748 Imports of Agricultural Produce in 1908. [jan., 



The supply of imported hops (280,000 cwt.) was larger than 

 in any previous year except 1904, when 314,000 cwt. were 

 received. About two-thirds came from the United States. 



Wool. — As regards wool, the importation, though still 

 large, was not quite equal to that of the previous year. Prices 

 dropped, and the average value, which had stood at about 

 iojd. per lb. in 1906 and 1907, fell to g^d. per lb., which was 

 about the level in 1905. The bulk of the supply comes from 

 our own Colonies and Possessions, viz., Australia 

 (321,055,000 lb.), New Zealand (159,699,000 lb.), South Africa 

 (80,570,000 lb.), and India (34,372,000 lb.). 



The quantities received from Australasia were almost 

 exactly identical with those of last year, while there was some 

 falling-off from South Africa and India. 



The re-exports of foreign wool were a little larger, amount- 

 ing to 325,451,000 lb. as against 312,673,000 lb. in 1907, so 

 that the balance of foreign wool remaining for manufacture 

 in this country was less, viz., 393,625,000 lb. as compared 

 with 446,563,000 lb. last year. 



Some indication of the range of prices in 1908 as compared 

 with the two preceding years may be gathered from the 

 average declared value of the different articles. Cattle, sheep, 

 mutton, pork, bacon, hams, cheese, oats, and wool all show 

 a fall. The figures for some of the principal articles are as 

 follows : — • 



Description. 



1906. 



1907. 



1908. 







£ 



s. 



d. 



£ 



s. 



d. 



£ 



s. 



d. 



Cattle 



Head 



17 



6 



10 



17 



3 



5 



17 



1 



1 1 



Sheep ... 





1 



10 



4 



j 



11 



11 



1 



11 



1 



Beef, fresh 



... Cwt. 



1 



15 



5 



1 



16 



3 



1 



16 



7 



Mutton, fresh .. 





1 



17 



5 



1 



17 



1 1 



1 



17 



1 



Pork, fresh 



... ... t 5 



2 



5 



11 



2 



7 



2 



2 



6 



6 



Bacon ... 





2 



12 



6 



2 



15 



4 



2 



10 



1 1 



Hams ... 





2 



13 



7 



2 



17 



3 



2 



10 



4 



Butter 





5 



8 



2 



5 



6 



6 



5 



14 



4 



Cheese 





2 



17 



8 



2 



18 



3 



2 



18 



0 



Eggs ... 



... Great hundred 



0 



7 



6i 



0 



7. 



H 





7 



lof 



Wool 



... Lb. 



0 



0 



ioi 



0 



0 



ioi 

 8 







9i 



Wheat 



Cwt. 



0 



7 



0 



0 



7 





S 



4i 



flour 





0 



9 



7 



0 



10 



1 





10 



II 



Barley... 



>> 



0 



5 



8 



0 



6 



8 





6 



9k 



Oats ... 





0 



5 



it 



0 



6 



5 





5 



10 



Maize ... 





0 



4 



11 



0 



5 



6 





6 



if 



