BRITAIN’S BEST CUSTOMER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 999, 29 April 1909, Page 22

BRITAIN’S BEST CUSTOMER.

Australia (says a Home paper) continues to be far and away our best customer for British and Irish spirits, which practically means Scotch and IrxSh whisky. Last month 124,014 gallons, of the value of £40,216, were shipped to the Commonwealth, as against 120,644 gallons, valued at £40,801, in February, 1908. The value, it will be observed, is rather less, while the quantity is greater. Orders from New Zealand fell from 61,288 gallons, valued at £27,285, to 44,090, of the value of £16,895. The trade with both the United States and Canada, however, shows an increase—the former took 74,691 gallons, as against 65,581, and the latter 38,446, as compared with 31,430. What is most surprising, however, in connection with last month’s returns, is the enormous falling off in the shipments to Germany. For January, 1908, they are given as 142,768 gallons; last month they shrunk to 6,652. India took only 63,324 gallons, as compared with 87,582, and South Africa, 24,761, as against 33,320, a difference in money value of some £6,000. While British West Africa ordered some 3,000 gallons less. Foreign West Africa took over 3,000 gallons more than in the corresponding month of last year. Altogether, the shipments of British md Irish spirits last month, amounted t.. 559,599 gallons, valued at £217,116, which compares with 670,577, of the value of £239,832, in January, ‘*9oB