SAMOAN TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 22 June 1923, Page 7

SAMOAN TRADE.

MORE SATISFACTORY POSITION I EXPORTS EXCEED IMPORTS. An interesting report on the trade of Western Panioa for the calendar year I : 1022 has been issued by the New Zealand Department of Industries and Commerce. ' i The main feature is that while imports ; to Samoa have fallen off, the export* . ■ show a considerable recovery in 1922, ; with the result that the adverse balance of trade of £167,353 in 1021 has been i changed to a favourable balance of ! £82,671 in 1922. The increase in trade ! in 12 years shows that steady progress :is being made. In 1910 the imports > totalled £173,118, ajid the exports • £1715,5ti5, making a total trade of £340, ! 806. In 1922 the imports totalled ■ £282,930, and the exports £305,610, ■ making a total trade of £648,:>40. In be- ! tween, however, were peak prices during i the war, when copra reached high figures. For instance, in 1919 the imports i , totalled £201,304, and the exports £532, > : sOn. m:ik ; n" a totnl trarle of £923.5R5, i and in 1920 the imports totalled f561,153 and the exports £356,567, making a j total of £047.740. The high cost of goods I imported in 1020 and the lower prices 1 < ruling for exn-rts explain the great • difference in values. The imports for 1f)22 were drawn mainly from the following countries:—' Australia, £104.603; New Zealand. £82 506; United States, £63,345; United Kingdom, £14,202: Canada, £5083. Hone Kons. £4302. and FH. £-1157. Of the total imports from the United States £16.R96 represents benzine, kerosene and lubricatins oil. and £13.871 drapery apparel and textiles. In the latter line I Australia supplies goods to the value of £20,327, New Zealand £9151. and Great j ,' Britain £7404. In dfutrs and chemicals' , New Zealand heads the list with £3093. t In produce New Zealand supplied bacon , and hams to the value of £1113, butter, . £3684. meat in tins £22,224, and in , kegs £6225. While Canada supplied pret served fish to the value of £4429 this i i Dominion only sent £647. f ! It will be "noted that in comparison t with Australia this Dominion enjoys a ( relatively small proportion of the trade . in the following goods:—Tobacco, ba<*s . and sacks, boots and shoes, drapery, 2 leather, matches, paper and stationery, 1 biscuits, flour, jams etc., rice, sugar and , vegetables. ! New Zealand's relative success in such i lines as drugs and chemicals, metal ! manufactures, bacon and hams, butter, I meat, potatoes and onions, soap, and , timber, makes pleasant reading. j ) : The Samoan exports for 1022 were sent | 1 mainly to the following countries- — c United Kingdom. £86,21)8: New Zealand 2 J£l;« 8 t : - A " stralia - £ -* fif U: Canada,' ; . *Jl?°' e tn l ted ?tlteS - £32 - 5 88; Holland. " *!!«!!' I>Tlmark - £113.562: Germany. () s.s>.j,6oS. Cocoa beans f £44 513) and , copra f £319.3331. accounted for' subU stantially the whole value of the export g trade. The only other item worthy of I mention was hides to a value of £539 i __^