H.—44.

Origin of Imports. Table V hereunder sets out the sources from which New Zealand obtained her imports over the last four years. Both values and percentages of total imports are shown for comparative purposes.

Table V.—Source of New Zealand's Imports (excluding Specie).

The table shows increased imports from Canada, Australia, Fiji, France, and " other foreign countries." Imports from all other countries decreased in value. It is interesting to note that the proportion of our requirements obtained from British countries has remained very stable over the period covered. TRADE WITH UNITED KINGDOM. Table VI hereunder shows the figures for the trade between New Zealand and the United Kingdom during the past six calendar years : —

Table VI. —Total Trade with United Kingdom.

The table discloses a drop of £3,127,290 in the total-trade for the year 1938 as compared with the record figure reached in 1937. Exports to the United Kingdom fell by £1,806,726 and imports from the same country fell by £1,320,564. The excess of exports over imports was £22,358,154. A pleasing feature of this trade was the increase in the percentage of our total exports which was absorbed by the Mother-land. The figures are 83-76 per cent, in 1938 and 76-03 per cent, in 1937. The 1938 percentage figure is the highest since 1933. The import-percentage figures show for 1938 a swing away from articles produced in the United Kingdom towards articles produced by our sister dominions, Australia and Canada. Our imports from the United Kingdom amounted to 47-89 per cent, in 1938 and 49-62 per cent, in 1937 of the total imports for the two respective years. Not all the produce shipped to the United Kingdom is destined to remain in that country. For several reasons, mainly the lack of direct shipping facilities, much of the produce for other countries is shipped through the United Kingdom. In 1937 this entrepot trade was valued at £6,343,864. Wool, hides and skins, and butter are the main items of produce re-exported in this manner.

5

1935. 1936. j 1937. 1938. Value,i jcentage. Value ' oentage] Value ' centage. Value. | cen tage. British possessions, protectorates,&o. — £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N./.) United Kingdom .. .. 18,283.884 50-39 21,852,347 49-51 27,866,857 49-62 26,540,711 47-89 India . 571,627 1-58 554,102 1-26 580,224 1-03 565,322 1-02 Cevlon .. .. .. 633,594 1-75 750,982 1-70 823,469 1-47 818,245 1-48 South African Union .. .. 55,800 0-15 119,385 0-27 131,971 0-23 0 ?2'«Smn o ia Canada .. 2,450,616 6-75 3,325,692 7-53 4,564,051 8-13 4,855,499 8-76 Australia .. 3,955,677 10-90 4,941,313 11-19 6,594,572 11-74 7,156,652 12-91 Fiji .. .. .. .. 80,084 0-22 95,802 0-22 95,564 0-17 112,648 0-20 Other British countries .. .. 571,401 1-57 558,435 1-26 693,110 1-23 637,683 1-15 Total, British countries .. 26,602,683 73-31 32,198,058 72-95 41,349,816 73-62 40,777,442 73-57 Foreign countries and possessions— _ United States of America .. 4,534,086 12-50 5,525,431 12-52 6,960,191 12-39 6,859,431 12-38 France 221,982 0-61 215,115 0-49 232,450 0-42 235,274 0-42 Germany . .. 534,442 1-47 748,374 1-70 972,743 1-73 1,118,585 2-02 Belgium " •• 217,516 0-60 409,102 0-91 545,950 0-97 518,498 0-94 Japan .. .. .. 1,100,177 3-03 1,328,199 3-01 1,629,979 2-90 1,208,185 2-18 Netherlands East Indies .. 1,437,379 3-96 1,722,802 3-90 2,238,105 3-99 2,150,328 All other foreign countries 1,639,279 4-52 1,987,245 4-52 2,231,461 3-98 2,554,446 4-61 Totals, all foreign countries 9,684,861 26-69 11,936,268 27-05 14,810,879 26-38 14,644,747 26-43 Total, all countries .. 36,287,544 100-00 44,134,326 100-0056,160,695 100-0055,422,189 100-00

Year ended t + 1 t I Exports to Imports from Excess of Exports 31st December, lotal lraae. United Kingdom. United Kingdom. over Imports. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) 1933 .. .. 48,401,941 35,275,909 13,126,032 22,149,877 1934 .. .. 54,419,001 38,629,240 15,789,761 22,839,479 1935 .. .. 57,205,452 38,921,568 18,283,884 20,637,684 1936 .. .. 67,34-5,336 45,492,989 21,852,347 23,640,642 1937 .. .. 78,566,866 50,705,591 27,861,275 22,844,316 1938 .. .. 75,439,576 48,898,865 26,540,711 22,358,154