Tahiti’S Trade

Rises

Review of French Colony’s 1934 Statistics

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, April 17.

THE 1934 trade statistics for French Oceania —published in the “Journal Officiel” of April 1, 1935 —show a consider able upward tendency in both imports and exports, particularly in the latter, which, with a total of 16,879,000 francs gives an increase of 2,126,000 francs over 1933. The total imports and exports amounted to 37,012,000 francs in 1934, which is 2,788,000 francs more than in 1933.

An examination of the returns discloses that the increase in exports is entirely ac counted for under the headings of copra and vanilla. Copra, which amounted to 17,920 tons valued at 7,893,000 francs in 1933, increased to 23,877 tons valued at 9,565,000 francs in 1934. The whole of the 1934 copra output went to France. Vanilla also showed an increase both in quantity and value, the respective figures being 52.9 tons valued at 793,000 francs in 1933 as against 103 tons valued at 2,280,000 francs in 1934.

Phosphate rock exports from the island

of Makatea showed a small decrease from 79,044 tons in 1933 to 77,470 tons in 1934.

Most of this rock was shipped to Japan.

Only 60 tons of mother-of-pearl shell were exported during 1934, the market for this commodity being in a stagnant condition.

M-O-P shell, copra and vanilla make up 91 per cent, of the value of all exports from the Colony. Included in the remain ing 9 per cent, are hides, bees-wax, beche de-mer, sweet potatoes, pearls, sugar, coffee, fungus, rum, and tobacco, all in negligible quantities.

As usual, the U.S.A. sold more goods to French Oceania during 1934 than any other country, American imports being worth 6,061,000 francs. France took second place with 5,143,000 francs. Australia and New Zealand together supplied 4,023,000 francs worth; China 2,426,000 francs (mostly sugar and soft goods); England 1,210,000 francs; and other countries 957,- 000 francs.

The French share of the import busi ness amounted to 25.54 per cent, and of the exports 68.85 per cent, the latter showing a constant increase since 1930 when it amounted to only 29.10 per cent.

This change has been brought about largely by the introduction of a bonus on copra shipped to France, and the in auguration of a regular service between France and Tahiti, via Panama, by Mes sagerie Maritimes steamers.

As anticipated in last year’s reports the transportation and re-export business, which amounted in 1933 to 13,233,000 francs dropped to 671,000 francs in 1934 owing to the complete cessation of the liquor traffic between Tahiti and Mexico.

Formerly, before the repeal of prohibition in America, the transhipment of liquor cargoes from Canada, Scotland and Europe was quite a lucrative business in Tahiti. The liquor was taken aboard tramp steamers, landed in Mexico and smuggled across the border into U.S.A.

A total of 68 vessels entered the Colony during 1934, with a total tonnage of 264,131. Of these 37 were British (144,211 tons), 19 French (67,427 tons), three American (25,309 tons), and the remain ing nine from other foreign countries (27,184 tons).