EXPORT TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 21634, 1 February 1934, Page 16

EXPORT TRADE

recent Statistical returns MR GO. 1 REVIEWS DOMINION FIGURES [Per United Press Association.] FEILDING, January 31. Speaking at the opening of the show the Minister of Justice (Mr J. G. Cobbe) gave an interesting review of the p c - nl extent of New Zealand’s export trade and the prices which tho commodities are bringing. Quoting from figures specially prepared by the Government Statistician, the Minister stated that the dominion’s trade had changed for the better within the last few mouths. The preliminary trade statistics tor , 1933 revealed an excess of commodity exports amounting to £15,425,000 in New Zealand currency, equal to £12,340,000 on a sterling basis. The value in New Zealand currency of exported produce was £41,005,919, an increase of £5,396,000 over 1932. Expressed in sterling, the value of exports in 1933 was £32,805,000, an increase of £432,000 over the total for the previous year. The quantities of the main primary products exported during 1933 were greater than in the preceding year, the aggregate value ot exports being slightly higher in sterling, and considerably higher in New Zealand currency, than in the previous year. , , . Referring to the recent marked advance in wool prices, the Minister said that those prices corresponded with the slack exporting period of the calendar year, so that the effect of the increase had not fully reflected itself in the value of exports during the year. The trade returns for December, however, revealed a considerable increase as compared with the corresponding month of the year 1931-32. Owing to the mild winter, the early spring, and the growth of pastures, the quantities of butter, beef, mutton, and lamb exported during December, 1933, were higher than was normal in that month. While the increase in the wool prices was reflected in the market increase in the value of the exports, the amount of that commodity sent overseas during December declined. The value of the 5fi,604 bales of wool exported in December, 1933, was £761,343. whereas 60,601 bales shipped in December, 1932, were valued at only £444,286. The marked recovery in wool prices at present in progress must have a very potent influence in promoting an industrial revival in the Dominion. An increase of Id per lb meant an addition to the return from wool production of approximately £1,000,000 on the season’s production. It was obvious, therefore, that the increase shown in the prices realised' at the wool sales held so far in the present season, if maintained throughout the season, must result in a considerable increase over last season’s,, returns, notwithstanding an estimated decrease of approximately 2 per cent, in the quantity produced, as compared with the record production of 288,400,0001 b last season. Dealing with frozen meat, the Minister stated that the London market had . improved in recent weeks, an improvement which, in view of the greatly-reduced world flocks of sheep, it was reasonable to hope would he maintained. The _ overseas market prices' for the dominion’s other important export commodities, butter and cheese, still'remained distressingly low, but, added Mr Cobbe. the butter trade would assuredly regain its position. ,