NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE.

SHRINKAGE IN EXPORTS. TRADE WITH THE EAST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. The annual report of the Industries and Commerce Department, presented to Parliament to-day, states that the exports from the Dominion for the year ended March 31 last show a very considerable reduction as compared with those of the previous year. The total value of exports for the year was £17,869,354, as against £19,532,119 for the year ended March 31, 1907, showing a decrease of £1,662,765. The products which have been chiefly concerned in the decrease are as follow?: — Decrease in quantity. Value. Wool, 7,275,7741b £1,465,702 Mutton, 1,600,096cwt ... 161,182 Butter, J7,oo7cwfc ... ... 183,720 Hamp, 5302 tons 164,056 Gold, 28,0770z 138,430 Total ... £2,013,090 As against this there has been a very satisfactory increase in lamb, beef, cheep, and rabbit skins, cheese, and timber, which partly compensated for tho very heavy decrease abovomentioned. In the case of wool the decrease shown in the quantity exported does not, says the report, necessarily indicate that there has ken a decrease in production. There is evidence of a large quantity of wool having been hold over in the hope of a hotter market being secured. This, it is thought, is clearly indicated by a comparison of the exports for the last three months of 1906-7 and 1907-8. During tiio three months ended March 31, 1907, 104,342,4931b of wool was exported, and during the three months ended March 31, 1908, 90,652,4901b only was exported, showing a decline of over 13,6"90,0031b. The total exports from New 1 Zealand to Australia during the year were valued at £2,156,489, and the imports from Australia to the Dominion amounted to £2,391,767. When imports of other than Australian ; origin are taken into account there would probably bo a balance in favour of New Zealand. The import* from Japan last year amounted to £99,653, and the exports to £4693. "The possibilities of New Zealand showing largely in the Eastern trade in the immediate future," says the report, "are not encouraging. To obtain a footing a direct steamer service is essential, and the trade likely to be secured is not sufficient to induce any steamship company to put on a line of steamers."

BRITISH COMMISSIONER. ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON. [by telegraph.— correspondent.] Wellington, Tuesday. Mr. G. H. F. Rolleston (second son of the late Hon. W. Rolleston and son-in-law of Mr. H. D. Bell, K.C.), who was recently appointed British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, arrived from London to-day. Mr. Rolleston, who served in the South African war as a member of the Fourth New Zealand Contingent, subsequently was a magistrate in the Transvaal, and then went to Loudon. He states that his appointment was due to Sir Joseph Ward, who, when at the Imperial Conference, laid much stress on the need for represent**; tives of British traders 'being stationed ill the autonomous colonies. Mr, Rolleston purposes making a complete tour of the Dominion; to study its trade generally, so as to be able to give the utmost assistance to v'Britieb' traders,