TRADE WITH BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 5

TRADE WITH BRITAIN

IMPROVEMENT NOTED

LONDON JOURNAL'S COMMENT

The improved prices paid for New Zealand wool at the December sales, states Lloyd's List, London, have had a swift effect on the Dominion's purchases of British goods. Imports into New Zealand from the United Kingdom made a sudden leap, reflecting the prosperity of the Dominion in a variety of ways. The trade and navigation returns just published show that in February New Zealand bought £799,102 worth of goods from Great Britain, which is £12(5,000, or 20 per cent, better than tjie figure for February, 1933.

During February New Zealand's iron and steel purchases rose from £57,000 to nearly £127,000, of vehicles from £76,000 "to £117,000, of apparel and general textiles from £142,000 to £152,000, and of machinery and electrical goods from £53,000 to £55,000. The £70.000 increase in iron and steel purchases follows on the Dominion's recent adoption of a comprehensive building and construction campaign. Firms in Manchester, Glasgow, South Wales, Staffordshire and Wolverhampton are sharing in the £100,1)00 worth of contracts pieced last month by the New Zealand Government for railway material.

Among the Dominion's imports of vehicles, motor-cars increased last month froni\ £27,000 to £61,650. Britain's share in New Zealand's imports of cars has risen from 19 per cent m 1929 to 90 per cent at present. The United Kingdom has, in fact, wrested the virtual monopoly of the Dominion motor market from the United States within four years.