DECREASED IMPORTS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13852, 21 August 1915, Page 8

DECREASED IMPORTS.

Tho return of imports for the first live months of the present year has just Loon issued by the Ilegist-rar-Goiveral, and shov/s BOine very striking <locroasys, as compared with last year. The following are the principal items: item. Decrease. Clothing, apparel, etc. £185,288 Books 18,754 Boots, shoes and'slippers 30,287 Coal 1^3,970 Confectionery 19,780 Drapery 38,035 Earthormvare and china 22,728 Glass and glassware 21,139 Hardware 65,778 Hats,and caps 11,901 Hosiery 19-784 Iron—bar, bolt and rod 28,121 Iron—ccrru gated , 70,602 ' Fencing ' 12,801 Pipes and fittings 30,019 Agricultural Machinery 39,618 Electrical machinery 62,953 Manures ■ ' 50,340 Benzine * 54,624 Pianos ■ 13,096 Whisky 12,750 Tea '. • H,SW Woollena 60,951? Tobacco 20,997 Cigarettes 27,8;.^ Motor chassis C«..004 j The total imports for the period mentioned amounted to £7,955,056, as compared with £9,623/224 for the .same period last year, or a decrease oi £1,068,16 R. If this rate of decline is maintained to tire end of the year, it is obvious that the Minister of Finance will have to reckon with a very serious shortage in the Customs revenue. On the above figures, the revenue must bo. -about a quarter of a million behind '-.ilre.ady, which will require to be made up from some other source.