SIX MONTHS' TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1924, Page 6

SIX MONTHS' TRADE

CREDIT.OF TEN MILLIONS

BIG INCREASE IN IMPORTS,

The Government .Statistician reports that the total external trade of the Dominion for the six months ended"3oth June, . 1924, amounted to £55,937,769, which is greater than for the corresponding period in any previous year. Imports claimed £22,644,403, and exports £33,293,366, a favourable balance of £10,648,963 resulting. Exports showed an advance of £2,500,000 as compared with the 1923 period, wool being the principal contributory to the increase.

The value of wool exported to the end of June was £12,188,971, as against £8,----453,911 itx the first six months of 1923, the increase being due, however, not so much to ths greater quantity exported as to the record prices obtained this year. Substantial increases are also evident in 6heep-skins and rabbit-skins.

A £alling-off occurred in the export of the following commodities : butter, £900,000; cheese, £400,000; frozen beef, £170,000; and preserved milk, £100,000. MOTOR-CAR IMPORTS. Imports of £22,644,403 compare favourably with the 1923 .figure of £21,----190,732. The importation of motorvehicles continues at an increased rate, tho figures for the six months ended June, 1924, being £1,705,511, as against £1,007,828, in the corresponding portion of 1923, and £1,282,123 in the first half of the record year of 1920.

At the rate-motor-cars are.at present coming into the country the yearly total for 1923 should easily eclipse the record of 1920. About 60 per cent, of the ears are of Canadian origin, the greater part of the balance coming from the United States. . .

Other increases of importance during the six-monthly period were electrical machinery, £500,000; wheat, £400,000; and coal, £300,000. On the other band cotton and woollen piece-goods showed a drop of £200,000 in each case. • . TRADE WITH- GERMANY. The result of the removal of the em-, bargo on the importation of German goods as from Ist September last is seen in the increased trade with Germany, particularly as regards exports. During the incidence of the embargo .the greatest imports of goods of German origin in any one year amounted to £68,915, while exports reached a maximum of £218,338. For the first six months of 1924 exports obtained the pre-war dimensions of £1,077 153 while imports of £90,193, although still on a low level, were greater thaii during any whole year since the imposition of the embargo.

For twelve months ended 30th June the trade figures are as follow : 12 Months. £ Exports. 48,445,826 Imports 44,832,164 Balance in favour of Dominion £3,613,662 Of., theJ.°H l, sports, for the- past six months £.53,560,994, the United Kinei dom took £26,731,764, and imports thence were £11,012,963; United States purchased (exports) £1.842.681, and sold (imports) valued, at £3,674,643 Germany took. £1,077,153 of New Zea' land products in exchange, for £90,193 ol her exports to this country. France Italy, Netherlands, Japan, and Pacific Islands all took more goods from New Zealand m money value than they sold in exchange. . ■ .