H.—44.

Island Trade. Fiji. Exports from New Zealand to Fiji in 1933 were valued at £87,435, as compared with £88,693 in. 1932. Imports into the Dominion from Fiji showed a reduction from £106,041 in 1932 to £84,877 in 1933. The values of New Zealand's exports and imports to and from Fiji in each of the past five calendar years are set out below for purposes of comparison : —

Exports of New Zealand produce to Fiji consist of a fairly wide range of commodities, of which the following were some of the more important in 1933 : — Potted and preserved meats, £6,608 ; potatoes, £4,041 ; refined sugar, £3,327 ; tea, £3,017 ; tallow, £2,753 ; bacon and hams, £2,472 ; soap, £2,184 ; dried, preserved, and condensed milks, £1,256 ; confectionery, £1,042 ; sawn timber, £1,000; fresh apples and pears, £690 ; onions, £597. Imports from Fiji consisted mainly of raw sugar and fresh fruits, the values of these items in 1933 being £20,003 and £59,974 respectively. Imports of raw sugar showed a considerable reduction when compared with 1932, in which year the value was £46,811. The other main sources of supply for this commodity in both years were the British East Indies and Cuba. Imports of fresh fruit, consisting mainly of bananas, were valued at £54,830 in 1932, as compared with the figure shown above for 1933, £59,974. Notwithstanding the adverse effect of the Ottawa Agreement upon certain preferential tariff advantages which New Zealand enjoyed over Australia, it is satisfactory to note that our exports to Fiji remain at a comparatively high level. In January last Sir A. G. Murchison, the Governor of Fiji, visited the Dominion and advantage was taken to discuss with him matters relating to the further development of reciprocal trade between New Zealand and Fiji. Western Samoa. The value of the total import and export trade of Western Samoa in each of the past five calendar years is shown in the following table : —

Of the total value of importations in 1933, aggregating £150,856, the following proportions were obtained from the countries named : New Zealand, £51,034 ; Australia, £33,643 ; United Kingdom, £30,762 ; United States, £12,117 ; Fiji, £6,802 ; Canada, £4,515 ; Japan, £3,613 ; British East Indies, £3,497. These eight countries together supplied 97-4-3 per cent, of the imports into Western Samoa during 1933. Exports from Western Samoa in 1933, totalling £173,837, were shipped to the countries mentioned below, and to the extent indicated : — £ European countries (exact destination unknown) . . . . . . 76,290 United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . • . . 37,839 New Zealand . . .. . . . ■ • • ■ ■ • • 28,125 United States .. .. .. .. • • 27,638 Other countries .. . . . . . ■ • • ■ ■ . . 3,945 Total £173,837 As was the case in 1932, New Zealand ranks third in importance as a market for the products of this territory. The main commodity taken by New Zealand was again bananas, amounting to 81,983 cases valued at £26,999. In 1932 the corresponding value was £20,016. The balance of exports to New Zealand in 1933 mainly comprised cocoa-beans, valued at £932.

2—H. 44.

9

Year ended 31st December, ! Exports to Fiji. | Importsfrom Fiji. £ £ 1929 .. .. •• •• •• 1 135,652 174,894 1930 .. .. •• •• •• 110,033 200,877 1931 .. .. .. .. .. 89,245 102,979 1932 . .. .. ■■ •• ■■ 88,693 106,041 1933 .. .. •• •• 87,435 84,877

Year ended 3.St December, | ■g," | '"ZZT | £ £ £ 1929 .. .. .. 288,849 293,938 ; 582,787 1930 . .. • • 275.355 284,515 : 559,870 1931 .. .. .. 164,950 194,447 ! 359,397 1932 .. .. .. ■ • 150,902 183,028 333,930 1933 .. .. . •• 150,856 173,837 324,693