PROSFECTS OF TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14648, 6 April 1911, Page 6

PROSFECTS OF TRADE.

AN INCREASE OF EXPORTS. SHORTAGE OF GOLD COIN. [lit TBLBCBJLIH.— CORRESPpiTOKSrr.] Wellington, Wednesday. "We have now passed the end of the March quarter (says the Trade Review, issued, to-day), but none of the various returns are to hand as yet. From information available, it is certain that the imports .will show a decided increase as compared with the same quarter a year . ago. On the other hand, some of our principal exports may be expected to exhibit a decrease. . "There is a shortage in the exports of wool," says the writer, " for the season to date of some 30,000 bales, representing something like half a million sterling, and the value of dairy produce exported will, probably hardly equal the previous season. Against this, however, the exportation of frozen meat has recently been exceptionally heavy, there being some 1,500,000 carcases of mutton and lamb afloat at the present time. On the whole the value of our exports may be expected to show a satisfactory total, and leave a good margin over the imports." - A shortage of gold coin in some quarters is also referred to in" the article. The paper says : —" The question of -what becomes of the specie imported has been referred Xo in these columns on previous occasions. In commenting on the subject a year ago, we showed that while j the net importation for the year'was nearly four millions, the increase in the banks' holdings was less than half that amount. The number of people constantly going away/ either temporarily or permanently, accounts for a certain amount. The increase in trade doubtless causes an increased circulation, and there is a constant leakage from the use of coin for the manufacluKs of ornaments and similar purposes. We imagine from the report of a shortage that these leakages must have been on a somewhat heavier scale than usual. Latterly, there are some complaints in trading circles that money is becoming less plentiful, but we believe there is still a good supply of capital available, and sound investment shares have been rather more sought after as-an outlet for this. Consequently, such shares are commanding good prices." ■'.'