The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1924. NEW ZEALAND’S TRADE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1924. NEW ZEALAND’S TRADE.

Delivered every evening by 3 o'clock m Hawera, Manaia, Normanby,. Okniawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waveriey, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

Although one hears that in various parts of the Dominion trade is quiet and that there is “not „ luc h money about, ’ it is very interesting to. find that the external trade of the Dominion is very satisfactory. ' The total external trade of New Zealand for the nine months ended September 30 (we learn from the Abstract of Statistics) amounted to £77,194,964, which just falls short of the record figure for the corresponding period of 1920. Imports claimed £36,137,756 and exports £41,057,208, which, disregarding interest payments abroad, leaves a balance in favour of the Dominion of £4,919,452. The period from June 30 to. September 30 is always a lean one for exports, while the volume of imports remains fairly constant throughout the. whole year. dompared with the corresponding nine months of 1923 exports show an advance of £3,466,102, wool being mainly responsible for the increase. After a period of great difficulty wool growers have enjoyed exceptionally good prices, and for the nine months to September 30 the value of the wool exported was £13,345,551, or nearly £4,000,000 more than the value of wool exported in the corresponding period of last year. If prices are maintained and production increased wool will probably retain the leading position which it has- gained. The total value of butter and cheese exported in the nine /months was £12,038,347 compared with £12,838,745 for the same period of iast year. But while it is very gratify vig to find that the trade balance continues in Neu Zealand’s favour, it should be noted that imports have been very heavy. For the nine months the value of imports was £36,137,756 compared with £31,481,795 for the corresponding period of last year. The importation of motor vehicles in the nine months was a record, 14,097 vehicles of a value of £2,611,460 coming into the country. This compares with 10,305 motor vehicles valued at £1,757,523 imported in the first nine months of last year. Notable increases are also shown in, the imports of wheat, oats, sugar, coal, electrical machinery, motor spirit, timber, while there was a decrease in imports of cotton piece-goods, woollen piecegoods and hosiery. The Statistician states that trade with Germany continues to increase exports for tlio period totalling £1,079,996 (mostly wool), while goods of German origin imported into New Zealand were rained at £180,015. The United Kingdom took New Zealand exports to the value of £32,417,978, while imports from that source amounted to £17,152,547. In our trade with other countries the balance was against New Zealand, as the following figures show (exports being given first in each case) : United States, £2,596,298, £5,944,183; Australia £1,953,066, £4,160,006; Canada £550,847, £2,937,966. The figures which we have quoted should impress upon people the growth which the Dominion is making in spite of the financial depression which has had such .serious effects throughout the world. The exports have increased, but the country is far from its maximum production, and as closer settlement proceeds and scientific methods of farming become more generally adopted it is - certain that the volume of exports will further increase. The year unit probably end with the trade balance favourable, but the increase in imports is sufficiently great to suggest that it is desirable that people should be careful to avoid extravagance and so help to keep the balance of trade in the Dominion’s favour.