KAURI GUM EXPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 13

KAURI GUM EXPORTS.

COMPARISON OF RETURNS. AMOUNTS WELL MAINTAINED. A return of the quantities arid value of kauri gum exported from Auckland during the past 12 years shows that while the quantities have been well maintained, the prices realised for the gum to-day have depreciated considerably. As nil instance, 4566 tons of gum were exported for the year ended March 31, 1929, the value being £241,223. The figures for the year ended March 31, 1918, are striking by way of comparison. A total of 4656 tons of gum was exported, the value being £304,852. The depreciation in the price is largely accounted for by the substitutes for kauri gum which have been invented and put to use chiefly in America. Although tho selling-price to American buyers is not as great as it was, the quantities have been well maintained. For tho year ended March 31, 1928, 2087 tons were exported to America, the quantity during the past year being 2337 tons. A feature of the figures dealing with the quantities exported to various countries is that during the past year there was no demand for gum from China, while gum to the value of only £25 in the preceding year was exported there. In the year ended March 31, 1917, gum to tho value of £538 was exported to China. Tho exports of gum to Germany are steadily increasing. The quantity during the past year was 234 tons, valued at £7949. In tho previous year the quantity was 119 tons, valued at £6613. France is another customer increasing her orders, taking 150 tons, valued at £5206, during the past year. The quantity of gum exported to that country during the previous year was 60 tons, valued at £3915.