IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 143, 17 June 1916, Page 9

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

TRADE WITHIN-THE EMPIRE.

Under the heading of "Customs^" a clear idea of the tremendous volume of trade which has been carried out by the Dominion during the past year was given by the Minister, who said: —

"When the estimate of Customs revenue was made for the year just closed it was anticipated that there, would be a considerable restriction of importation owing to increased freights, lack of shipping facilities, difficulties of getting orders fulfilled, and the total exclusion of trade with Germany and Central Europe. The revenue was accordingly estimated on a conservative basis at £2,800,000. . In addition to this, it was expected that primage for seven months, and increased duties on spirits, motor-cars, gas and oil-engines, would bring £145,000, making a total of £2,945,000. The amount actually realised was £3,365,568, being £420,568 over the total estimate. This remarkable surplus is accounted "for mainly by the great increase in the value of goods the world over. While the volume of imports has somewhat decreased, the value remains approximately the same as in former years. The following comparison of tonnages and values of imports show this: — Year. . Value. Tonnage. 1913 . £22,288,302 1,563,464 1914 ... £21,856,096 1,538,755 1915 ... £21,728,834 1,370,057 "It is gratifying to note that Great Britain and British dominions still maintain their full share of the goods ordered for New Zealand. Out of the total im-, ports ..of £21,728,834, Great Britain and British dominions seat £17,727,137, the balance being distributed between the United States and other countries. The new duties for tho seven months during which they were in. operation amounted1 to £149,000, and of this amount primage duty of 1 per cent, on all imports was responsible for £98,000. Comparative figures shoeing the value of exports for 1914 and 1915 are as follow : — 1914. 1915. £26,261,447 £31,748,912 The value of the exports for 1915 is the highest ever recorded, the increase being, of course, greatly due to the high prices of our staple products." ENEMY TRADING. "Trading with the enemy" is referred to in the following terms:'—• "To assist the British Government in preventing supplies reaching the enemy, many restrictive regulations under Or-ders-in-CouJicil have been issued during the past year. No goods may be exported to Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, or Sweden without special application to the Minister of Customs. Hides, leather wool, tallow,, and fatty substances yielding glycerine can be exported to Britain or British dominions only. To more effectively prevent trade by enemy firms through neutral countries, regulations have been issued providing that any company or firm shall be regarded as an. enemy company or firm which had, prior to the war, its chief place of business in enemy territory, and it is further provided that, where the Attorney-General is satisfied that any business is carried on either in or out of New Zealand for the benefit of enemies; such business may be declared to be an enemy business, and any such business existing in New Zealand at the present time must be placed in the hands of the Public Trustee as custodian of enemy property. There has been reason to believe that small quantities of goods made in Germany "have reached the Dominion from time to time through neutral countries in spite of the precaution which has been taken to obtain the certificate of the British Consular officers at neutral ports of exportation. Numerous instances of goods marked 'Made in Germany' have been brought to the notice of the Department of Customs, but full investigation has frequently shown that such goods either came out of the enemy steamers which were interned in neutral ports upon the outbreak of the war or that they had been held in stock in shops and wholesale warehouses long before hostilities commenced. It is consequently unsafe to assume that all goods marked 'Made in Germany' have been unlawfully imported. Nothing, however, has or will be left undone to stop the importation of all enemy goods."