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FINANCE AND- COMMERCE. 1
PROSPECTIVE RISE IN BUTTER.
The Chief Prices Commissioner, Mel
bourne. has advised the Federal Prices
Commissioner in this State that an ad
vance of 1t-. per cwt. trom 14914d. to
15914d., plus 3i. per cwt. f.o.b.. has been
allowed on first-grade butter shipped to
thi5 State. This will take effect on the
arrival and distribution of the shipment
due at the end of this week, ex s.s 1al
lina. This increase has been rendered ne
ressarr owing to the deercased output of
the factories in the Eastern States, par
ticularly in Victoria. where Queensland
butter has been imported to supply the
deficiency in local' rnuirements. While all
Slocal stocks held at present on hand will
be sold at the ruling proclaimed rates. new
Sshipments from the Mallina onward~ will
he subjert to the advance, apprezximately Id.
per lb.. and, to this extent the maximum
for both wholesale and retail prices will
he increased
BRITAIN'S TRADE WITH DOMINIONS.
Trade between Great Britain .and the
Dominions during last year reached an en
gregate value of £52.492.000, which was
£43,.643.000 greater than the total for 1916.
The amount wad made up of imports
£359.871,.000, and exPorts £172.621.C00. as
against imports valued at £302.673.000 and
exports £186,176.000 in 1916. Of the im
ports Canada was in both years the largest
contributor, the fitures for the Dominion
being £34,331,000 and £58,529.000. Austra
lia rtanding second with £64.430,000 for last
year as compared 'with £36,173.00 in 1916.
In regard also to exports from the United
Kingdom, the Commonwealth occupies
second position, with totals of £22,119.000
for the year ended December 31 and
£35,917.000 for the last preceding term.
First place was held in this instance by
India and Ceylon. with ,£62.058.000 end
£55,534,000 respectively. South Africa cam
ina third with £19.171.000. as againrst
£23,078,000. From Allied countries, the im
ports into Great Britain touched last year
a total value: of £494,151.000, an increase
of £78.871,.000, whilst British exports to
Allies amounted to £258,271,000. which was
£45,909.000 more than the 1916 aggregate.
AUSTRALIAN LEATHER.
For months past shippers have repeatedly
made aplication for freight for oversea
shipment of leather. but the Common
wealth pointed out the difficulties which
had occurred owing to the Imperial Gor
ernment needing foodstuffs ms -preference
to other commodities. A little relief was
looked forward to, as authority had been
given merchants to export 40,000 sides, but
as.licenhes could not be obtained in Lon
don to ship these goods the space which
had become available, was filled with other
commodities. The. trade, says an Eastern
exchange, are unable to understand why
the restrictions are kept.in force in face
of the shortage of leather in London, and
the fact that heavy surplus stocks, to the
value of between £600,000 and £800,000.
are held in Australia.
COMMONWEALTH IMPOREB.
The imports of merchandise into the
Commonwealth during the month of March
amounted to £4,361,823. showing a decrease
of £1,357.784 as compared With March last
year. The imports for the nine months
from July 1 to March 31 are compared be
low:
3Iine Months to. March 3.
1917. 1918.
AE £
Bept. qwrter 2,5006,56511,638,707 Dec. 10,30,8ii
Dee. quarter 21,2381,90 17,896,1"3 Dec. 3,,A0C
Mar. quarter 1817.190 18,104,280 e. .
9 months ' 61,431,106 47,0,110 Dec. 13,776,480
The chief decrease has been in apparel
and softgoods-£3,621000. Cocoa and cho
colate have declined by £319;000; and iion
aid steel have diminished by £810,000.
Manufactures of metals. were lower by
£756,000, printing paper by £624,000, and
ether paper by £540,000. Whisky imports
declined by £203,000; Increases were re
ported in jute goods and tea.
COMMONWEALTH SAVINGS BRANK..
The number of accounts opeied in- Asi
tralia with the Commonwealth Savings
Bank; for the' week ended April 29 was
2,400. Deposits totalled £275,018. and
withdrawals -£280.952. Since its inception
£52,091,810, has been deposited with the
bank,. and £37,941,141 has. been withdrawn
therefrom. On April 29 the amount stand
ing to the credit of the 405,320 depositors
of the bank was £14,150,669.
