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1936. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE (NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Your Excellency,— Wellington, Ist September, 1936. I have the honour to submit for your Excellency's information the report of the Department of Industries and Commerce for the past year. I have, &c., D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce. His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand. g IE; Wellington, 29th August, 1936. I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce. This report deals with the work of the Department since the previous report was placed before Parliament, and covers generally the period ended 30th April, 1936. In certain instances, however, matters subsequent to that date are also referred to. I have &c., L. J. Schmitt, Secretary. To Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce.

GENERAL TRADE REVIEW. In accordance with previous practice a brief review is made of the statistics of the overseas trade of New Zealand for the past calendar year. For the year ended 31st December, 1935, the value of exports from the Dominion was £46,538,678, as compared with £47,342,847 for the previous year, a decrease of £804,169. Imports for 1935 aggregated £36,287,544, an increase of £4,947,992, as compared with the figures for 1934, in which year the imports were assessed at £31,339,552. The foregoing figures are exclusive of specie, exports of which during 1935 amounted to £521,000, as compared with £2,283,900 for 1934. Specie imports during these two years were £38,821 and £1,242,000 respectively. All figures are shown in terms of New Zealand currency, which, since the beginning of 1930, has been at a discount on sterling.

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