BANKING RETURNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13649, 17 January 1908, Page 6

BANKING RETURNS.

INCREASE IN ADVANCES.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. The banking returns for the quarterly period ended December 30, 1907, are to hand. A review of the figures discloses an interesting feature, i.e., a rather striking increase in advances. The actual amount increased by £2,291,308, while fixed deposits shrunk by £191,964, compared with the sj-mc period of 1906. A comparison of advances and discounts for the December quarter over a series of years shows the following movement : — Dec. or. Advances. Discount. Total. • £> £ £ 1502 ... 11.114,951 1.829,069 ' 32.944,010 1903 ... 12,035,611 1,993,097 14,078,708 3904 ... 13,092.138 2.156.011 15,243.149 1905 ... 14.981,460 2,136.464 16,217,944 1906 ... 15,622,549 2.126,374 17,748.923 1907 ... 17,913,857 2,069,272 19,983,129 Discounts show a comparatively slight shrinkage. Turning to, assets and liabilities the position at December 30 ovtjr a series of years may be set out as follows : — Excess of Dec. Assets. Liabilities. assets. £ £ £ 1931 ... 18,821,773 17.283, 1,538,128 ISO I ... 39.162,178 19,018,533 143.645 1903 ... 20,530.387 20.361.994 218,393 1904 ... 21,296,425 20,093.130 1.198.295 1905 .. 22,582,991 21.860,448 732.543 1906 ... 23,322.909 23,972,561 1-.350.348 1907 ... 28,143,700 24,550,112 3,598.533 It will be seen at a glance that the value of the .assets has substantially increased, the difference now being well within the region of £3,600,000. Fixed deposits show a decrease of close on £192,000, while free deposits have increased by £885,469, a gain over all to the banks of over £693,000. The figures are as follows :— Dec. or. Free. Fixed. Total. ££ £ „ 1902 ... 7.676,082 8,722,367 16,398,449 1903 ... 8,361,648 8.945.587 17.307,235 1904 ... 8,425,376 9.099,010 17,524, 1905 ... 8.836.506 9,776,098 13,612,604 1906 ... 10,250.543 9,843,259 20,093,799 1907 ... 11,136,009 9,651,293 20,787,302 So far as the individual banks are concerned the variation in free deposits can be exhibited in this way : —

Bank Dec., 1905. Dec., 1907. Increase. £ £ £, New Zealand ... 4,693.615 5,102,776 Union ... ... 1,524,779 1,602,847 78.068 New S. Wales 1,370.336 1.498,068 127.732 Australasia. ... 1,069.396 1,240,574 174,178 National 1.592,414 1,688,744 96.530 Totals £10,250,540 £11,136,009 £685.469 The movement in advances as they affect the individual banks are also interesting. ,It will be noticed from the figures given below that by far the larger increase appears opposite the Bank of New Zealand. The Bank of New South Wales report's, singularly enough, a decrease of over £11,000. The figures are as follows :— Bank Dec., 1906. Dee.,^1907. New Zeal lid ... ... 5,471,830 6,895,911 Union ... 2.474,436 3,131,040 New South Wales ... 2,720,950 2,709.165 Australasia 2,578,429 2.729,453 National 2,376,895 2,448,^89 Totals ... ... ...£15,622,549 £17,913,858 Turning again to deposits we get the following figures :— Bank. Dec.. 1906. Dec.. 1907. £ £ New Zealand 9,256,445 9.757,511 Union ••• 3.033.346 2,925.577 New South Wales ... 054.157 3,134.111 Australasia 1,669,924 1,825,358 National 3.079,926 3,144,745 In the matter of note circulation, coin, and bullion satisfactory increases are noticeable. Notes in currency increased (approximately speaking) by about £30,000, and coin and bullion by nearly £288.000. The figures bearing on this calculation over a series of years are as follows :—

Dec. Note circulation. Coin and bullion. £ £ 1901 ... ... 1.354.206 , 3.063,843 1902 1.399.044 3,292.090 1903 1.466.?79 3.746,580 1904 1.451.813 3,953,075 1905 3,463.834 4.052.173 100* 1.611,221 4,696.753 1907 ... ... 11.953 4,984,566