TRADE OF AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 9

TRADE OF AUSTRALIA.

FALLING OFF IN VALUE. IMPORTS MUCH REDUCED, The Commonwealth Statistician, Mr. O. H. "VVickens, in his summary of the exports and imports of Australia for August gives the following comparative figures:— 1930. 1929. Imports .. jeKs.eai.o4B £12,488,415 Exports .. .. 5,019.821 7,253,837 The exports included bullion arid specie worth £324,725, against £1,303,628 in August last year. The figures of tiie first two months of the financial year compare as follows: — 1930-31. 1929-30. Imports ... ...- £14,171,84.7 £25,458,411 Exports .. .. 12.297,572 13,(171,475 The decline in imports was general, as shown by the following comparisons for August this and last year;— 1030. 1929. Mefals arid manufactures ££15,120 £2,351.148 Textiles .. .. .. 1,445,119 2,707,744. Petrol .. ... .. 309,080 501.594 Miichines and machinery 912.78.8 1,101,197 Apparel and attire .. 181,370 505,497 Yarns and Manufactured fibres 244,820 391,900 Tobacco, etc. .. v. 36,731 252.295 Spirits and alcoholic liquors .. .. 21.074 100,089 Pn per . .. ~ 330,310 470,981 Timber 100,088 322.794 The following items of exports showed .-in increase in August this year: — 1930. 1929. Wool ... .. £573,201 £531,094 Butler .. 201,480 171.037 Dried fruit* .. .. 255,183 103,074 Ores and concentrates 165,898 82,551 The following items of exports showed a decrease:— 1930. 1929. Meats ~ .... v. £384.987 £039.780 Hides and Rkiii3 v. 555,017 1,127,301 Lead .. .. 150.790 228.157 Wheat .. ... .. 092,533 894,077 Sugar 278,125 459.839 In August, 1930, imports were £1,831.827 in excess of exports, as compared with an excess of £5,234.578 in the corresponding month of the previous year. For the months of July and August, 1930, there was an excess of imports of £1,874.275, in comparison with an excess of imports amounting to £11,786,936 for July and August, 1929. NEWCASTLE COAL. HEAVY FALL IN EXPORTS. SYDNEY. Oct. 8. The trade returns for August for the Commonwealth show that the value of imports was £6,881,648, compared with £12,483,415 last year. In tho same month the Commonwealth exported goods and bullion valued at £5,049,821, being a decrease of £2,204,016 compared with 1929. Heavy decreases are shown in the exports of coal from Newcastle. In all 650,496 tons, valued at £890.449. were sent overseas and to the States in the first nine months of this year, against 1,045,477 tons, valued at £1,220,722, in the corresponding period last year, WAIKATO STOCK MARKET. PAST WEEK REVIEWED. QUIET CONDITIONS CONTINUE. Although the weather shows improvement littlo headway can be observed in the growth of pasture. This, no doubt, has much to do with the quietness which exists ond which affects all classes of stock. In tho sheep districts a desire to commence negotiations for tho disposal of surplus breeding ewes has been noticed, but so far without meeting any response at this end. "VYaikato farmers assess tho value of a five-year ewe at 15s, and unless itation owners are prepared to adopt this standard there seems little probability of forward buying. Last season drafts were marketed at a figure that rendered profit impossible to buyers and some caution is likely to be used to prevent a repetition this season. Nothing has so far been hinted concerning the export price for lambs. In southern districts 8d is rumoured and is probably riot far astray. Conditions as they affect tho individual sections are as follows: — i

