TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1934, Page 6

TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

The latest Board of Trade returns in regard to the trade of Great Britain make cheering reading. They refer to the business done in August, and continue the story of trade recovery that has been in evidence during the past twelve months. Imports were £2,000,000 higher than in August, 1933, and exports increased by over £1,000,000 as compared with those of the corresponding month last year. It is true that exports were slightly lower in August than in July, but August is the great holiday month in industrial England, and the explanation of the decrease is probably that it' was due to partial suspension of operations on that account. It is when the first eight months of this year are considered as a whole that the amount of the improvement achieved is realised. In that period imports have increased by £49,000,000 as compared with those of 1933, and exports by nearly £19,000,000. Of the increase in imports more than half was represented by increased purchases of raw material, which is further proof that there has been a revival in manufacture for the domestic as well as the export markets, and that the demand for Britain’s goods is increasing both at home and abroad. The value to New Zealand of prosperity in Great Britain is generally realised. Every re-absorption of unemployed into the ranks of normal industry will add to the potential customers for Dominion produce, and thus induce better spending power in New Zealand, which would be reflected once more in purchases of manufactured goods from Britain. Of course recovery in the United Kingdom is far from complete. Coal, cotton textile and shipping industries occupy but a fragment of their former importance. Nevertheless there are signs of improvement even in the meet depressed industries, and the latest statistics contain confirmation of those indications.