DOMINION’S IMPORTS

Southland Times, Issue 22073, 21 July 1933, Page 5

DOMINION’S IMPORTS

GOODS FROM BRITAIN. LARGE SHARE OF TOTAL. The steady increase in recent years in the proportion of New Zealand imports from British countries can be recalled with interest in view of the Ottawa Conference, held a year ago, and the subsequent suggestions, including quota proposals, for a closer harmony in fostering beneficial trade relations within the Empire, (states the New Zealand Herald.) This increase in the proportion of British imports into New Zealand has not been evenly distributed among all the units of the Empire, a decrease actually being shown in the proportion from Canada, but a definite upward tendency is shown in the figures relating to goods from the United Kingdom and Australia. Developments which have occurred—the raising of the exchange rate, the World Economic Conference and the sitting of the Tariff Commission in New Zealand—are factors that have recently disturbed the normal flow of events, and the levelling of the Australian and New Zealand currencies is said to have diverted to the Commonwealth some of the business that formerly went to the United Kingdom. Imports for Four Years. The opinion has been expressed, nevertheless, that a further substantial amount of New Zealand business is awaiting Britain, but that importers are compelled to adopt a “wait and see” policy until the position becomes more settled. The figures for imports into New Zealand over the past four calendar years, expressed as percentages, show clearly that the people of the Dominion are showing a greater interest in purchasing United Kingdom goods, as well as Empire goods as a whole. The fig—

The table shows how the imports from the United States, a large source of foreign supplies, have decreased, and illustrates how Japanese goods have increased in relation to the total imports. Figures for This Year.

The latest figures for this year indicate that, in spite of unsettled conditions of trade, the recent growth in favour of Empire goods has been maintained. As the statistics for only the first five months of the year have been compiled, they are shown in relation, to the figures of the corresponding periods in previous years, covering a decade. Expressed as percentages, they . illustrate a sharp upward tendency in the past three years and a substantial rise

The total value of imports from British countries in the five months ended May, 1933, was £6,504,258, compared with imports valued at £2,246,837 from foreign countries. The major share of the British total is accounted for by imports valued at £4,582,962 from the United Kingdom. In the same period, goods valued at £808,788 were imported from Australia, the second largest British market in which New Zealand bought. Purchases valued at £363,553 were made in Canada, while goods valued at £233,842 were bought in India. Sources of Foreign Supplies.

The largest source of foreign supplies in the five months was the United States, which exported to Nev.’ Zealand goods valued at £1,059,726. Next came the Dutch East Indies, with £300,881, and then Japan, with £163,102. Germany was next in order of foreign suppliers to New Zealand with goods valued at £139,471. Although New Zealand’s imports from the United Kingdom are concerned mainly with hardware and softgoods, the range is a very wide one indeed, covering practically the whole field of the Dominion’s imports. The United States ranks next to the United Kingdom in the list of exporters to New Zealand, motor vehicles and motor spirit constituting the bulk of imports from this surce. A large trade in jute goods in done with India, while Canada exports to New Zealand motor vehicles, printing paper, boots and shoes and a wide variety of miscellaneous items. Imports from the Dutch East Indies include mineral oils and sugar.

ures are: — 1929 1930 1931 1932 p.c. p.c. p.c. p.c. United Kingdom 46.25 47.27 49.17 49.91 Canada 9.81 8.84 4.94 4.31 Australia 6.68 7.69 9.80 11.64 - 1 Total British 67.81 68.77 70.25 71.84 Japan 1.28 1.31 1.23 1.89 United States 19.10 17.60 15.65 14.18 , . — ■ - - ■ Total foreign 32.19 31.23 29.75 28.16

over six years:— Months First Five 1924 1927 1930 1933 p.c. p.c. p.c. u.c. British 74.5 69 67.8 74.3 Foreign 25.5 31 32.2 25.7