H.—44,

IMPORTS. The quantities and values of the principal items imported into New Zealand during the past two calendar years are set out in Table IV : —

Table IV. —Principal Imports (excluding Specie).

The high prices ruling for imported articles during 1937 were maintained in most instances during 1938, although lower quantities imported account to a great extent for the drop in total imports,

4

Year ended 31st December. Item. 1937. i 1938. Quantity. J Value. Quantity. Value. I £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) Wheat .. .. .. Bushels 1,577,650 489,019 3,444,869 803,593 Flour.. .. .. ..Centals 7,347 7,568 737 550 Sugar.. .. .. .. Cwt. 1,851,403 723,225 1,684,409 601,271 Tea .. .. .. ..lb. 10,682,222 822,571 11,175,774 816,960 Whisky .. .. .. Gallons 340,491 420,719 322,069 413,197 Cigarettes .. .. .. Thousands 508,608 481,314 525,949 463,107 Tobacco .. .. ..lb. 3,315,663 439,800 4,009,815 563,482 Seeds.. .. .. .. .. .. 207,838 .. 151,715 Hosiery .. .. .. .. .. 447,354 .. 365,161 Apparel, n.e.i. .. .. .. .. .. 1,814,116 .. 1,511,897 Boots and Shoes .. .. Doz. prs. 267,035 708,024 229,455 578,024 Drapery, n.e.i. .. .. .. .. .. 450,871 .. 399,144 Carpets, &o. .. .. .. .. .. 915,635 .. 684,790 Piece-goods — Cotton .. .. .. .. .. 1,944,289 .. 1,497,504 Silk.. .. .. .. .. .. 1,215,265 .. 953,275 Woollen .. .. .. .. .. 1,132,846 .. 776,149 Cornsacks .. .. .. Doz. 536,158 163,756 407,640 125,853 Other sacks .. .. .. .. .. 165,823 .. 186,080 Woolpacks .. .. .. Doz. 48,089 59,351 49,353 58,187 Kerosene .. .. .. Gallons 4,712,073 86,788 6,834,224 118,890 Motor-spirit .. .. .. Gallons 85,665,508 1,856,209 102,288,881 1,881,210 Mineral lubricating-oil .. .. Gallons 4,037,650 405,070 3,160,416 315,226 Crude petroleum .. .. Gallons 43,039,234 332,390 65,154,762 585,182 Coal .. .. .. .. Tons 116,499 111,975 109,206 108,100 Iron and steel — Bar, bolt, and rod :. ..Cwt. 822,347 547,575 1,094,607 765,024 Galvanized plate .. ... Cwt. 560,122 676,259 388,324- 537,012 Hardware .. .. .. .. .. 1,034,939 .. 990,096 Electrical apparatus .. .. .. .. 2,595,178 .. 2,848,711 Wireless apparatus .. .. .. .. 607,099 .. 430,155 Timber' — Sawn .. .. .. Sup. ft. 26,971,846 382,740 29,842,999 428,942 Other .. .. .. .. .. 179,788 .. 205,941 Paper — Newsprint .. .. .. Cwt. 566,776 344,133 740,012 527,355 Printing, other .. ..Cwt. 177,710 331,992 155,764 293,104 Other .. .. .. .. .. 884,391 .. 434,656 ]VT anures Phosphates .. .. .. Tons 404,157 672,992 371,571 532,834 Other .. .. .. Tons 23,574 157,187 25,400 166,389 Motor-vehicles .. .. .. No. 36,782 5,791,132 33,464 5,427,860 Tires for motor-vehicles .. ..lb. 8,548,025 871,987 7,827,283 845,580 Other items .. .. .. .. .. 25,682,487 .. 27,029,983 Total imports .. .. .. .. 56,160,695 .. 55,422,189