BANKING RETURNS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11402, 20 April 1899, Page 4

BANKING RETURNS.

Following are the banking returns foi the March quarter, compared with those of same quarter 'ast }'e'ir "nd with the. December quarter: — March March December Quarter, Quarter, Quarter, Deposits— 1880. 189 S. 1898, At interest.. J87,8!!7,!>G5 £7,779,326 £7,822,321 At call .. 5,76'J,555 5,760,302 6,403,083 Government ■ 035,403 745,172 '. 031,950 £14,542,283 £14,310,800 £13,859,854 Advances— V Discounts £1,737,274 £1,723,538 £1,731,664 Other 'advances .. 9,106,222 8,034,668 9,154,723 ; . £10,843,496 £10,408,206 £10,886,287 Government - . ' and funded ■ .- ' '■ securities .. £928,479 £788,439 .£866,911. Notes in cir- - culalion .. £1,121,729 £1,067,623 £1,074,143 Coin and bullion held .. £2,719,498 £2,842,539 £2,752,245 These returns show an increase in. the quarter of £682,929 in the total deposits, of which £304,000 is jn Government deposits ; but on the year the increase is only £231,483, and, deducting the remarkable increase in Government account, there is an actual decrease oi £73,000. The Government account has for a longrperigd not shown such high figures, and the increase is no doubt due to loan money being available in London for current requirements. On the whole, the deposits by customers of the banks keep very steady,, the December quarter usually making extra demands on them. The advances have'not increased on the quarter, but they have on the year by £435,290 —no very large percentage of the total, but almost entirely in the shape of fixed advances, discounts .keeping wonderfully steady at about same figures from quarter to quarter. The most favourable feature of the return is the progressive . increase in note circulation, amounting'to £47,586 on the quarter and 501,106 on the year, which is the best index of^greaier activity in trade and greater amounts being paid in wages. . The coin and bullion shows1 a further small decline, but the stock seems ample for all requirements. The general indications are that the banks are doing better business, . and shareholders may hope for better profits.