IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 20

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

The value of the imports into the colony foe the quarter ended 31st March waf £1,712,528, as againub £1,755,672 for the corresponding quarter of the previous, year, The value o" f>he imports fiom - the United Kingdom - waa £1,199.377. The imports from New South Wales were valued at £118,955, while thesa from Victoria had dropped to £77,880. The value of the exports for tha March quarter was £4.327,032, as against £3 584,940 for the corresponding quarter of ths previous year. The value of the-exports sent to the United Kingdom is set down at £3,848,083. The value of ths exports to Viotoria is given a 6 £132 064, and to New South Wale* at £203 851, while the colony imported goods to tha value of £5754 from Canada and British Columbia, while the exports were valued at only £24., The following shows the imports aud exports froto the principal ports: —

The Seizure of the Local Bodies' Sinking Funds aud the Member for Tua« peka.

TO THE EDITOH.

Sir,— On the important ques'ion of the seizure of the local bo Jits' sinking funds there have been manifested s.ich concealment . and mjetery that the country is not; ;eb aware of the tru" sWte of mutters, and the whcle-subjeob has to be inquired into by next Parliament. Toe newsp»porß report that whan ths Public Accounts Committee inquired into the matter Mr Larnach (tho chairman) voted against the legality of bbc Government* action.

It was, therefore, surprising ab Mr Larnach's public addrt-pses. to his con>>titunnr.f, to fiud that his only references to the Government nuance were to praisu and approve of tho Colonial Tre»sarer's actions as regards sinking funds. ' Surprised at such statements, I »«kcd him at his Cljde meeting, ''Did jouvo!» in the Publio Accounts Committee against the legality of seizing the local bodies' sinking funds ?" He fift>t replied to this by siying the Go?en ment ha<i uot touohed the sinking funds I prioaed for an answer to my quei-tio i as to hi* vote, an^ our member then teplitd he did not know how he voted, bub iv any case the Government were quite entitled to use the sinking fuuds.

It would bo essy to say or write a great deal on these answers, bub I beg le*ve to draw public attention to three poiuts :—

1. Ib sperm there must b« much to conceal wheu a simple question cunnofc be answered by oar naeuibor more sati> fact only than was mine.-

2. It appears Mr Larnxch in the Committee voted against the legality (he did nob deny it), bub on the public platform he expresses 6ther views.

3. Mr La.iuach states Government has not ueeil the local oiukiny funds, bub may 1 -gaily do so if h likes.

A« Mr Larnaoh is chairman of the Publio Accounts Committee, aud is well known as a man of accounts, with a training in bauking and financial affwirs, one would naturally expect his statements to carry much weight, but is bhere an appeal from Mr L«rn&oh on the platform to Mr Larnich in Ciimtiibtee ?

It is jus 1 . 20 y-'ara ago since Mr Larnach was a prominent supporter cf the motion by whioh the land fund* of OUgo and Canterbury were seized, to the impoverishment of our lccal bodies and aggrandisement of the General Government.

lb mil be a curious coincidence if Mr Larnnch now plays another important pact (as chairman of ibe Public Accounts Committee) in enabling, the Central Government to »« 7 'ze and usa as revenue the s'nkiug fund a from tho local bodies' lo»ns. — I am, &o , Oiydf, 18th April 1896. Robt. Gilkison.

Iwports. Auckland ... ... ... £iw,2&) Napier ... "4Q.428 Wellington ;.. 3§0,535 Christchunh ... ,„ ■ 313,700 Tiinaru .-. * 27,761 Oamaru 7,423 DuueUn - 371,472 Invercargill and Bluff ... ■ 61,303 Exports. £432,214 468.276 834,100 736,679 272,645 16tf,309 424,»5:i 20(5,313