BEEF. Beef remains steady at last week's quotations. It is certain that the 6upply of really prime beef is dwindling, only a email proportion in the various yards being of finished quality. Prime ox sells up to 3Ss; ordinary, 355; prime heifer beef, to 37s Gd; prime cow. 365; ordinary, 30s to 325; unfinished, 255. ■ MUTTON. Mutton is also steady at last week's values, with rather firmer competition ruling at the central yards this week. Best wethers touched 30s; lighter sheep, from 26s 9d; hoggets, best, to 25s 9d; light-weights, from 20s; shorn wethers (medium sheep), up to 245; best woolly ewes, to 20s; lightweights, 14s to 15s; killablo sheep, from 12s. STORE CATTLE. There is no alteration in this section to report. . Competition is practically lifeless r.nd low starting points are needed to induce it. Good framed store cows seem moßtpopular, at least, the bargains drawn from this section are few. Jersey heifers, although much down in favour generally, still enjoy moments of popularity. No doubt these will again come into _ prominence before the season is through, chiefly through the fact that their value is not controlled by overseas markets. Grown steers are not offering in any quantity, consequently quotations aro not available. Three-year steers sell up to £S 10s; two-year, £6 10s to £7 for best; medium quality, £5 15s to £6 ss; yearlings, best, to £4 103: poorer quality, from £3; fresh-conditioned cows, young and good framed, to £6 ss: medium sorts, from £4 10s; aged and low-conditioned, £2 to A3 10s; Jersey heifers, best, lo £0; medium, £4 10a to £5 ss; small, £2 10s to £3 10s. STORE SHEEP. This section draws very little attention, although its neglect seems scarcely warranted. Certainly at today's values sheep offer promise of profit than tncy did 12 months ago. Store wethers (woolly) sell up to 21s lid; shorn, to 17s; store ewes (woolly), from 8s to 9s 6(1; best hoggets (ewes), to 235; wethers, to 20s; ewes with, lambs,' to 27s Gd for good lines; averaga lines, 21s to 255; mixed sexes hoggets, medium, 16s to 17s; small, 13s to lis. DAIRY CATTLE. Business lias not been so brisk, during the past, week, no doubt, the> backward state of pastures being in a measure responsible. The recent withdrawal of financial accommodation has also had its effect. It is fortunate for holders that the restriction was not earlier imposed. Although there is not (he volume of business being transacted values for good dairy types maintain a high standard. Rougher clas-i". are more or less neglected. Jersey springers of the best class make from ClO to £l2; medium quality, £8 to £9 10s; backward sorts, £6 to £7. Good Shorthorns and lfolsfeins at profit also sell well, but still fall short of the Jersey in popularity. PIGS. The fat pig market has been subject to slight fluctuation lately, this week recording a decline. Store pigs, on the contrary, remain steady and seem to leave littlji margin for the labour and expense of fattening. Best baeoners at the central yards this week did not exceed £3; porkers, from : ; .7s to £2 9s; store pigs, 36s to £2 3s; slips. : J os to 355; weaners, best, 20s to 2Sa; small weaners, 14s to 18s. FOREIGN EXCHANGES. (Received October 8, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, Oct. 7. Tlio following rales on foreign exchanges are current to-day, compared with the cabled quotations on October 2 and par;— Oct. 7. Oct. 2. Par. Montreal, do!.. .. 4.8."); 4.«5 9-10> 4.Bt><> New York, dol. . 4.85 i Paris, fr. .. 123.*15 123.773 124.21 Brussels, belga .. at .825 JU.SI 35.00 Geneva, fr. .. 25.015 25.1)35 Amsterdarn, fl, .. 12.01; 12.04? 12. " Rome, lire .. :<2.7:)5 92.7fi_ | £■}' Berlin, r.m. .. 20.425 20.40;> Tc't'-.o Stockholm, kr. .. 18.09 5 ° a, °. ><'•• •• a « is!ls9 Copenhagen, kr. . 18.lt> 14 585 Vienna, sch. .. 34.445 34.42 34;** Prague, l<r. •• 192.23 Uelsingfors. mark 193, _ 05205 Madrid, pes. .. 4>-4-> 47 _ Lisbon, escu. .. .175.00 Athens, dr. . .. •*'? o| B 25.225 Bucharest, lei. .- 318 _ Hiode Janeiro, mil. 413-16 £ .)7. 5 7d Huenos Aires, do . ■ 9-"' s»* fi d Montevideo, dol. 40 Calcutta, rupee . 3 lg , Shanghai, lae '..-; ,50.16 15 7-lfi Hongkonff. dollar 10 9 2i 7.16 2465 d Yokohama, yen « 24 7-16 A