H— 44c.

Selling-prices at 13th August, 1931. Wholesale. Retail. Per Gallon. Per Gallon, s. d. s. d. No. 1, motoring grade . . .. ..11-5 1 2-5 No. 3, commercial grade .. 0 11-5 1 0-5 The costs and prices in the United Kingdom are materially affected, firstly, by the large quantities handled, and, secondly, by keen competition, at present reported to be a feature of the oil trade in that territory. Comparison of Costs, Duty paid, Delivered, Australia and New Zealand. The following table shows comparative costs between the duty-paid delivered cost in Australia and New Zealand. The authority for the Australian figures is based on a report prepared by a Customs Investigating Officer and an Audit Inspector, submitted to the Commonwealth Parliament on the 22nd April, 1931. The reference is taken from page 11, schedule "C" of the above report.

Note. —New Zealand Customs duty shown above is the average rate paid over twelve months ending 31st December, 1930.

Comparison of Selling-prices in Main Centres, Australia and New Zealand.*

New Zealand retail selling-prices are nominal ruling prices, but supplies are obtainable in main centres at lower prices.

3 —H. 44c.

11

First Grade. First Grade. (As at 7th November, (Average Figures, Twelve Months to 1930.) 31st December, 1930.) New Zea-land. Australia. j A Company. C Company. d. d. d. F.o.b. cost .. .. .. .. 5-703 5-8567 5-4570 Overseas freight . . . . . . 2-296 1-6750 1-7940 Insurance .. . . .. . . 0-037 0-0390 0-0140 Evaporation and leakage . . . . .. 0-070 0-0750 0-3570 Exchange ., .. .. .. 0-729 0-4320 C.i.f. & e 8-835 8-0777 7-6220 Customs duty .. .. .. .. 7-000 5-040 4-7040 Primage . . . . .. .. 0-250 Wharfage and landing charges . . . . 0-210 0-149 0-1849 Duty-paid cost .. . . .. 16-295 13-2667 12-5109 Distribution cost .. .. .. 7-661* 8-2463f 8-8354 23-956 21-5130 21-3463 * Based on expenses, half-year, January to June, 1930. t Half-year ending 30th June, 1931.

First Grade. Second Grade. —j — - Duty. Wholesale. ] Retail. 1 Wholesale. Retail. Australia. 1929. I s. d. s. cl. s. d. s. d. May 1st .. .. ! 16 19 14 17 3d. „ 25th .. ..16 19 15 18 3d. December 11th .. 16 19 15 18 4d. 1930. October 2nd .. .. 1 4-85 1 7-85 1 3-85 1 6-85 7-15d. approx. 1931. April 10th .. .. 1 3-76 1 6-76 1 2-76 1 5-76 7-24d. „ New Zealand. 1929. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. May 1st .. . . 14 17 13 16 4d. and 2 per cent. „ 25th .. .. 14 17 13 16 1930. August 1st .. .. 1 3-7 1 6-7 1 3-7 1 5-7 6-3d. „ 28th .. .. 12-7 1 5-7 1 1-7 1 4-7 6-3d. November 1st .. 1 2-7 1 5-7 11-7 1 4-7 6-3d. 1931. August 10th .. .. 11-7 1 4-7 1 0-7 1 3-7 6-3d. * Prices quoted for both countries are duty-free for comparison purposes, and rebates for quantities are not taken into account.