8.—16

Trading Banks The position of the trading banks as shown by the main items in their monthly returns has been as follows :—

Assets

Liabilities in New Zealand

On the assets side of the balance-sheet the movement during the past year in deposits at the Reserve Bank showed relatively slight fluctuations during 194:2 ; hut a fall of over £6,000,000 from £25,822,000 to £19,682,000 occurred between February and March, 1943. The trading banks' holdings of Reserve Bank notes, too, showed little change throughout the year, there being a net increase of £217,000 over the figure of £3,955,000 for March, 1942. The total holdings of cash in New Zealand, comprising deposits at the Reserve Bank, holdings of Reserve Bank notes, and gold and coin, amounted to £24,446,000 at March, 1943, as compared with the figure of £20,938,000 for March, 1942. Net overseas assets showed a general rising tendency, the figure for March, 1943, of £14,852,000showing a net increase of £2,319,000 for the year. The holdings of Government securities showed a consistent rise throughout the year. This item, which stood at £36,166,000 at the end of March, 1943, showed the greatest relative percentage increase: for the year (52-4 per cent.) over the corresponding March, 1942, figure of £23,733,000.

4

(£(N.Z.)000.) Deposits at Reserve Total Cash Net 0ver . Governm ent Ad J^° eS Last Monday in Month. Reserve Bank m New seas Assets. Securities. °. Bank. Notes. Zealand. Discounts. 1942 MflTPh 16,218 3,955 20,938 12,533 23,733 49,629 A „ ril 20,274 3,892 24,896 13,150 23,848 47,444 JL " .. 20,404 3,953 25,053 13,657 25,877 44,423 jjl " 16,666 4,060 21,378 12,597 27,242 44,321 Tu]v 19,059 4,048 23,729 13,448 27,243 42,671 AuLt " .. 20,931 3,824 25,383 13,822 27,852 42,149 September " . .. 21,410 4,216 26,275 13,818 30,049 42,403 Sober " .. 21,050 4,036 25,651 14,143 30,254 43,570 November " .. .. 18,730 4,298 23,619 13,596 30,301 44,575 December •• ( •• •• 18.431 3,766 22,633 14,007 34,317 43,983 January .. .. 22,692 5,054 28,362 .13,741 35,317 43,089 February " .. .. 25,822 4,845 31,281 15,313 36,330 41,271 March ' . 19,682 4,172 24,446 14,852 36,166 44,931

(£(N.Z.)000.) Demand Time Total Demand and Last Monday in Month. Liabilities. Liabilities. Time Liabilities. 1942. March •• •• 61,525 28,420 89,945 April •• 62,529 28,632 91,161 May ■• 63,815 28,309 92,124 j U ne .. 60,382 28,083 88,464 July .. .. 62,383 27,971 90,354 August ■■ ■• 63,848 28,638 92,486 September 65,781 28,788 94,569 October •• 66,017 28,832 94,850 November 65,587 28,799 94,386 December .. ,. ., 70,919 28,769 99,688 1943. January 74,663 28,398 103,061 February .. .. 79,030 28,528 107,558 March ..77,139 28,559 105,698