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Beans. The import of Beans is generally reported as "General" unless, as sometimes occurs, the ship brings a full cargo. No reliance can, therefore, be placed upon the figures I receive, which here indicate an increase of 6,784 tons, or 95.2 per cent.
So far as I am able to discover, no such increase has actually taken place.
Coal. An increase here appears of 171,664 tons, or 151 per cent., which seems to be quite uninfluenced by the war, the increase being uniformly spread over the whole year. There was a very large increase, as may be imagined, in the imports of Welsh coal, which, however, bear a very small proportion to the total imports. Japanese coal fell off, and Chinese increased, while a small quantity of Australian coal found its way here in one of the prizes.
Cotton, Yarn, and Piece Goods. Here is an increase of 3,541 tons, or 87 per cent. This is not a real increase, but is only apparent, being due to the reported falling off in 1913 having been greatly in excess of facts. As a matter of fact, 1914 proved a bad year for this trade in the Colony, and for staple goods there was so little demand that the imports declined. The causes which led to this were, in the early part of the year, a heavy fall in prices and in exchange. In May and June, however, trade revived, and there seemed every prospect of a sustained improvement, when the floods inland caused a severe set back. Then came the war, which had a most deleterious effect on the trade inland, and increased freights acted as a further deterrent to importers. Added to these, the general financial state of China, throughout the year, has been far from encouraging.
Flour. There is an increase reported of 12,504 tons, or 18.4 per cent. As in Cotton, this increase is due to errors and omissions in the ship masters' reports in 1913. From enquiries I have made, I gather that there was actually a falling off of 16,713 tons, or 15.4 per cent., the reasons for which are directly due to the war.
It appears that the bulk of the imports arrive here in the later months of the year, shipments in large quantities commencing from America in August. This year, on account of the war, the demand for flour at the seat of the war was far above the average, with the result that prices soared to unprecedented heights. One brand, whose usual price is $2.30 per bag, now fetches $4.10. At the same time, freight doubled. Before the outbreak of war, imports were above the average.
Hemp. I find here an increase of 3,010 tons, or 173 per cent. It is possible that these figures approach the truth, as, during the first seven months of the year, conditions were very favourable to the trade, prices and freights ruling low, while in 1913 prices were very high. During these months before the war, the figures
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Beans. The import of Beans is generally reported as "General" unless, as sometimes occurs, the ship brings a full cargo. No reliance can, therefore, be placed upon the figures I receive, which here indicate an increase of 6,784 tons, or 952 per cent.
So far as
I am able to discover, no such increase has actually taken place.
Coal. An increase here appears of 171,664 tons, or 151 per cent., which seems to be quite uninfluenced by the war, the increase being uniformly spread over the whole year. There was a very large increase, as may be imagined, in the imports of Welsh coal, which, however, bear a very small proportion to the total imports. Japanese coal fell off, and Chinese increased, while a small quantity of Australian coal found its way here in one of the prizes.
Cotton, Yarn, and Piece Goods.-Here is an increase of 3,541 tons, or 87 per cent. This is not a real increase, but is only apparent, being due to the reported falling off in 1913 having been greatly in excess of facts. As a matter of fact, 1914 proved a bad year for this trade in the Colony, and for staple goods there was so little demand that the imports declined. The causes which led to this were, in the early part of the year, a heavy fall in prices and in exchange. In May and June, however, trade revived, and there seemed every prospect of a sustained improvement, when the floods inland caused a severe set back. Then came the war, which had a most deleterious effect on the trade inland, and increased freights acted as a further deterrent to importers. Added to these, the general financial state of China, throughout the year, has been far from encouraging.
Flour. There is an increase reported of 12,504 tons, or 18′4 per cent.
As in Cotton, this increase is due to errors and omissions in the ship masters' reports in 1913. From enquiries I have made, I gather that there was actually a falling off of 16,713 tons, or 15'4 per cent., the reasons for which are directly due to the war.
It appears that the bulk of the imports arrive here in the later months of the year, shipments in large quantities commencing from America in August. This year, on account of the war, the demand for flour at the seat of the war was far above the average, with the result that prices soared to unprecedented heights. One brand, whose usual price is $2.30 per bag, now fetches $4.10. At the same time, freight doubled. Before the outbreak of war, imports were above the average.
Hemp.-I find here an increase of 3,010 tons, or 173 per cent.
It is possible that these figures approach the truth, as, during the first seven months of the year, conditions were very favourable to the trade, prices and freights ruling low, while in 1913 prices were very high. During these months before the war, the figures
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