BUSINESS STATISTICS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20257, 8 June 1931, Page 12

BUSINESS STATISTICS.

MONTHLY REVIEW. The May Abstract of Statistics, just to band, deals with business statistics for, the month of April ; fhp indexes of business activity afforded by the banking statistics for the month of April are difficult of interpretation, •as it is impossible to measure the extent of abnormal influences, such .as price and; wage reductions, adverse., exchange" rates, etc.,upon the recorded movements in the various figures. - However, the volume of bank debts placed to. individual customers' accounts ap>pears.rto indicate a slight relative quickening in the flow of business.

The dairying- season is now drawing to a close, and production throughout has been well maintained. It is unfortunate, .therefore, for the industry, that the marketing side of the question remains obstinate to improvement.. The butter market at present is flooded, all countries maintaining a high level of production. Hie overseas trade index this month is. exceedingly disappointing. The value of exports dwindled con-' siderably, and < fell * well -below what may be termed a;; normal level. " Frozen meat, butter, and cheese . are the commodities re-, sponsible, for the bulk x»f the decrease. Wool, .on the. other hand,, has reversed its previous | trend, • and the» market is characterised by increased confidence. . Apparently,* a sudden _ realisation that prices' could 1 nbt possibly "decline appreciably any-farther lias galvanised 'buyers anil' ' lreavy purchasing,, in the' improved < bee"«spoc«ra fro® stocks held i» manufacturing .countries prior to this-change seriously, depleted, and ; Taii ensiling increase in consumption should 'maintain the price-level more an upward] grade. '' • Imponte'- iemained on, mucbHne same; level previous, month. • , / „ Financial, circles %&»- "exceedingly; quiet during'the month J the- volume of' ' business transacted ; being"- : far belownorinal; and' recording the"-4oweet level' ever experienced 'since 'monthly statistics have .been - 'instituted, in* respect of the' real-estate and' mortgage businesses.'' *'>' Shipping toontipoed to. show signs of ■ increased activity. Railwav passenger-' I .traffic -for the .year, ended.'March 31st, 1931 v shows no cessation' of the annual decline in evidence now v for many 'years.' - ou' : the other hand,' while decrease, was still- maintained'.>atcomparatively •favourable level.". Miration, was' at * standstill during" thevniontli, comparatively speaking: ■„ The r housing prpblem, is. no-longer a-pressinKorie, according ■to the-figures of-building-permits ■ issued. Huge-decreases for i new dwellings were in evidence- throughout" the. Dominion, particularly in the Ifcrge' cities. The total prospective building' activity, as indicated bv the statistics of permits issued, was far and away below the level ever experienced" in recent years.

THE POULTRY MARKET. CANTERBURY CO-OP. POULTRY PRODUCERS, LTD.

■*. Tie C&otarhury-iCo-op.'. Poultry - Producers,' •Ltd.,- report that, poultry- U still coming- forward in fur' numbers,' and prices remain about- the-'sanie.' V•' - ..The follcnViiur- prices were realised per pair:—Table-chickens: light 85~.6d to\ss 6d, r heavr to. 95.6d.j-fieuß,: lieht 2s 6d to Sa 6d," heavy 4s to "6s; duclce, 4s to 6s; .geese, 5s to 6s; turkeys, li(Jns.l2s to ißs, 'gobblers lSg to 255. . ,r, . - Eggs— fcr the are:— 1 Firsts Ss Id, seconds Is"lfldt-pallets Is Bd, i.and ducks' 1 2s. s . - "—8 LONDbN QUOTATIONS.

(TOITKO, FIIESa 4S6OCTATIO«V-BI BUSCIBIO ' (Received June 7th ( .5.5',p.m.) , LOtfriON, Juno- 8. .-Friday's closing prides -wore-is follows: Cotton —July, 4.OGd. ■ , Rubber —Para, 4Jd; 'plantation smoked, l£d. ' " - - Jute—June^July, £l6 7a <jd. - riemp—May-J one, '■ ■ nominally • i £2o. * Capra-pJune-July, -Soatfj Sea, £lO ,sb; plantation, Rabapl, £lo'7s'-6d.' v I Linseed-0i1—516.,. ' - '•, - Turpentine—i6s 3d.

KIRWEE ' SALE. At tlio monthly solo' held at ] Kirn ee last Friday there, was an ettry of- about 600 etore .sheep. There was- a '-good, attendance, and a good demand for young ewes and forward lambs. Amongst those sold' ■were:—Sixty mixed-sex lambs at 13s 10d„ SO at 10s Bd, E5 two-tooth owes at 17s 6d, 70 smaller at 15s, 35-fat ewes-at 10s Id. Pigs: Weaners ISs, baconors £4. . Thocliief' items in a clearing eale held in the saleyards were:—Holler £ls, drill £32, grubber £ls, harrows .£3 10b, Drummond harrows £5 10s, binder £33, two drays £lO to £l2, two cows , (lute calvers,- in. mflk). £8 10s and £4 10s, dry cow £3, heifer calf £l. Is, draught mars £7 10s, .agedv Warn £7,< gelding £3 10s. A large quantity of sundries realised current values.

■ .Addisbr t British., Minister for Agriculturo, addressing a conference of ]£ast Anglian agriculturists fit Canibridge, said that the/sa]e : of milfe would be doubled if they' could give hou&e wives a guarantee af purity. "We P. advertise, ourselves enough in this country," said. ''lf you-had. n national eujllj board nnddecided to, levy 1 per eent v of the total' "saleb for t" f " purpose of d/erlising.."that'percentage would amount. ,to £600,000 » year. . Last .year, we./spent £7OOO advertising British, milk, aM we patoui'solvea on the back,'but we are only playing at it.!' . * ■, » /