H.—44

4

Value of New Zealand's Imports according to Country of Origin, 1926-29.

The figures for 1929 show increases in all the above countries, except India, Australia, Fiji, and France. Of these, India showed only a small decrease, while Fiji, Australia, and France showed decreases of £396,830, £240,872, and £95,455 respectively. The largest increases in imports that took place in 1929 as compared with 1928 were in respect of Canada (£1,528,077), the United Kingdom (£1,278,714), and the United States (£1,122,969). In the table given below the percentages of total imports claimed by each of the principal countries trading with New Zealand are shown for the same four years.

Of our total importations in 1929 67-81 per cent, came from British countries and 32-19 per cenr. from foreign countries, as compared with 68-64 per cent, from British and 31-36 per cent, from foreign sources in the previous year. Increased importations from the United States appear to account for the increase in the proportion derived from foreign sources last year. Banking Returns. Like the figures of overseas trade, the banking returns as at the 31st March, 1930, also reveal less favourable features than those at the same date in either of the two previous years, but this was only to be expected under the circumstances ruling during the past year. The very substantial fall in the prices of several of our principal primary exports, particularly wool and dairy "produce, the withholding of wool for sale, together with the heavy increase in importations, are factors that have vitally affected both our trade and our banking figures. Nevertheless, the returns are better perhaps than were anticipated, and in view of the existing circumstances may be considered as satisfactory. The banking figures are indeed considerably better than those for the periods ended 31st March, 1926 and 1927. As it is, reasonable economy must be exercised while the prices of the majority of our principal primary exports are on the comparatively low level at which they have been for some little time, and until such time as our trade balance is restored to a more favourable position.

1926. j 1927. 1928. 1929. ! I | I British Possessions, Protectorates, &c. — £ £ £ J £ United Kingdom .. .. .. 22,827,406 21,464,114 21,290,060 ■ 22,568,774 India and Ceylon .. .. .. 1,730,399 1,614,624 1,643,031 1,683,955 South African Union .. .. 140,021 122,597 104,043 100,998 Canada .. .. .. .. 3,431,533 2,739,826 3,259,104 4,787,181 Australia .. .. .. .. 4,625,200 3,869,246 3,499,4-84 j 3,258,612 Fiji .. .. .. .. 892,894 424,785 571,728 1 174,898 All other British countries .. .. 426,288 482,369 443,890 I 513,535 34,073,741 30,717,561 30,811,340 j 33,087,953 Foreign Countries and Possessions — United States of America .. .. 10,000,507 8,079,467 8,203,342 I 9,326,311 France .. .. .. .. 814,929 891,277 820,687 1 725,232 Germany .. .. .. .. 673,472 837,777 899,069 I 942,798 Dutch East Indies .. .. .. 793,457 882,590 999,524 I 1,153,187 Japan .. .. .. .. 582,352 591,963 576,810 625,118 All other foreign countries .. .. 2,951,105 2,782,311 2,575,494 2,937,378 15,815,822 14,065,385 14,074,926 15,710,024 Totals, all countries .. .. 49,889,563 44,782,946 44,886,266 48,797,977 |

I I 1926. | 1927. 1928. 1929. I Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. United Kingdom .. .. .. 45-76 47-93 47-43 46-25 United States of America .. .. 20-05 18-04 18-28 19-11 Australia .. .. .. .. 9-27 8-64 7-79 ! 6-68 Canada .. .. .. .. 6-88 6-12 7-26 9-81 India and Ceylon .. . . . . 3-47 3-61 3-66 , 3-45 South African Union .. .. 0-28 0-27 0-23 ! 0-21 Fiji .. .. .. .. 1-79 0-95 1-27 0-36 France .. .. .. .. 1-63 1-90 1-83 1-49 Germany .. .. .. .. 1-35 1-87 2-00 1-93 Japan .. . . .. .. 1-17 1-27 1-28 1-28 Dutch East Indies .. .. .. 1-59 1-89 2-23 2-36