TRADE AND FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1932, Page 12

TRADE AND FINANCE

PRODUCE & MARKED REPORTS FROM DAY TO DAY

X EXTERNAL TRADE

"MARKED IMPROVEMENT

business conditions;

, Post,?' Bth February,

■ -'With all the external trade figures for 1931. before him, the Government Statistician is able to briefly review the position of the He.describes ~trade conditions '■■ as ' ./'particularly eh-' couraging for the' month (of December) j and the visible balance in. favour of the' •Dominion records,a' further marked improvement." For the twelve months' ended 31st December" the position in terms' 'of; New Zealand currency stands as fbllows:— ■'- •■'■ /■ •'■■■■. ■ • '■• .■■■• •.. i ".■';:■ Balance In favour of the Dominion at f 31st December, 1931, £8,500,000, approximately. : ■ Balance in favour of the Dominion ; at 31st December, 1930, £195,000. Heavy" shipments .of practically, all the principal primary products went forward (during December. - - /'local wool sales were generally disappointing, but latest advices from overseas suggest a brighter. outlook. /The frozen, meat market appears to be ; ifbversupplied. A weakened market has been the feature ■ bfr the month in respect to dairy produce, , tmt production continues heavy in terms of-butter-fat; although cheese lags behind last year's total. As a pendant to these remarks the grading returns of .the Dairy Division for the sis months" ended 31st January last oompared with those for the corresponding period of 1932. were as follows:— ■'■■■;' ■,'.'■■ 6mouths, 6months, . ... 1932. 1931. '■■. ; :-:; ..■ ■: ■■••-:' . Tons.-', Tons. ~-- (Butter ...... 68,599 63,858 . , Cheese" ';..;..-• 52,082 ' 56,369 in butter for, the.period, 7.42 j>er cent.;, decrease incheesej 7.60 percent., ■r? In. terms' of -butter-fat production there .is; an increase for the period of 3.762 per cent. butterfa.t over the corresponding six ; inonths of 1930-31. , ;,;■ ; -' : '..,, The Government Statistician also rei ports that "financial circles were brighter during the month (December) than' has been the experience of late." ■ fThe returns 'of the banks .to 18th January- compared with those of the corresponding date last year were as . follows:— ■■'-■:■..■ .■;.:. ■:/■ ' . 1932." 1931. ,- "'v,- . ■■ . ' : £'■■■■. £.'.',■ :--Govt.-deposits .... 1,644,696 2,525,998 rFiee deposits .... 16,816,197 18,395,200 Fixed deposits";.... 34,632,140' '.33,041,300. 'Advances .....,..;.. 48,794,186 53,232,053 Discounts ..;-..:.. 688,278. 1,087,848 ;; Th 6; -building industry is described as . \ißhbwing ;iio, signs of improvement, but on :the contrary reaching a neV; low level; - and .bankruptcies, had increased' appreci- ■■• ably. Real estate business showed a slight of activity during December, '; but' the volume of business "handled was. -.; well .below- that of December, 1930. Mort- ' :gage business also' showed, a slight, irii- - provement'.forthe month, but registrations . are • well idown •on those; of last year (