THE TRADE OF THE COLONY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10084, 20 March 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE TRADE OF THE COLONY.

SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. A':' the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the President (Mr. Brandon) read some figures compiled by the secretary (Mr. Carroll), upon the general business of the colony, from which ho deduced the belief that the coming year would show a considerable improvement compared with 1891, the only year when the exports reached the value of 10 millions. The exports last year showod a shrinkage of £1,'J93.-244. In each case the figures are lor the 12 months ending September. Of this sum £010 represents the shrinkage in grain, the wheat export last year having practically disappeared. Wool had increased in amount, but not in value, and the hemp market showed a falling off of £273,000. Tallow showed an increaso of £79,000, and butter and cheese £170,000. There is, continued the Chairman, good reason to expect that tho total value of the colony's exports for tho year ending 30th September next will shew an improvement upon the bestyear the colony has yot had. The value of our wool should be higher than in any previous year. It is true that large losses of sheep have been suffered in tho South Island, but on the other hand the South will evidently be the greatest gainor by iho rise in price, as this has been far greater on tho merino description, which are mostly producod in the South, than upon crossbreds. The gold for tho year ended 31st December reachod a total value of £1,162,181, a higher amount than it has attained for any year since 1880, and the prospects point to a still further expansion in near future. The dairy trade also promises a further steady increase. The pros'pects of frozen meat are unhappily not so good as could bo wished, but with the various efforts that are boing made for tho improvement of trado, it is to be hopod better times are not far off. Wheat should by all accounts show a substantial margin for shipment, which at improved price will swell tho total of the colony's exports, and enrich the Southern farmers; while the establishment of free trade in Now South Wales may be expected to open a market for us in that colony at good prices for many of our agricultural and dairy products. In imports it has been recently shown that after a period of contraction lasting about twelve months there has, during the last six months of 1895, been a distinct return to the normal scale of importation.