TRADE IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1935, Page 4

TRADE IN TARANAKI.

One of the most useful and accurate barometers of trade in Taranaki is the monthly return of Customs revenue for the port of New Plymouth, and it is heartening to know that for the month of April a fairly substantial increase was recorded over the revenue for the same month last year. That the improvement was not a flash in the pan is evident from the fact that, although January showed a slight decrease, February, March and April were all brighter than they were last year, and for the first four months of the year the total increase in revenue was over £4OOO. Over the same period the amount of petrol tax collected has increased by over £2400, and sales tax by £749. These figures confirm the experience of many business men that though the difference is not great there has been a definitely brighter tone this year than there was last year. In view of the disturbing effect on business generally of the legislation enacted in recent years, owing to the uncertainty and feeling of insecurity it created, the position as revealed by the Customs returns is particularly gratifying. Whereas the prosperity or otherwise cf the people of Taranaki, whether rural or urban, must inevitably depend to a very large extent on the success of the dairying industry, it is interesting to see that, in spite of what is being freely said about the condition of dairying, trade is still growing steadily. It is a point worthy of careful consideration by those interested in economic matters.