COLONIAL SUGAR REFINIIG
COMPANY.
The half-yearly meeting of the Colonia
Sugar Befining Company was held in Syd
ney, last week, and at the same time the
annual report of' the Fiji and New Zea
land Compiny was issued. The usual divi
dends at the rates of 6j.per cent. by the
Australian Company, and of 6 per cent.
on the preference shares of the 'fiji Com
pany, were 'paid, while the latter . pays
£15,000, or 6 per cent., on the. 250,000
shares held by the Australian company.
The Australian company shows a net profit
fo{ the half-year of £142,641. and the divi
dend absorbs £105,625. With the balance
brought in, £130,879iscarried forward. The
Fiji company shows a higher profit than
the Australian. The. combined net profits
were £602,291, out of which. £406,250 was
paid in dividends to general shareholders,
£100,000 was added to the, reserve fund of
the Fiji company, and the balances carried
forward were increased by £96,041. But,
beyond that, the depreciation funds were
angimented by £164,149, and that amount
was not included amongst the net profits.
GRAIN. AlN PRODUCE.
TESTEUDAYs 3tARKET.
Whesat-At the railway yards jesteeday three
lots of wheat ebanged hands at 3s. Ud, a
bushel, and onse of weepings realised is. *a
bushel.
Osts.-Good heavy feeds were quoted at Is.
3d. to 4s. 4d., and light feeds at 4s. hi. to Is;
5, a uasnet
Chf.-Sixteen tracks were offered. Prime
realised £5 17s. 6d.; f.a.q. to prime £5 Ns. to
£5 I9. 6d. and f.aq., £5 s. Four trucks of
lower grade were quitted at prices ranging
from £4 1s,. 6d. down to £3 1St. No medium
grade chaff was offered.
Potntoesa-The market firmed, one truck sell.
ing at £8 12s. 6d.
Flour was quoted at £11 Ss. per ton sacks,
and -£11 1s. per ton 01b. bags, less 5s. per
ton for cash within seven days.
Bran and Pollarsid.-Millers' quotations were
£4 10s. per ton for bran, and £5 10s. per ton
for pollard. less Is. Gd. per ton for 5i-ton lots,
on truacks. metropolitan area.
ADELAIDE PRODUOE MARKET.
Adelaide, May 14.
Mill offal firm, and in good demand at regu
lation rates. About 4,000 bags Algerian oats
sold at 3s. 10d. f.o.b. Comparatively few are
now held, and the market is firm. Stocks of
Cape barley are extremely light,, and buyer
are offering 4s. 3d. f.o.b. English melting
is short, and is nominally quoted at is. 9d
to Gs. .o.b. Chaff,. dull, 72s. 6d. per ton for
delivery, and T7s. for June delivery. Bran bags
li1. Gd. on spot. At auction factory butter
realised Is. 6d. to Is. Sjd,; dniry, Is. Sd. to
Ls. d., and stores is. 3d. to Is. 3d. Eggs,
Is. 8d. Cheese, new, 10d. to 10jd.; matured,
Ltd. to 11d. Honey, 4d. Baeon easier,
10jd. to 11iA. for sides; and Is. id. for hams.
.MELBOURNE PRODUCE MARKET.
Melbourne, May 14,
Barley, Chevalier, steady, is. 9d. to Gs.; Cape
easier, 4s. 6d. Oats, weaker; milling Alge.
nans, 4s. 3d;.: feed, 3s. 10d. to 4s. Maize, firm,
Ss. 3d. Peas, doll; Duns, 6s. 7d. to 6s. 3d.
Chaf, quieter, £6 10s. to £7. Potatoes,
steady; new red soil Carmens, £3 10s. to £4;
grey soils. £2 10s. to £3. Onions, firm, £12
10s.
LONDON METAL MARKET.
Melbourne, May 14,
The Australian Metal Exchange reports:
London Metal Exchange (middle) quotations of
Say 13 are as follow--Tin, standard, spot,
per ton £375; three months, £375. Silver,
standard, per oz, s. 0 7-Bd.; fine, Is. 4jd.
$