YEAR’S IMPORTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 122, 26 May 1938, Page 11

YEAR’S IMPORTS

RISE OVER WIDE RANGE MOTOR TRADE PURCHASES ELECTRICAL GOODS INCREASE Imports of merchandise into New Zealand in the linancial year ended March 31 at £58,064,559 (New Zealand currency), were 21.9 per cent, higher than those ot the previous year. The increase was practically an all round one, only nine items in the 46 classified registering a decline. Motor vehicles, comprising cars and commercial vehicles, accounted for the greatest rise, followed by electrical goods and wheat. Motor vehicles and accessories, petrol and lubricating oil made up 17 per cent, of the total imports in 1937-38. The principal increases occurred in the following groups:—

The principal items which showed a decline over the year were as follows.

Imports of specie for the year, which are net included in the total iigures, were valued at 1293,724, an increase of £218,570 over the previous year's figures.

1937-37 1937-38 Increase £ £ £ Wheat ... .. 96,449 873,636 777,186 Tea 697,140 881.048 183,908 Hosier .. .. 273,930 483,020 209,09v Apparel — (n.i.e.l . . 1,521.275 1,806,771 285,497 Boots & Shoes 594,657 "08.393 J 13,736 Woollen piece goods 1,016,796 1,036,712 19.916 Silks, etc. ... 1.16V,949 1,173,601 12.652 Motor spirit . 1,729,445 2.023,664 294.219 Iron <fc Steel 1.440,90.3 1,800,920 360.017 Rail. & tramway plant 270,043 504,355 234.312 Fencing wire 271,"37 378,339 107 3o2 Elect, good); • 1,986,189 2.7 >4,'*33 798,644 Phosphates'”. 513,383 664,195 150,812 Motor vehicles 5,033,776 6,107,842 1,074.842

1936-37 1937-38 Decrease £ £ £ Whiskey .. . 413,221 407,191 6,030 Cotton piece goods .. ..1,993,589 1,809,176 184.413 Dairy machin. 175,522 118,295 57.227 Newsprint . . 417,61 1 341,650 75.964 Leather .. 278,753 241,050 87.703 Flour 93,711 1,097 92.614 Sugar 727,998 710,983 17.010