H.—44

The volume of imports from Australia during 1933 has remained at a level with the 1932 figures, and for the first time since 1914 Australia regained second place to the United Kingdom in the value of commodities imported into New Zealand. In eleven of the classified export groups from Australia, out of a total of twenty-one New Zealand in 1933 was Australia's best, customer. The Trade Agreement (New Zealand and Australia) Ratification Act, 1933, which had an uninterrupted passage through the respective Houses of Parliament and which came into effect by Proclamation on the Ist December, 1933, has not yet been sufficiently long in force to enable a comprehensive survey to be made in this report as to the outcome of the trading facilities and advantages now afforded both countries. As a result of the trade agreement, however, there are already many definite indications of a greater demand for numerous items of New Zealand produce, and it is anticipated that during 1934 there will be a considerable increase in the exports to Australia of many of our products, particularly timber and fishery products. The Trade Commissioner in Australia (Mr. L. J. Schmitt) has been continually active in looking to the interests of New Zealand producers and exporters, and has from time to time reported upon the prospects of developing markets for many of our products not hitherto exported to Australia in the quantities they have every prospect of assuming. The quantities and values of some of the principal commodities exported to Australia in each of the past two years are shown hereunder : —

Trade with Canada. The value of our export, import, and total trade with Canada in each of the past five years is shown in the following table, together with the percentages which such trade bears to total exports and imports : —

It is gratifying to note that there has been an increase recorded in the value of our exports, whilst the imports remain fairly constant during the past three years. Values increased particularly in wool, hides and skins, sausage-casings, and apples.

6

1932. 1933. Quantity. Value. Quantity. 1 Value. £ £ Timber, sawn .. .. Sup. ft. 26,244,540 239,313 23,469,968 213,930 Fish, frozen .. .. Cwt. 17,988 35,804 26,466 45,400 Sausage-casings .. .. lb. 270,302 8,384 281,721 lo'372 Onions .. .. .. Tons 1,269 10,404 5 23 Hides, pelts, and skins — Calf-skins .. .. No. 316,206 42,262 101,028 | 16,982 Cattle-hides .. .. „ 117,403 89,701 88,212 ! 100,768 Deer-skins .. .. „ 7,420 2,164 1,698 j '381 Sheep-skins with wool .. „ 12,966 1,440 16,145 1,865 Sheep-skins without wool .. „ 365,915 12,864 257,493 8^212 Phormium fibre and tow .. Tons 2,560 32,168 2,370 28,340 Grass and clover seeds .. Cwt. 15,944 40,024 "19,475 41,513 Peas .. .. .. Centals 25,774 28,548 17,482 19^270 Pumice sand and stone .. Tons 3,045 11,361 2,112 7,686 Sugar of milk .. .. lb. 172,480 4,763 170,240 } 5*007 Wool .. .. ..lb. 3,002,534 88,340 6,087,740 j 170,045 Tallow .. .. .. Tons 893 18,237 1,116 23,159 Gold, raw.. .. .. Oz. 31,706 175,690 27,188 ! 185,739

Year ended 31st December, Canada* 0 of Total Trade. Exports. ' Imports. £ £ £ 1929 .. .. .. 3,353,975 6'03 4,792,820 9-81 8,146,795 1930 .. .. .. 2,539,212 5-65 3,802,925 8-84 6,342 137 1931 .. .. .. 256,890 0-73 1,224,569 4-94 1,481459 1932 .. .. .. 244,160 0-66 1,007,178 4-37 1,251,338 1933 .. .. .. 560,875 1-36 1,012,250 4-72 1,573,125