FINANCE AND TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6269, 24 July 1907, Page 4

FINANCE AND TRADE

PACKING REFORM. Lofrialation affecting banking i« on tho list for disenanou in tho cuvrcnl. bosBiott of l.ho Fixioral Parliament. Exaoc. It ivhat linos tho proposed measure n take we have not hern informed. Mi some quarters it is believed that it will bo no more than a consolidation of existing State laws, fn England the Government contemplates something more drastic than this. Ur have it on the anthority of the “Statist" that banking reform, U U generally understood, n> under the consideration of the (.‘Jianc-:*2-lor of the Exchequer (says tho “Sydney Morning Herald**;. Whether he v/iil no able to take it in hand n<*yt session will depond, firstly, upon whether no has rniuJo up his mind as to tho oxfent of l.ho changes required; and, secondly, unon -whether tho Cabinet ranks hanking reform among tho most urgent questions it has to deal with. But that banking reform will be undertaken cither next scission or tho session following is expected by tho whole country. That it ought to bo thorough when osBaywl is plain to everybody who thinks. It is now over sixty years sinco Sir Robert Pool's legislation. In the interval tho whole face of the world has boon altered by an economic revolution greater than ever has been witnessed in the same space of time; hut with regard to banking, there line been no revision of tho lav. Small points, it is true, hay© been dealt with, but there has been no reform. It is probable, then, that whatever is done by the present Government will remain tho law for a coneidorable time to como, and it is much to bo desired, therefore, that the reforms should be not only well considered and in tho right direction, but that they r.hould al&o be thorough and calculated to stand for a considerable time. THE WORLD'S SUGAR CROPS. The sugar crops of the world (cane and boot) are estimated to total this year 12,131,056 tons, as against 12,138,51 T tons in 1905-6, a decrease in the world’s production of only 7255 tons. Tho production two years ago was 9,513.262 tons. Aocordilii" to Messrs Willett and Gray, of New A.ork, the total cone sugar crop is estimated this year at 4,093,040 tons, as against 4,920,945 lona in 3905-G: tho European beet sugar crops at 6,700.000 tons, against 6,933,6-19 torn* in 1005-6; and tho United States heei: sugar crop at 433,010 tons, as against 353,?J 7 tons in 1905-6, Of the can© sugar. Iho two Americas are expected to produce 3.267.000 tons, the Cuban crop being 1.325.000 toil's. The Asiatic production of cane sugar is set down at 1,172,046 tone, Java contributing 1,011,546 tons. The Australian crop is put down at 306.000 tons, and tho Fiji exports at 43.000 tone. Mauritius is estimated to supply 205,000 tons. > The Customs revenue received at Wellington yesterday totalled .€3197.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. yUSTBEDAY'S QUOTATIONS. , Botfm. S-’ix ( ET3* RaL«9. £ ». a. £ B . d. £ s. d. Basics— National* 5 7 e Fjkahcul— Eqnft«fc)a Building 10 0 0 IQ 5 0 National Iforteasto a 3 .v,a,«nau.Pi»to .. — 1 u 0 Wctn. Investment T. and A.f — 0 12 10 Gas— Aockland. £5 U 14 0 Kap-.er — 35 0 0 . — Iksciuxcw— Standard of £f.Z, — 1 2 0 Meat PRB»SRrr«oGear Meat, £1 2 5 0 — _ Railways akp — WVtM F«rfy. £1 0 18 0 — 15s 0 14 0 Wc>OLI,«» MAMlTTACTITR.r<(J-~ Mospicl Woollen 2 12 f> Wellington Woollen 2 17 G 2 IS C — t’OA*— Westporl — X 0 0 — Ml*C»l.LA«*008 — K.2 Drng Co. £2 .. 2 10 0 _ S.% Vapey JliUa Taranaki Petroleum, 1 i 0 Ml paid .. 0 15 0 Warn and Co. 5 10 0 Whitcomb© A Tombs i 3 0 Talisman Qonaqlidated 2 6 0 2 5 3 Waihi O.M. Co. . . S 10 0 8 12 0 * Ex. i Can