COMMERCIAL BANKS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 7

COMMERCIAL BANKS.

QUARTERLY RETURNS. "THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES. WELLINGTON, Friday. The principal features of the quarterly average statements of the commercial hanks for the first quarter of the year are, in comparison with the position a year ago, the reduction in public deposits by £1,342,254, and the increase in advances by £i,3l <,034. They show an excess of deposits over advances of only £326,403, as against £8,985,751 a year a&o, representing an' adverse movement of £8,659,288. The amount of advances is a record for the March quarter, though slightly lower than the figure for the December quarter of last year. Following are details of the three classes of deposits £or the March quarters •of this and last year.

Distribution of Deposits. The shrinkage in free deposits af- \ feoted all the banks, except the Commercial, which shows a small increment. On the other hand, two of the banks report smaller amounts on fixed .deposit. The following tables show 'details of the year's movements: —

Following is a summary of the movements in both, classes of deposits during the last five years:—

Growth of Advances. The advances have increased from £45,175,304 to £52,447,316, an increase of £7,271,832, and every bant has advanced liberally. The figures of the several banks are as follows: —

The discounts at £1,229,642 show an increase of £45,202 over the corresponding quarter of last year. The comparison between deposits and advances in the March quarter of recent years and the last four quarters has been as follows:

The average note circulation at £6,417,038 was £46,144 higher than in the corresponding quarter of last year. There has been a reduction of £614,523 in holdings of coin and bullion, chiefly due to the shipment of gold to London last year. The total is now £6,648,838. i>

Mar. 1929. £2,864,439 Mar. 1930. £3,466,086 25,736,743 23,905,822 Fixed .... 29,608,752 30,097,419 Totals .. £58,209,934 £57,469,327

FREE DEPOSITS. Bants Now Zealand w March, 1929. £12,272,662 2,919,214 March, 1930. 211,164,335 2,893,700 N.S. Wales ... Australasia 2,766,998 2,547,417 4,271,455 2,551,419 2,335,733 3,932,470 Commercial 958,997 1,028,165 Totals £2-5,7,36,743 £23,905,822 FIXED DEPOSITS Bants New Zealand >*; Union /N.S. Wales .—; Australasia March, 1929. 214,622,32 4 3,450,484 3,922,462 2,610,863 435,035 March, 1930. £14,863,274 • 3,209,883 4,109,384 2,710,336 4,585,234 Commercial 657,584 619,30.8 Totals .>: £29,608,752 £30,097,419

Quarter. 1926 Free. £26,865,851 Fixed. £20,436,629 1927 24,440,778 21,088,034 1928 24,482,151 25,476,144 1929 25,736,743 29,608,752 1930 23,905,822 30,097,419

March, March, Banks. 1929. 1630. IS'ew Zealand .. 19,240,355 £23,180,984 Union 5,376,078 6,437,5 68 N.S. Wales .. . 5,788,360 6,462,791 Australasia 4,737,439 4,988,222 national 8,516,319 9,691,289 Commercial .. . 1,516,753 1,686,2S2 Totals .... . £45,175,304 £52,447,136

Mar., ■1926 .• £47,302,480 £4 8,285,142 Mar., 1927 . 43,528,812 50,800,808 Mar. 1928 . 4V.,95«,2‘»5 40,070,370 Mar., 1 929 . 5 5,34 5,40 5 46,359,744 June, 1929 . 37,05 t ,804 47,407,211 Sept., 1929 . 5 4,5 08,‘>30 4 9,537 992 Dec., 1929 . 53,356,733 53,807,1131 Mar., 1930 . 54,003,241 5 3,67 0,77 S