4

H.—44

Imports. From the following table it will be seen that our imports are drawn to a much greater exteiit from British than from foreign sources, the percentages in 1928 being—British, 68-64 ; foreign, 31-36. In the same year, however, foreign countries purchased from us only 15-90 per cent, of our total exports.

Value of New Zealand's Imports according to Country of Origin, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928.

These figures clearly show that, while the total of our purchases from foreign countries is fairly .well maintained, our buying from British countries has appreciably declined during recent years. The percentages of our imports coining from the main countries of origin during the past four years have been as under : —

Official statistics for the period ending 31st March, 1929, show that the upward course of business has been maintained, and a feeling of optimism prevails. Exports total £57,154,343, and imports £45,105,865, showing a favourable balance of £12,048,478. Banking Retukns. Banking returns as at the 31st March, 1929, record a signal improvement over the position disclosed by the returns for the past four years. It will be recalled that two years previously— namely, at the 31st March, 1927—advances were in excess of deposits by an amount of no less than £5,271,996. At the end of March this year the excess of deposits amounted to nearly £9,000,000.

1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. British Possessions, Protectorates, &c. — £ £ £ £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 25,572,802 22,827,406 21,464,114 21,289,275 India and Ceylon .. .. .. 1,757,337 1,730,399 1,614,624 1,643,030 South African Union.. .. .. 113,950 140,021 122,597 104,043 Canada .. .. .. .. 3,916,237 3,431,533 2,739,826 3,258,828 Australia .. .. .. .. 5,249,493 4,625,200 3,869,246 3,499,151 Fiji .. .. .. .. 1,239,456 892,894 424,785 571,728 All other British countries .. .. 413,001 426,288 482,369 444,134 1 38,262,276 34,073,741 30,717,561 30,810,189 Foreign Countries and Possessions — United States of America .. .. 8,885,265 10,000,507 8,079,467 8,204,197 France .. .. .. .. 918,572 814,929 891,277 820,592 Germany .. .. .. .. 500,475 673,472 837,777 898,901 Dutch East Indies ' .. .. 610,686 793,4-57 882,590 999,524 Japan .. .. .. .. 693,632 582,352 591,963 576,495 All other foreign countries .. .. 2,585,501 2,951,105 2,782,311 2,576,368 14,194,131 15,815,822 14,065,385 14,076,077 Totals, all countries .. .. 52,456,407 49,889,563 44,782,946 44,886,266

I I I 1925. 1926. 1927. ! 1928. — s - — - —— ' ~ " ' " ~ ; 5 ~ j > "| United Kingdom .. .. . . 48-75 45-76 47-93 47-43 United States of America . . . . 16-94 20-05 18-04 1 18-28 Australia .. .. .. .. 10-01 9-27 | 8-64 : 7-79 Canada .. . . .. . . 7-47 6-88 | 6-12 7-26 India and Ceylon .. . . . . 3-36 3-47 3-61 I 3-66 Fiji .. .. .. .. .. 2-37 1-79 0-95 j 1-27 France .. ■ .. .. .. .. 1-75 1-63 1-99 1-83 Germany .. . . . . .. 0-95 1-35 1-87 2-00 Japan .. .. . . . . .. 1-32 1-17 1-32 1-28 Dutch East Indies .. .. .. 1-17 1-59 1-97 2-23