BANK RETURNS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7687, 23 April 1903, Page 3

BANK RETURNS.

[P£R Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, April 23.

The bank returns for the first quarter of the year show heavy increases in the volume of lixed and free deposits, the aggregate increase being in excess of £1,500,000. Advances show a moderate increase, being only £294,887 in excess of the corresponding period of last year. Discounts exhibit a slight shrinkage. The note circulation is substantially larger, being £60,131 in excess of the March quarter of 1902, and there is also a decided expansion in the metal reserve, the aggregate showing an excess of £148,700. Liabilities exceed assets by £613,655, while for the corresponding period of last year there -rcas an excess of assets amounting to £913,593. The assets in March last n amounted to £19,342,084; in the preceding March to £19,029,139. The liabilities at the end of -March this year were £19,955,739, and at the end of the first quarter of 1902 £18,115.546. The following figures show the liabilities and assets of each bank: — Bank of New Zealand — Liabilities i assets £7,731,609. Union Bank of Australia— £2,6o3,932, £1,227,450. Bank of New South Wa1e5— £1,839,549, £3,640,351. Bunk of Australasia — £1,636,568, £2,895,726. National Bank of New Zealand — £2,831,600. £2,846,948. Turning to advances, the returns disclose an increase of £194,887 as compared with a year ago, while last year exhibited an increase of £592,291 over the previous year. Deposits show an abnormal increase, fixed deposits being £318.205 more than at the corresponding date of last year. The fixed deposits are as under: — Bank of New Zealand £3,966,058, Union £1,232,721, New South Wales £1,546.471, Australasia £676,250, National £1,315,143; total £8,736,644.