,226 1,650,976 1,057,715 Sausage casings and skins .. •• 272,616 262,559 331, Woo l 701,730 656,656 267,720 Phormium tenax .. •• •• 96,291 138,776 Kauri-gum 141,845 129,432 69,496 Grass and clover seeds .. 69,986 76,568 Frozen beef 358,345 242,972 15,659 Frozen mutton .. •• •• 14,210 n'ms Tallow 19 >554 23,086 9,505 Butter 328,140 75,955 108 Cheese .. •• 24,508 14,829 Casein 3,739 324 111