NEW ZEALAND’S EXPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1929, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND’S EXPORTS

SMALL INCREASE LAST. YEAR. SHRINKAGE OF MEAT AND WOOL. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Nov. 20. The true New Zealand export year "Minds on September 30, for then we get the full seasonal figure. The imports of produce from the Dominion (excluding re-exports and specie) amounted to £54,765,574 for the year just closed, which contrasts with £54,759,725 for the . previous year and £44,929,203 for 192627. The increase for the past year was extremely small, and as there have been two seasons almost alike in the .volume of returns it would seem that the price level has reached the peak. Both years show a great increase on 1926-27, and this increase has been mostly due to increasing prices, increased production playing a small part. Wool exported in the past year realised £15,893,160, against £16,599,955 in the previous year, while the quantity exported ’ was 693,601 bales, against 657,667 bales. While there has been an increase of 5J per cent, in quantity there has been a decrease of 4J per cent, in value. And a further decline in values seems certain, judging by the sales, and if that reduction amounts to 25 per cent, on last season the return from ’wool will be no greater than it was in 1926-27, when the yield was £12,629,992. There was a slight contraction in frozen meat, the value being £10,292,662, but the quantity exported exhibited a shrinkage, the figures being 3,427,801 cwt, against 3,664,607 cwt in the previous year. It is doubtful whether frozen meat will make as much money in the present season as in the past. The freezing companies in the North Island that buy fat stock for freezing for export are giving about 8d to B%d per lb for fat lambs, which is about 2d below last season’s price. There may be an increase in the quantity exported because there lias been an increase in sheep, but adverse climatic conditions have caused a big mortality, and the increase may not be as large as anticipated. Butter and cheese both show steady expansion. The value of the butter exported in the 12 months was £12,754,805, against £11,524,380, and the increase is partly due to the increase in volume, the figures being 1,580,’255c wt, against 1,483,245 cwt. The figures for cheese are also very satisfactory. The quantity exported was 1,741,257 c wt, £7.128,4*31, against £6,381,359. If prices are reasonable the present year should show further increase, as the quantities of cheese and butter exported so far show appreciable expansion.