NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16982, 19 April 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF OOM- . MERGE REPORTS. (Peii United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 18. The annual report of the Wellington onamber of Commerce says: » "In Wellington tho prosperous state of our export trade has been reflected on our internal trade. All the articles of import show a considerable advance in price. The lmporters.havo had to exercise extreme care in purchasing. There is a distinct disinclination against overstocking. " Prices jn the retail trade have naturally hardened perceptibly, but business is reported good notwithstanding. Many wellknown articles are in short supply, while in other cases the stocks of articles o'f British manufacture have had to be replaced by articles purchased elsewhere. "Most of the local industries continue busily engaged fulfilling contracts for defence supplies.

'" Tho time is now very near when tho community and the individual will be bound to economise. New Zealand is occupying a dual capacity in this war, each month sending reinforcements and assisting in the supplying of foodstuffs and essential war materials. If the war is much further prolonged and the dominion continues to send its quota it is inevitable that there will bo a serious falling off in our producing capacity. TSlew Zealand is far removed from the seat of war, and its war prosperity has deferred the organisation of our resources.

" There has been a large increase in tho importation of motor cars made in the United States or_ Canada by companies controlled by American money." The report refers to imports (general) from tho United States. During 1915 they were valued at £2,862,537, of which £1,629.003 was the value of goods admitted duty free.