TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 9

TRADE WITH AMERICA.

The Xew Zealand Trado Review of prices current for July, referring to our trade with America for tho year ended Zilst December, says- — ..The total valuo of our imports (£1,405,781) is moro than double that of our exports, but shows a falling-oil from the year 1905 of about £33,000, or a littlo over 2 per cent. _ '11113 decline is seen in a great many lines, the most important being as follows : — Bicycles, £4000 ; boots and shoas, £14,000 ; carriages, caits and materials, over £6000 ; hardware, nearly £4000; glassware and bottles, £3500 '; iron wire, £21,000 ; rails, over £20,000 ; plccti-ic machinery, £20,000 ; gas-mak-ing machinery, nearly £7000 ; sowing machines, £'1000 ; printing paper, £8000; tramway plant. £13.000; woodenware, £4000. On the other hand several lines exhibit increase, more or less substantial, the most noticeablo being the following .- —Apparel and slop 3, £4000 ; cotton piece goods, nearly £4000 ; fruits, dried and fresh, £8000 ; gas and oil engines, nearly £6000 ; printing machinery, over £13,000; metal manufactures, £10,500 ; ' nails, nearly £7000 ; oiis other than keiosenc, £21,000 ; coeds, £6000 ; timber, £4000; tobacco (inclusive), £12,000; tuipeiuino and driers, £7000; wax £4000. lhe falling-off on bicycles is heavy and continuous since 1903. and the came may be said of boots and shoes. In candles the imports practically ceased in 1905, and though some arc coming in from Canada iho imports fiom the dominion in 1906 only amounted to £2000. Canvas also shows continuous decline, and in this line Canada's supply amounted last year to £5883. Of canned fish also American shipments have de'ereased sinco 1903, while Canada's supply last year amounted to nearly £13,000. Shipments of American hardware aro on the down grade, as also aro thoso of printing paper. Of the latter trade Canada secmn to be getting tho benefit as our imports from the dominion in 3506 rcacl«d a value of £33,599. In come of these lines the preferential tariff of 1903 seems to be having a sensible effect to tho advantage of the United Kingdom and Canada, as we have previously pointed out when reviewing Now Zealand's imports from all quarters.

No change (soys tho Wertniiiisf-er Gazette) is likely to be- made m the altitude of the miners -who ask for an fight-hour day by the report of tho departmental committee, which has been enquiring into ths probable effort of that alteiation of tho working-day. At iho same, time, the committee has collected a great amount of information ::fj to the present hours of working, much of which will bo novel to those who have engaged in tho controversy around the Bill. The committee does not accept the conclusion that the output would bo reduced in proportion to the reduction in hours, but it docs think thnt Iho change might increase the cost of production in a manner that would have possible ssrious effects upon other branches of industry. It is v<;ry decided in ite recommendation that a supsnsory power should bo i stained by. tho Government, which could bo used in tha event of clear cvid-anoo of injuvy in any direction. !Ur. Gl'idslone will probably 'find it possible to draft a Bill that, will meet the damanrl of thn miners' without risking .any wid tun road dislocation cJ tvuAts.