JUNE FIGURES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 1, 1 July 1926, Page 10

JUNE FIGURES

WELLINGTON UP, AUCKLAND DOWN

WILL THE DECLINE SPREAD

SOUTHWARD?

Though the Customs revenue collected at Auckland for Juno—compared with last June —shows a decrease of £36,----473, the revenue at Wellington showed an increase of half that amount (£lB,----005), and when the Dunedin and Christchurch and other figures are collected it will probably be found that the Customs revenue for June in total is not less than that for June of 1925. LESS IMPORTS, OR STRIKE EFFECTS? Customs revenue figures just now arc of special interest, because one looks in them for the results of (1) the forecasted contraction of imports, and (2) tho dislocation of shipping caused by the British general strike. Probably the contraction in import orders (mentioned at the annual meeting of the Bank of Now Zealand) has not yet had time to roveal itsolf in reduced import shipments. But the British general strike effects have had time to flow all round the world through the sensitive medium of seacarriage, and the decline of Customs revenue in Auckland in June probably indicates that Auckland, as the principal port of arrival, has been affected first. In ports of later discharge to tlu southward, effects registered in Auckland in the June Customs revenue might reasonably be expected to register in the July revenue. In AVellington there appear to be signs in' this direction, and, while the future is still uncertain, the Auckland decline may possibly foreshadow similar results later in the South. A TEMPORARY FACTOR. Whether the contraction of import orders will make itself felt in tho Customs revenue before temporary strike effects on shipping are thrown off remains to be seen. During June tho net Customs duty and beer duty collected at tho port of Wellington totalled £197,131 18s 5d and £4767 5s 6d respectively; for Juno, 1925, the corresponding figures wero £179,126 15s lOd and £3976 IGs. _