AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10270, 13 February 1899, Page 6

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

«■ • (rSESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, February 11. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, the balance-sheet showed that the receipts had been £320, and that there was a credit balance of £184. A number of new members were elected. The President, Mr Burns, in his address, said that Auehland this year had imported £61,000 worth more of goods than last year. There had been also an increase in shipping and tonnage, and a decreass of imports from the United Kingdom. In the number of vessels entered inwards at Auckland, there was an increase of 13, the numbers being 220 last year, 233 this year. The number of vessels entered outward slrowed an increase of 20. Tli3 tonnage showed an increase inwards of 44,263, and outwards of 30,212. The following were the details of increased imports:—From Australia an increase of £3400, Pacific Islands- £129,000, Asia £14,000, Ceylon £5000, British Columbia £2750, East Coast of America £43,000. The only decrease of importance was in imports from the United Kingdom, a decrease of £94,000. On the whole, however, there was a net increase on Auckland imports of £61,000, and the increase in exports was still larger, totalling £311,000. The details of, increases were:—United Kingdom £46,000, Australia £150,000, Europe £13,000, East Coast of America £76,000, West Coast of America £36,000. The increase of exports to the United Kingdom, however, indicated a falling off in some respects, because the increase in gum alone was about £91,000. This was balanced, however, by a decrease of about £30,000 in wool. The large increase in our exports to Australia showed the importance of New Zealand paying due regard to the question of federation now being dealt with. As to the balance of trade, he foiind that Australia imported from Auckland £94,000 more than Auckland imported- from Australia. The East Ccast of America took £135,000 in excess, and the West Coast of America £104,000 in excess. In trade with, the United Kingdom, the imnorts exceeded the exports by £478,000. "With the Pacific Islands the imports exceeded the exports by £245,000, Asia", imports £51,000 in excess of exports. Altogether there was an excess of imports over exports amounting to £510,000. The export of gold this year amounted to £527,000, being £135,000 in excess of last year. The export of kauri gum was a record, the quantity exported being nearly 10,000 tons, or about one-half more than the quantity last year. A large quantity had been dealt with, but at the end of the year there was only 300 tons left in stock in Auckland, against 1000 tons last year, indicating that the demand for gum had been equal to supply. In value, gum topped gold,, the total being £586,000, as against £387,000 last year. Of other exports the principal increases were:—Frozen meat £10,000. cheese £1000, flax £2300, tallow butter £9000. The President concluded by expressing pleasure at the prospect of penny postage. Mr Burns was re-elected President.