H.—44.

1927. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE (TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General.

This report deals with the work of the Department of Industries and Commerce during the year ended 30th April, 1927. Though condensed, it covers various subjects that come under the Department's purview, but does not purport to deal with matters of a routine character. OVERSEAS TRADE. External trade for the year 1926 unfortunately does not compare favourably with the two previous years, in that the total value of our export trade has declined, and imports were in excess of exports to the extent of £4,613,000. The value of the external trade of the Dominion during the calendar year 1926 amounted to £95,165,138, a decrease of £12,503,666 as compared with the previous year. The following table shows the value of our exports to various countries in 1925 and 1926 : — 1925. 1926. British Possessions, Protectorates, &c.— £ £ United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 44,073,717 35,102,233 India .. .. .. .. .. 197,428 82,826 South Africa Union .. .. .. .. 19,306 31,540 Canada .. .. .. .. .. 423,068 861,717 Australia .. .. .. .. .. 2,502,113 3,054,433 Fiji .. .. .. .. .. .. 133,450 152,323 Tonga .. .. .. .. .. 90,447 67,765 Western Samoa .. .. .. .. 84,878 83,728 All other British countries .. .. .. 72,615 90,359 47,597,022 39,526,924 Foreign Countries and Possessions — Belgium .. .. .. .. .. 194,575 171,360 France .. .. .. .. .. 600,824 681,568 Germany .. .. .. .. .. 1,614,090 364,629 Italy .. .. .. .. .. 325,279 145,266 Netherlands .. .. .. .. .. 55,013 112,714 Japan .. .. .. .. .. 231,839 162,832 United States of America .. .. .. 4,345,758 3,818,162 Hawaii .. .. .. .. .. 144,599 113,151 All other foreign countries .. .. .. 153,273 178,969 7,665,250 5,748,651 Total all countries .. .. .. £55,262,272 £45,275,575

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