H.—44.

The principal items imported into New Zealand from the British West Indies during the years 1933, 1934, and 1935 are set out below : —

The admission of New Zealand apples and pears into Trinidad has hitherto been prohibited by the authorities there on the grounds that such classes of fruit may be infected with the Mediterranean fruit-fly. Strong representations were made recently by the Department of Industries and Commerce to the authorities in Trinidad for the removal of the restrictions on the importation of New Zealand apples and pears on the grounds that Mediterranean fruit-fly is not, and never has been, in existence in New Zealand. It is gratifying to announce that, following upon these representations, restrictions have been removed as far as these classes of New Zealand fruit are concerned. The only proviso is that the fruit must be accompanied by a certificate of origin stating to the satisfaction of the Director of Agriculture in Trinidad that the fruit was grown in New Zealand. Island Trade. Fiji. Exports from New Zealand to Fiji in 1935 were valued at £86,191, as compared with £85,493 in 1934, an increase of £698. Imports into the Dominion from Fiji decreased by £2,451, the figures for 1935 being £80,084 as against £82,535 in 1934. The value of both our export and import trade with Fiji in each of the past five calendar years is set out below for purposes of comparison. As will be readily observed, trade in each direction has shown a steady recession during that period, except that in 1935 our exports to Fiji showed a slight increase.

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 1935, the 1934 figures being shown in parentheses for purposes of comparison : — Bags and sacks, £11,152 (£12,133) ; meats, frozen, smoked, and tinned, £11,275 (£6,331) potatoes, £6,212 (£4,233) ; refined sugar, £3,069 (£4,203) ; soap, £4,617 (£3,643) ; tea, £4,967 (£4,442) cinematograph-films, £6,677 (£9,064) ; bacon and hams, £2,506 (£2,221) ; tallow, £2,010 (£1,324) ; baking-powder, £1,102 (£907) ; butter and cheese, £1,470 (£1,469) ; timber, £1,630 (£646) ; fresh apples and pears, £855 (£649) ; dried, preserved, and condensed milk, £720 (£743) ; provisions and confectionery, £1,807 (£650). Imports from Fiji consisted mainly of raw sugar, £7,989 (£10,357) ; molasses, £1,745 (£884) ; and bananas, £59,274 (£82,526). 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 : —

It will be observed that both imports and exports increased considerably in 1935, the total trade improvement being £104,154.

2—H. 44.

9

1933. 1934. 1935.. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) Oranges, fresh .. .. .. 3 7,616 18,990 Cocoa-beans, raw .. .. .. .. 6,215 4,845 16,756 Rum .. .. .. •• ■■ 3,851 4,576 5,055 Asphalt and bitumen .. .. .. .. 2,271 3,519 5,973

Year ended 31st December, Exports to Fiji. Imports from Fiji. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) 1931 .. .. .. .. .. 89,245 112,955 1932 .. .. .. •• •• 88,693 116,645 1933 .. .. .. •• •• 87,435 106,096 1934 .. .. .. ■■ •• 85,493 103,166 1935 .. .. .. .. 86,191 80,084

, Imports into Exports from Total Year ended 31st December, g amoa _ Samoa. Trade. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) 1931 .. .. .. .. 164,950 194,447 359,397 1932 .. .. .. 150,902 183,028 333,930 1933 .. .. 150,856 173,837 324,693 1934 .. .. .. 92,784 128,117 220,901 1Q35 .. .. .. 135,757 189,298 325,055