TRADE OF BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20977, 14 September 1931, Page 5

TRADE OF BRITAIN.

RETURNS FOR AUGUST. HEAVY GENERAL DECLINE. (Received September 13. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, 12, The Board of Trade returns for August show that the value of imports into Britain for the month was £65,409,000, a decrease of £14,591,000 compared with August last year. The value of exports was £28,360,000, a decrease of £13,640,000, and of re-exports £3,664,000, a decrease of £2.678,000. > The principal decreases were:—lmports: Grain and flour, £836,000; meat, £1,156,000; other food and drink, nondutiable, £2,377,000; wood and timber, £1,278,000; wool, £1,447,000; oils and fats and manufactures thereof, £1,366.000. Exports: Food and drink, £924,000; coal, £587,000; iron and steel and manufactures thereof, £1,432,000; machinery, £1,333,000; cotton yarns „and manufactures thereof, £1,925,000; woollen yarns and manufactures thereof, £1,225.000; vehicles, £1,379,000. Following is a comparison of the returns for the first eight months of this year and last year:— 1930 1931 Imports . £706.882,000 £553.101.000 Exports . . 398,903,000 2G2.7U3.C00 Re-exports . . 62,286,000 44,106,000 Total exports £461,251,000 £306,874,000 The apparent adverse trade balance is £246,527,000 compared with £245,628,000 for tho first eight months of last year. EXPORT OF TOBACCO. COMPULSORY GRADING. REGULATIONS ISSUED. Regulations controlling the export of leaf tobacco from New Zealand have been made under the authority of the 'Products Export Act, 1908, and appear in last week's Gazette, with effect from the date of publication. It is provided that no tobacco may be exported in the leaf unless it has been graded. Every exporter must register an approved export brand, carrying a serial number. No tobacco may be shipped except in standard export packages, measuring 4ft. long and 2ft. 6in. wide and deep. These are to be properly branded. Fifteen grades, specifying colour and condition, are provided for cigarette tobacco, and the same number for pipe tobacco.

Tobacco is to bo packed for export under the grader's supervision immediately after grading and determination of moisture content. Provision is made for stamping packages with grade marks and for the issue of grading certificates.