H.—44

11

Tonga. The table given hereunder shows the values of New Zealand's exports to and imports from Tonga in each of the past five calendar years : —

The value of our export trade with the Kingdom of Tonga thus again showed a substantial decline 011 the figures for the four previous years. The increase in our import figures from Tonga in the past two years is almost entirely due to importations of bananas, the figures for which were :• — In 1932 = 3,291,000 lb., valued at £9,294. In 1933 = 1,642,000 lb., valued at £7,851. The -values of the principal commodities exported to Tonga from New Zealand in 1933 were as follows: Tinned meats, £6,435 ; meats, all classes other than tinned, £760; sugar, £1,678 ; provisions, £877 ; timber, £968 ; miscellaneous hardware and ironmongery, £781 ; cordage and rope, £463 ; butter, £559.' Trade with the East. During the year efforts by the Department have not been relaxed in endeavouring to foster our export trade with Eastern countries. While world economic conditions have been definitely against an expansion of our trade in various commodities no great headway has been made, but the return of more favourable conditions should see a substantial increase in the volume of our trade with the East. Numerous inquiries continue to be received from all parts of the East and for a variety of New Zealand products, and in all such instances the inquirers have been placed in direct contact with persons, firms, and organizations likely to be interested. Unfortunately, the lack of direct shipping services remains the principal barrier to developing trade to greater proportions. The Department has honorary trade representatives in India, Ceylon, Hong Kong, and China, and these gentleman are of considerable assistance in submitting market reports and other information essential to New Zealand exporters desirous of extending their trade with such countries. The following table shows the value of our export and import trade with various parts of the East for each of the past three calendar years

The outstanding increases in the value of our exports are those to Japan, mainly accounted for by wool, tallow, and casein, and to China, mainly accounted for by preserved milks. A more correct comparison of our trade with the countries enumerated would perhaps be made by showing the volume of the various classes of commodities exported instead of comparing the total

Year ended 31st December, Exports to Tonga. Imports from Tonga. £ £ 1929 .. .. .. •• 58,599 138 1930 47,958 19 1931 .. .. .. 29,926 625 1932 27,266 9,412 1933 .. .. •• 19,407 8,331

1931. I 1932. 1933. Export to — £ £ £ , Dutch East Indies .. •• 10,205 5,255 5,496 British Malaya ■■ •• ■■ 14,922 26,868 22,929 Burma .. • • • • ■ • 827 743 Ceylon •• •• 5,093 3,498 2,670 IlK lia .. .. 59,185 53,378 34,326 China ■■ •• 17,625 15,413 54,564 Japan .. • • ■■ 267,899 236,799 354,462 Imports from — Dutch East Indies .. 848,216 793,647 798,579 British Malaya .. • • •• 56,949 86,431 50,545 Burm a .... 10,459 13,437 13,784 C ey lon ■■ 617,042 351,598 442,628 India • 392,088 354,752 461,539 Japan ■■ 304,532 434,746 541,346 China ■■ •• 82 . 257 77 > 283 58 ' 228