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Island Trade. Fiji. The statistical returns of the trade and commerce of the Colony of Fiji for 1932 provide the following details of the values of imports, exports, and total trade of the colony for each of the past five calendar years : —

The next table shows how the trade was principally distributed during 1932 :—

There was a marked increase in the colony's export trade with the United Kingdom in 1932 as compared with 1931, the percentage of total exports supplied in those years being 49-86 per cent, and 12-] 1 per cent, respectively. This increased trade with the United Kingdom was due to the fact that over 54 per cent, of sugar exported was absorbed by that country. Exports to other British possessions fell from 73-67 per cent, in 1931 to 45-74 per cent, in 1932, while exports to foreign countries dropped from 13-91 per cent, in 1931 to 4-27 per cent, in 1932. The proportion of the total import trade of Fiji conducted with the undermentioned countries over the past five years was as follows :—

As will be readily observed, 11-69 per cent, of Fiji's imports in 1932 were obtained from New New Zealand, this representing a satisfactory increase on the figure of 8-76 per cent, recorded for the previous year. Imports into Fiji from New Zealand, amounting in 1932 to £100,255, consisted of a fairly wide range of commodities, of which the following were the most important: Bacon and hams, £2,791 ; bags and sacks, £16,183 ; drapery, £2,390 ; fresh fruit and vegetables, £7,584 ; grease and tallow, £4,599; hardware, £2,024 ; manure, £4,150 ; meats, £5,317 ; photographs and films, £22,888 : soap (plain) £2,878 ; sugar, £2,472 ; and tea, £5,459. Exports from Fiji to New Zealand in 1932 totalled £165,270, the principal items covered by this amount being bananas (£66,677), and raw sugar (£54,844).

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fear ended 31st December, Imports into Fiji. Exports from Fiji. Total Trade. £ £ £ 1928 .. .. .. .. .. 1,483,169 2,701,251 4,184,420 1929 .. .. .. .. .. 1,468,609 1,775,998 3,244,607 1930 .. .. .. .. .. 1,219,184 1,484,526 2,703,710 1931 .. .. .. .. .. 929,514 1,000,187 1,929,701 1932 .. .. .. .. .. 857,346 1,698,964 2,556,310 !

Country. Imports into Fiji. Exports from Fiji. Total Trade. £ £ £ United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 250,748 847,053 1,097,801 Australia .. .. .. .. .. 317,046 50,078 367,124 Canada .. .. .. .. .. 25,675 530,365 556,040 India .. .. .. .. .. 33,944 208 34,152 New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. 100,255 165,270 265,525 Japan .. .. .. .. .. 29,814 4,135 33,949 Dutch East Indies .. .. .. .. 22,633 .. 22,633 United States .. .. .. .. .. 25,937 38,819 64,756

Country. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. United Kingdom .. .. 27-28 28-50 30-65 27-77 29-25 Australia .. .. .. 41-90 37-04 36-90 40-05 36-98 Canada .. .. . 4-19 5-77 4-94 4-32 3-00 India .. .. .. 3-00 4-03 3-55 3-51 3-96 New Zealand .. .. 9-48 9-56 8-39 8-76 11-69 Japan .. .. .. 1-94 1-60 1-45 2-57 3-48 Dutch East Indies .. .. 0-80 1-41 1-80 2-16 2-64 United States .. .. 8-90 8-20 7-06 5-57 3-03