H.—44.

Imports of fresh fruit, consisting mainly of bananas, were valued at £49,914 in 1930, as against the figure of £43,090, shown above, for 1931." With a view to developing oiir trade with Fiji, which in recent years has shown a decided tendency to recede, the Department has endeavoured to interest exporters in New Zealand in an agricultural, pastoral, and industrial show, which will be held in Fiji by the Fiji Show Association on the 11th and 12th October, 1932. The Department feels that this will be an excellent opportunity of making better known to Fiji the products which we have for sale, and has accordingly made efforts to interest exporters in the direction of making a combined display of both primary and manufactured products. By arrangement with the Fijian Government, New Zealand enjoys on certain goods the rates applicable for " scheduled countries." Those rates are lower than those under the British preferential tariff. On all other goods New Zealand obtains the benefit of British preference. Tonga. The value of our export trade with Tonga in 1931 also showed a substantial decrease as compared with 1930, the figures being £29,926 and £47,958 respectively in each year. Our import trade with Tonga is very small, amounting to only £625 in 1931 as against £19 in 1930. The small value of importations from Tonga is due to the fact that the export trade of that kingdom is mainly confined to copra, a commodity which does not enter into New Zealand's import trade. Imports into Tonga are derived from various sources, New Zealand being the principal supplier in 1930 (the latest year for which detailed statistics are available), followed by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, in that order. Imports cover a wide range of commodities, in which drapery, hardware, flour, tinned meats, sugar, timber, and gunny bags figure largely. The table which follows shows the values of exports to and imports from Tonga in each of the past five calendar years.

Western Samoa. The value of the total import and export trade of Western Samoa in each of the past five years is shown in the following table : —

Of the total value of importations in 19-31, aggregating £164,950, the following amounts were obtained from the countries named ; New Zealand, £56,450 ; Australia, £35,468 ; United Kingdom, £29,286 ; the United States, £23,805 ; Fiji, £6,269 ; Canada, £5,442 ; Dutch East Indies, £2,918. These seven countries together supplied 96-8 per cent, of the imports of Western Samoa. So far as the exports of this group of islands are concerned, which in 1931 totalled £194,4-47, trade was shared by the following countries to the extent indicated : — £ European countries (exact destination unknown) . . . . . . 64,299 United States .. .. .. . • • .. •• 59,687 New Zealand ~ .. . . .. 45,169 United Kingdom .. .. .. .. . • .. •• 15,668 Holland .. .. ... .. .. 5,470 Other countries .. .. .. . • •• •• ■■ 4,154 Total £194,447 As will be observed, New Zealand ranked third in importance as a market for the products of this Territory. The main item taken by New Zealand was bananas, the export value of which amounted to £39,022. The balance of exports to New Zealand mainly comprised specie (silver coin) to the value Of £5,000,

8

fear ended 31st December, Exports to Tonga. | Imports from Tonga. £ ' £ 1927 .. .. .. 68,155 79 1928 .. .. .. .. 86,695 14 1929 .. .. .. .. 58,599 138 1930 .. .. .. •• 47,958 19 1931 .. .. •• •• 29,926 625

Year ended 31st December, | j 0 ™ | Total Trade " £ £ £ 1927 .. .. . .. 304,369 335,978 640,347 1928 .. •• 326,553 422,175 748,728 1929 . .. •• •• 288,849 293,938 582,787 1930 . .. .. .. 275.355 284,515 559,870 1931 .. .. •• 164,950 194,447 359,397 . j