DOMINION'S IMPORT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16924, 9 August 1918, Page 4

DOMINION'S IMPORT TRADE.

FIGURES FOR JUNE QUARTER. The import trade of New Zealand during tho quarter ended June 30 is shown in official statistics just issued. The imports from the principal countries during tho quarter, as compared with the trade of the corresponding quarters of 1917 and 1914, are as follow:—

rr , 1318. 1917. 1914. U. Kingdom f8.103.166 £12,860.297 £12.523.097 Australia ... 4,407,077 3.575.798 3,373,938 Canada ... 987,845 686.174 481,70-2 Germany ... 346 2,887 653.399 United States 4,465.058 3,992.411 2 ''s°. Japan ... 801,543 683.818 '172.397 India ... 564,205 609,340 475,812 till 1,136.331 1,091,776 826,455 The most striking change in the sources of our imports, besides the total elimination of German trade, is the huge increase in imports from Japan. Valued at £4927 in 1837, and £94,298 in 1907, the war has completely altered the trade. Largo quantities of drapery and chemicals, hardwaro and earthenware, paper and fancy roods, largely taking the place of German and Austrian manufactures, are being imported every month, and there is ever)' prospect of this year's trade creating another record. In Australia the increase is still greater, and there aro no signs of any falling off, unless it is likento be curtailed by the shortage of shipping. The latest returns from Australia show a total importation from Japan valued at £3,392,530 during the six months ending March 31 last, compared with £2,657.507 during the corresponding months of tho previous year.