A.—4

16

from this revenue to credit Customs duties with the amounts of duty which such liquor would have paid on entering New Zealand. Inasmuch as liquor imported by the Administration should not be dutiable, the total liquor receipts now appear under miscellaneous revenue. Customs Statistics. Statistics dealing with the trade, commerce and shipping of the port of Apia for the calendar year 1929 have been published. Imports. The total value of imports for the calendar year 1929 was £288,849, as compared with £326,553 for the year 1928, a decrease of £37,704. The decrease is principally due to the fall in price and production of the principal product of the Territory —namely, copra —in consequence of which the spending-power of the Natives was considerably diminished. The following table shows the countries whence imported, together with a comparison for the year 1928 :—

Imports for March quarter, 1930, total £55,763 on an estimated basis, as compared with £87,266 for the same quarter of 1929. The principal items (taken from the Trade Report) which may be commented upon are: —Increases : (1) Marine engines, £I,7s2—United Kingdom, £779 ; United States of America, £713 ; New Zealand, £267. (2) Benzine, &c., £3,334 —New Zealand, £2,050 ; Fiji, £2,252 ; decrease, United States of America, £919. (3) Kerosene, £3,469 —United States of America, £2,381 ; balance, Fiji and Australia. Decreases are shown in : (1) Copra sacks, £2,126 —India, £1,088 ; Australia, £992. (2) Drapery, £8,943 —United Kingdom, £1,170 ; New Zealand, £4,289 ; Australia, £1,951 ; United States of America, £1,241. (3) Drugs, £2,137 —mainly United Kingdom. (4) Fancy goods, £1,730 —-various countries. (5) Biscuits, £1,826 —Fiji and New Zealand. (6) Flour, £2,419 — mainly Australia. (7) Meat in tins, £7,901 —New Zealand, £9,661 ; United Kingdom, £64 ; increase, Australia, £1,550. (8) Rice, unmilled, £1,306 —mainly Australia. (9) Sugar, £1,967 — New Zealand, £1,796; Australia, £171. (10) Soap, £1,140 —mainly Australia. There was a general decrease in all provision goods, but not of a sufficient amount to note specially. Exports. The exports for 1929 amounted to £293,938, as compared with £422,175 for 1928, a decline of £128,237. It was in exports, however, that 1928 was an outstandingly favourable year, and the exports of 1929 show a decline of only £43,330 in comparison with those of the five years 1923-27 inclusive. Decreases as compared with 1928 are shown in copra, £113,929 ; cocoa, £23,221 ; rubber, £7,655 ; and increases in bananas, £13,421 ; and re-exports, £4,635. Copra. —The export of copra for the calendar year was 12,941 tons, valued at £205,330, as compared with 15,989 tons, value £319,259, for 1928. The fall in price is largely accounted for by the decrease in value ; the lower production has been commented on above. Cocoa. —Cocoa exported during 1929 amounted to 677 tons, valued at £46,286, in comparison with 959 tons, valued at £69,507, for 1928. There was a considerable quantity of cocoa on hand at the end of 1929 awaiting shipment, and the figures for March quarter reflect this. Rubber.—This article is still of such low value in the market- that there has not been much inducement to produce in any quantity. The export for 1929 is 110 tons, valued at £9,613, as compared with 167 tons, valued at £17,268, for 1928. There will have to be a considerable increase in the present market price to make this a payable proposition. Bananas. —The export of bananas has increased considerably during the past year, but not to the extent that might have eventuated if sufficient and more reliable means of transport had been available. There is no doubt that this enterprise has been restricted by the lack of a larger and more regular vessel. The quantity of bananas exported for the year 1929 was 53,652 cases, valued at £24,640, in comparison with 22,761 cases and 108 bunches, valued at £11,219, in 1928. Re-exports.—These amount to £7,270 for the calendar year 1929 as compared with £2,635 for the year 1928. The frequent services to the Union Islands, Northern Cook, and Ellice Islands are responsible for the large increase in this item.

1928. 1929. Countries. —■ Value. Percentage. Value. Percentage. • I I £ £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 71,253 21-8 57,650 20-0 New Zealand .. .. .. .. 96,412 29-5 78,794 27-2 Australia .. .. .. .. 68,426 21-0 62,186 21-6 United States of America .. .. .. 49,606 15-2 51,285 17-8 Other countries .. .. .. .. 40,856 12-5 38,934 13-4 Total .. .. .. 326,553 100-0 288,849 100-0