COMMERCE
361
Commerce.
In 1911 the imports duty-free (excluding 763,271/. specie) amounted to 9,416: 496/.; subject to duty, 9,366,112/.
Years j Total Imports
Exports of Domestic Exports ot other Produce Produce
Total Exports
1907 1908 1909 1910 1911
£ 17,302,861 17,471,284 15,674,719 17,051,583 19,545,879
£ £ 19,783,138 285,819 15,894,530 422,964 19,462,936 199,060 21,944,163 , 236,046 18,781,898 1 246,592
£ 20,068,957 16,317,494 19,661,996 22,180,209 19,028,490
The quantities and values of imports are obtained from Customs entries verified by invoices and, where necessary, as with goods subjectto an ad i;aZorem duty, by examination. For exports the ' free-on-board in New Zealand ' value is given ; but, as regards the main items, the Collector of Customs examines carefully the amounts stated, and compares them with current price lists, to prevent any over-estimate. Goods transhipped at a foreign port are regarded as imported from the country where they were originally shipped, and exports as destined for the country w^here it is intended to land them. The countries named, however, may not be those of origin or destination, as no attempt is made to trace the goods beyond the ports disclosed by the documents presented to the Customs. Very little cargo in transitu passes through New Zealand.
For the year ended March 31, 1912, th3 value of imports was 20,495,336i., and of ex- ports 19,036,660i. The principal imports and exports in 1911 are given as follows : —
Articles of Import
Value
Articles of Export
Value
Clothing, and materials for.
£
4,250,479
Colonial produce :
£
Iron and .steel goods, ma-
Wool ....
6,491,707
chinery, &c.
3,882,418
Gold
1,815,251
Sugar
676,39.^
Grain, pulse, flour .
331,649
Tea
331,461
Frozen meat .
3,503,406
Spirits, wines, and beer
458,181
Kauri gum
395,707
Tobacco and cigars
434,461
Tallow ....
607,257
Coal
186,263
Hides, skins, leather
903,267
Bags and sacks .
132,519
Live stock
201,045
Fruit
422,059
Butter and cheese .
2,768,974
Oils
471,965
Bacon and hams
7,504
Paper, printed books, and
Preserved meats
141,549
stationery
795,896
Grass seeds
40,317
Other imports, excluding
Phormium (fibre) .
300,209
specie ....
6,740,511
Other articles .
1,274,056
Specie
763,271
British and foreign produce
198,2h7
Specie
Total.
48,305
Total.
19,545,879
19,028,490
Exports of certain trade products
Years
Wool Lbs.
Frozen Meat
Kauri Gum
Butter
Cheese
Cwts.
Tons
Cwts.
' Cwts.
1907
171,635,595
2,354,808
8, 70S
328,441
236,833
1908
162,518,481
2,120,303
5,530
229,971
280,798
1900
189,683,703
2,572,604
8,250
321,108
400,607
1910
204,368,957
2,654.196
8,693
356,5.35
451,915
1911
169,424,811
2,250,565
7,587
302,387
439.174
The total value of gold exported to December 31, 1911, was 79,253,913/. The gold exports in four years were as follows : —
