A.—3

16

Trade. Imports for the year 1925 totalled £18,747, as against £16,788 for 1924-. Exports amounted to £17,429, as against £14,608 for 1924, of which £17,320 went to New Zealand and £109 to Western Samoa. The main items of exports were —Copra, 647f tons ; bananas, 4,000 cases ; basketware and mats, 213§ dozen ; hats, 2,801f dozen ; and fungus, 6,523 lb. Owing to the severe drought experienced from the Ist September to the 14th March, which seriously affected the native food crops, coconut-trees, and banana-plants, prospects for the comingseason are not so bright as I would wish. The majority of these crops are beginning to recover a little after the recent rains, and it is hoped that the outlook will improve as the season advances. Although we have suffered from the drought, we consider that we have got off very lightly in comparison to what Samoa and the eastern Cook Group have suffered through hurricanes and gales.

Return of Imports for the Year ended 31st December, 1925.

Article. Whence imported. Value. £ £ Agricultural produce .. .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. .. 119 Ale and stout .. .. .. .. ,, . . .. .. .. 25 Apparel n.e.i. .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. 1,050 Western Samoa .. . . 4 United Kingdom . . .. 132 Australia .. . . .. j 31 Tonga .. . . .. 20 Jaj>an .. . . .. 44 U.S. America, West Coast .. 48 1,329 Arms, ammunition, and explosives .. .. New Zealand . . . . .. .. 302 Bacon and ham .. .. .. .. ,, .. .. .. 17 Australia .. .. .. 4 21 Bags and sacks .. .. .. ... ! New Zealand .. . . .. 718 United Kingdom . . . . 3 Australia .. .. .. 112 833 Beverages, non-alcoholic .. .. . . New Zealand .. .. .. . . 13 Bicycles and parts .. .. .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. 172 Biscuits .. .. .. • • ,, .. .. .. .. 714 Blue .. .. .. .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. 27 Boots and shoes .. . . .. . . ,, .. .. .. 186 United Kingdom .. .. 18 Australia .. .. .. 2 206 Brushware .. .. .. . . New Zealand .. .. .. 29 Australia .. . . .. 1 — 30 Butter and cheese .. .. .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. 167 Australia .. .. .. 15 182 Carriages and parts.. .. .. .. New Zealand .. .. . . .. 67 Cement .. .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. .. 283 Confectionery n.e.i. .. .. .. ,, .. . . .. 171 Australia .. .. .. 2 173 Cordage and twine .. .. .. .. New Zealand . . . . .. 66 United Kingdom .. .. 18 Australia .. . . .. 30 — 114 Cotton piece-goods n.e.i. .. .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. 1,461 Western Samoa . . . . 10 United Kingdom . . .. 1,369 Australia .. .. .. 15 Tonga .. .. .. 10 U.S. America, West Coast .. 13 2,1378 Cotton, sewing .. .. .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. 46 United Kingdom .. .. 57 103 Crockery and glassware .. .. .. New Zealand .. . . .. .. 38 Cutlery .. .. .. .. .. ,, .. . . .. 41 United Kingdom . . .. 5 Australia .. .. .. 21 67