BANK RETURNS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12480, 17 April 1906, Page 10

BANK RETURNS.

(press association Trx-r-rtAM.' WELLINGTON. April 10. Tho bank re.urns at the clot-o of the Maich quarter were:—Assets. £22.830,581; liabilities. £23.428,029; excet-ts of liabilities. £597.448. The liabilities and ac-set.- of each bank at the doe of the quarter wore:—New Zealand, liabilities £12.071.032, flue's £9,01)7,824; Union. £3.173,071. £3.117,772; New South WaYs, £3,018,770, £3.703.434; Australasia. £1.894.1)09. £3.180.357: National, £3.240,544. £3,420.194. Totals. L 23.428.029—£22,830.581. Regarding advancer.. during the March quarter the amount was reduced by £89.(338. as compared with December, but compared with a year ago, there is an increase of £1,000,071 in which all the banks except the Hank of Australasia participated. ihe Union Bank secured the best ot the business in point of volume, and the National Bank also did very well.

Tlio movements in advances, as thoy affect each hank, are shown in the following:—New Zealand. March, 1905, £1,525,221; March 1900. £1.820,957; Union, £1,793.514. £2.209.130-. New South Wales. £2.248.710. £2.294.532; Australasia, £2,348.718, £2,307,101 ; National. £2.003,979. £2,294.090. Totals, £12.925,151. £13.991,822.

The following figures show the movements of free deposits as they affect each institution: —New Zealand, March 1005. £1.079.477. March 1900. £4.544,001; Union, £1,355.851, £1.400.681; New South Wales. £1.259.897. £1.219.727: Australasia, £991.001. £1.029.097: National, £1.344.027, £1.487.913. Totals, £9.030,853, £9.712.019.

It seem* that the hanks are able to make fuller itse of tlie deposits at their for ta-kinjj; fixed and free deposits together, and advances and discounts together. Tlie margin between the two is leps than for the three previous yeans. Tlie figure*- are:— March 31ot. 1901. deposits £10.120.721, advances and discounts C 12.110.710, excess of deposits £3.010.002: 1902. £10.400,600. £12,090.189. £2.710.411; 1003. £16.f)00.o28, £12.003.744. £4.032.784: 10 04, £17.fi0fi..*i72. £t 4,421.088. £3.23-1,481 * 1 !> 0 o , £18.247,050, 10.074.245, £3.173.310; 10 0 G . £19.003.179, £10.13-5.305, £2.872.874.

Tho circulation is £09.G98 grentrr than for the same quarter of la-t voir, nnd tho total circulation—£l.ol7.ooß

—is the largest for the seven years, af the following will ohow: — March 31st, 1901, C1.34n.220; 1902, £1.303.irW>: 1903. £1.413.213; 1904, £1.171.108; 100.), £1,457.970; I9OG, £1..->l7,fi(iß.

With regard to coin and bullion thero its a*r.aiim an increase, owing to th:» effortis of the hanks to maintain a fitrong mot-al reserve. Coin nnd bullion holding-' for the March quarter of

I the past six yeans compare as hinder:— 1001. £2.88.3.30!): 1002, £. r U19..->ll; 11)03. .CS.'WS.S-U; I—, ' £:..811.!H!); lilOo. £'i.!»i9.'M; 1900; |£(.2!i0.2.W. ! The li;4uie< in their entirety are extremely satisfactory, and cli,-play a ': liiueh better position than at the eor-rc-pfmding date last year. They also otnphnsise the continued prosperity of j the colony.