Tahiti’S Trade

Remarkable Effect of U.S.A.

Prohibition

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, April 17.

THE trade statistics for the year 1933, which appeared in the “Journal Offi ciel” of the Colony of French Oceania on April 1 reveal, as was to be expected under the present conditions of the copra market and the unsatisfactory exchange situation, a considerable decrease as compared with 1932. The totals are as follows:

There is thus a decrease in tonnage of 43,229 metric tons, and in value of 28,727,000 francs during the year covered by the report.

It may here be noted that the transit business, which consisted principally of liquor cargoes imported from Europe and Canada, and en route to the United States, will be of very little importance during the year 1934, owing to the repeal of the prohibition laws in the latter country; the last load of liquor coming under this head was despatched some time ago.

Importations from France in 1933 amounted to 5,399,000 francs, or 27.72 per cent, of the total, as compared with 27.85 per cent, in 1932. Other countries figure in the import list as follows: U.S.A., 5,548,000 francs; Australia, 2,159,000 francs; New Zealand, 2,373,000 francs; China, 1,963,000 francs; and French Colonies, 354,000 francs.

On the export side, France enjoyed 51.76 per cent of the business, as compared with 40.28 per cent, in 1932, the values being 7,637,000 francs for France; 2,336,000 for U.S.A.; 1,723,000 for Japan; 1,324,000 for Australia: 614,000 for New Zealand; and 381,000 francs for the French Colonies.

Copra exports amounted to 17,920 tons in 1933, as against 19,044 tons in 1932, a decrease of 1124 tons. France, however, absorbed 14,018 tons of the total output of copra during 1933, leaving only 3,903 tons, which were exported to the U.S.A.—a re sult which M. Marine, the Chief of Cus toms, attributes to the institution of the bonus on this product which has already been commented upon in these notes.

Exports of phosphates from Makatea Island decreased by 41,604 tons, the 1933 output being only 79,044 tons. Of this, Japan took 39,167 tons, Australia 26,365 tons, New Zealand 7,112 tons, and Hawaii 6,401 tons. Vanilla showed a small de crease as compared with 1932, with 529 metric quintals, valued at 793,000 francs; while mother of pearl shell exports amounted to 219 metric quintals, valued at 296,000 francs—practically the same as in 1932.

A total of 87 vessels entered the Colony during 1933, with a total tonnage of 254,796, of which 59,713 tons were French, 173,210 tons British, and the remainder of various nationalities.

The annual meeting of the Rabaul Par ents’ and Citizens’ Association recently elected the following officers: President, Mr. J. L. Street; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. R. Youlden; Hon. Auditor, Mr. Walford King; Committee, Messrs.

W. Marshall, J. Bennie, T. S, R. Dariea, and Mesdames Gascoigne and Hawes.

1932. 1933.

Metric Value Metric Value tons. francs. tons. francs.

Imports 17,553 24,718,000 19,650 19,471,000 Exports 143,345 21,011,000 100,086 14,753,000 Transit and re-export 5,389 31,455,000 3,322 13,233,000 166,287 77,184,000 123,058 47,457,000