BANK RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 91, 17 April 1906, Page 4

BANK RETURNS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON,

The hank returns at the close of the March, quarter were as follow: Assets £22,830,581; liabilities £23.428,029, excess of liabilities £597,448. t The liabilities and assets of each bank at the close of the quarter were: Bank of New Zealand, liabilities £12,071,032, assets £9,007,824; Union Bank, liabilities. £3,173,074; assets £3,447,772; Bank of New South Wales, liabilities £3,040,770, assets £3,768,434; Bank of Australasia, liabilities £1,894,609, assets, £3,186,357; National Bank of New Zealand, liabilities, £ 3,248.544, assets £3,420,194; totals., liabilities £23,428,----029, asse:^ , £22,830,(581. *

Regarding advances during the March quarter the amount was reduced by £89,638, as compared with the December quarter, but as compared with a year ago there is. an' increase of £1,066,----671, in TrMsei all banks except the Bank ot Australasia, participated.. The Union Bank secured ths best of the business in point of volume, and the National Bank also did very 'Well.

The discounts compare as follows: Bank of ISew Zealand: March, 1905, £996398; March, 1906, £1,003,660. Union Bank: 1905, £182,899; 1906, £185,087. Bank of New South Wales: 1905, £352,273; 1906, £300,505. Bank of Australasia; .1905, £326.000; 1906, £337,947. National Bank of New Zearland: 1905, £291,324; 1906, £310,422. Totals: 1905. £2,149,094; 1906, £2,143,----483.

The deposits show a slight increase, and are:—Bank of New Zealand: March, 1905, £4.336,220; March, 1906, £4,402,----034. Union Bank: 1905, £1,248,947; 1906, £1 ; 595,355. Bank of New South Wales: 1905, 1906, £1,606, 523. Bank of Australasia: 1905, £679,----693; 1906, £,720,275. National Bank of New Zealand: 1905, £1,429,093; 1906. £1.463.973. Totals: 1905; £9,216 702----1906, £9,791.160. . '

It seems that the banks are able to make fuller use of deposits at their disposal, for, taking feed and free deposits together and advances and discounts together, the margin between, fue two is less than for the three previous years. The note circulation is £59,69?" greater than for "the same quarter of last year, and the total circulation, £1v517,668, is the largest for the past seven years, as the following figures will show March 31, 1901, £1.349,225; l? 02, £1,353106----£1903, £1,413543; 1904, '£1,471108' 1905, £1,457,970; 1906, £1.517,668. With regard to coin and bullion there is again an increase, owing to the efforts of the banks to maintain a strong metal ■ -■■■• _ . * . ■

The- figures in their entirety are extremely satisfactory, and display much better position than at the corresponding: date of laet year. They a Uo emphasise the continued OTowwrttr ©£ the colony • i. •': T v I .