H,— 44.

The period covered by this survey is from Ist October, 1936, to February, 1937, inclusive. The trades suitable for the making of floor-coverings, approximating £4,500,000, have been admitted duty-free, and there appears to be great future possibilities in this direction. Imports for Consumption of Unmanufactured Wool from New Zealand, Period from October, 1936, to February, 1937, inclusive. Dutiable Free Donskoi, Smyrna, &c., and similar wools without Merino or (Actual Weight). (Actual Weight). English blood (carpet wool) — . lb - In the grease .. .. •• •• •• 132,389 3,710,829 Washed M 5B Sorted, or matchings, if not scoured .. .. .. • • 20,238 Scoured .. .. •• •• •• 11,638 59,318 All other wools not finer than 40's— Woollen type — In the grease .. .. • • • • ■ • 42,763 Scoured .. .. •• •• 275 8,219 Worsted type — In the grease .. .. • • • • • • 1 > 103 j 260 653,794 On the skin .. .. • ■ • • • • 343,528 Sorted, or matchings, if not scoured .. .. 14,899 4,048 Wools n.s.p.f. (not specially provided for) — Woollen type (clothing wool) finer than 40's, but not finer than 44's— In the grease .. • • • • • • • • 106,582 Sorted, or matchings, if not scoured .. .. 57,192 Finer than 44's, but not finer than 56's — In the grease .. ■ • • • • • • • 526,602 On the skin . . .. • • • • ■ ■ ®44 Finer than 56's — In the grease .. •• •• •• 119,485 Worsted type (combing wool) finer than 40 s, but not finer than 44's — In the grease . . • • • • • • • • , 954 On the skin 1«,757 Washed .. .. ■■ ■■ •• 5,151 Sorted, or matchings, if not scoured .. .. •• 17,812 Finer than 44's, but not finer than 56's — In the grease .. • • ■ • • • 1 > 228,907 On the skin .. •• •• •• 129,565 Sorted, or matchings, if not scoured .. .. .. 87,772 Scoured .. • • • • • • • • • • Finer than 56'S — In the grease .. • • • • • • • • 139,667 On the skin .. ■ ■ • • • • • • 197,090 5,173,506 4,456,446 Total 9,629,9521b. Consequent on floods and droughts and the loss or slaughter of vast herds of cattle in the United States of America the demand for hides and skins from overseas has considerably improved. The production of footwear, following better economic conditions, has reached record dimensions, some 415 000,000 pairs being manufactured during 1936, or more than 30,000,000 pairs greater than the average. Tanners' requirements for the current year are estimated at 20,000,000 hides, and of this quantity some 2,000,000 additional may be required to be imported over the quantity imported last During 1936 quantities demanded by both Canada and the United States of America were not forthcoming and the New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner for the territory points out the desirability°'of paying particular attention to the requirements of these markets, which have been difficult to promote. . , IrioK c , The export of sausage-casings showed a very marked decline m value over 1935 figures, as also did that of tallow. It should be remembered that in 1935 tallow imports were exceptionally high due to special taxes on imported vegetable oils being imposed, thus forcing soap-manufacturers to use tallow as a substitute therefor. An internal tax of 3 cents per pound operating from Ist August, 1936, had the eSect of drastically curtailing shipments. . The value of seeds imported into the United States of America again shows a marked increase, being in 1936 almost treble that of 1933. ... ~ . , Inquiries for casein met with restricted ofiers and even then appeared out of line with those received from competing countries. The duty and charges amount to approximately 5* cents per pound. While domestic supplies are likely to be in greater volume this year owing to factories switching over from the production of dried-milk powder to casein manufacture, it is felt by reliable importers that, due to the short stock position in the Argentine, the opening prices m October and November, 1937, may be encouraging.

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