EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10104, 16 March 1911, Page 1

EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS.

A statement relating to the external trade of the United Kingdom during the year 1910, compiled by the Board of Trade, London, with special reference to New Zealand, has been forwarded by the British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. Striking evidence of the great volume of the external trade of the United Kingdom and of its remarkable expansion m 1910 w afforded by the recently issued Accounts relating to the Trade and Wcration of the United Kingdom for the month and twelve months ended December 31. The following .statement contains figures, taken fromi the accounts, for the years 1909 and 1910, with comparative figures for the yeai 1907 these being the highest recorded

\s the element of price enters largely into a comparison of this kind it is important to state that, due allowance being made for price-changes, both the imports and the exports of 1910 were greater, not only in value but also in volume, than those of any previous year, not excepting 1907. Of the increase of £52,400,000 United Kingdom produce, £20,000,000 represents the increase in consignments to other parts of the British Empire, raising the proportion of such exports from 33.6 per cent of the total in 1909 to 34.2 per cent in 1910. The figures given show that the imports into the United Kingdom in 1910 were valued at £53,700,000 more than in 1909. Of this total increase no less than £41,100,000 was represented by the increased value of raw materials imported, and even when allowance is made for the exceptionally high prices of two articles of great importance, raw cotton and rubber, and for re-ex-ported raw materials, the figures indicate a substantial increase in the supplies of the numerous materials of industry drawn from various parts of the world for use in the manufacturing establishments of the United Kingdom. More than seven-eighths of the increased value of exports of United Kingdom produce is accounted for by an increase in goods classified as " Articles wholly or mainly manufactured." The total value of the merchandise imported into the United Kingdom from New Zealand, and that of the merchandise exported from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, during the years 1909 and 1910 were as follows:

There was thus an increase of 18 per cent in imports from New Zealand, and one of 17 per cent in exports of United Kins#k>ni produce to New Zea-

land. Among the principal articles were the fallowing:—

prior to 1910 :- Increase Merchandise only. per cent in 1910 as compared with 1907. Million £s. 1909. Million £s. 1910. Million £3. 1907.1909. Per Per cent. cent. Imports . Exports— TJ. King. Produce , 615.8 426.0 G24.7 378.2 678.4 430.6 5.1 8.6 1.1 13.9 Foreign and Colonial Produce 91.9 91.3 103.8 12,9 13.8

1909. 1910. Million Million Imports into the United Kingas. dom frorn Now Zealand . 17.78 20.94 Exports from the TJnited Kingdom to New Zealand— Of United Kin*. Produce 7.86 Of Foreign and Colonial 8.63 0.7G

° ■ Value. Articles. 1909. 1910. £ £ Imports from N. Zealand— Mutton, frozen . 3,499,000 4,238,000 Beef, frozen . 660,000 798,000 Butter .... 1,472,00!) 2,001,000 Cheese ■«. 1,1X4,000 1,311,000 Wool, sheep's or lambs' . Tallow and stearins . €.935,000 8,527,000 700,000 819,000 Skins (sheep) 611.000 623,000 Hemp, dressed and un-drc-Bsed . . . . 215,000 426,003 Exports to New Zealand (u. ir reduce) — fton and steel and manufactures thereof (so far as separately distinguished in the monthly accounts) 820,000 1,039,000 Cotton piece goods . • 657,000 738,000 "Woollen and worsted tissues 804,000 368,000 Apparel .... 467,000 538,000