THE DECLINE IN EXPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 4

THE DECLINE IN EXPORTS.

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, January N. ' In reference to the reported decline of three millions in tho exports, a. "Star" reporter interviewed Sir, C. V. Houghton, local manager of tho New Zealand Shipping Company. Mr. Houghton considered that tins particular form of comparison was not a lair criterion of tho year's trade. "In fact," lie remarked, "statistics such as those arc, not worth tho paper they are written on." Tho point was, he said, that tho Customs returns were, taken up to December .11, a time of year which was just in the flush of the season, and shipping companies made their calculations up to tho slackest time of the year's trade in New Zealand—this was about June 30, As a oonrpafison. Mr. Houghton stated that in December last thcro were nine ocean-going steamers in New Zealand time-tabled to leave for overseas ports, whereas there wore only four scheduled to leave during June last; in December tho cargoes were composed of the most valuable exports, such as wool, butter,' cheese, etc.,' while in i the winter season they wore carrying Island products—(lax, (rum, or anything which caine along, and which, might be discouraged during the busier export season. This went to indicate tliat if at the end of the year (December 31) the cargo at all ports was coming in with a rush and on account of labour troubles or other difficulties delays occurred in the dispatch of tho ships expected to leave at the end of the month, the whole of the valuable products con-. taincd in their cargo would bo thrown from one year into tho next. A<rain, it was not so much the values of the exports that indicated tho prosperity of a country's trade as the bulk of tho export; the former were subject' to market fluctuation. 1 ;.- just as had occurred in regard to certain staple New Zealand products, to the disparagement, of the .returns. Vor the 1911 season there was no flcubt that New Zealand had dono well from the viewpoint of quality.