NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 42

NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE.

WELLINGTON, April 18. The annual report of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce cays:— Vln Wellington the 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 importers have had to exercise extreme care in purchasing. There is a distinct disinclination against overstocking. " Prices in tho 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 of British manufacture have had to bo replaced by articles purohased elsewhere. " Most of the local industries continue busily engaged fulfilling contracts for defence supplies. "The time is now very near when the community and the individual will be bound to economise. New Zealand is occupying a dual capacity in this war, each month sending reinforoements and assisting in the supplying of foodstuffs and essential war materials. If the war ia much further prolonged and the dominion continues to send its quota it is inevitable that there will be a serious falling off in our producing capacity. New Zealand is far removed from the seat of war, and its war prosperity has deferred the organisation of our resources. " There has been a largo increase in the importation of motor cars made in the United States or_ Canada by companies controlled by American money." The report refers to imports (general) from the United States. During 1915 they were valued at £2,862,537, of which £1,629.003 was the value of goods admitted duty free.