The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-08
T H e
Pacific Commercial Advertiser
THURSDAY October 9Th.
IMPORTS. EXPORTS AND REVENUE.

IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND REVENUE.
In another column will be found
comprehensive statistics of the for
eign trade of the Kingdom, compiled
by the Collector General of Customs,
Colonel Iaukea. These returns differ
in important particulars from the
method of compiling the Custom
House statements heretofore adopted.
1t gives comparative statements
for the periods covered by the returns
during 1884 and 1885, which are ex
ceedingly valuable, enabling mer-
chants and others interested to follow
the course of trade with absolute ac-
curacy. For this innovation the Col
lector General deserves commenda-
ton, and we hope the tables of sta
tistics of trade as now framed will be
adhered to.
It will be seen by reference to the
report accompanying the tables that
the statement recently made by the
ADVERTISER, to the effect that the
Custom House must not be regarded
as q prolific source of revenue under
the operations of the Treaty is fully
borne out, although it was combatted
by local paper. The fact is that
the bulk of our imports are nOn-du
table, either by Treaty or by Civil
Code; aud there is the further fact,
which everybody should have known,
that the volume of imports has de-
creased materially this year as COM
pared with the corresponding period
of 1884. The figures are conclusive
upon this point. Thus, up TO June
3Oth in each year, we have the follow
ing exhibit:
Imports, six months, 1884 80. 50, 457, 1928 O4 /
Imports, six months, 1885 49,. 1,721, $50 "a ,
Decrease six months. ........ S735, 46S 80 /
Turning to the comparative state
ment of customs receipts for the /
above period, the following facts are
disclosed:
Total receipts six months, 1884. 1927, lit sc /
Total receipts, six months, 1885 25G,646 SO
Decrease six months. ......... s4o,581 48
In reality, however, the receipts of
customs duties fell off $47, 1913 Go in
the first half of 1885, as compared with
1884, but $685. IL realized upon
opium seizures was paid into the
Treasury from the Custom House and
is credited to revenue. Taking the
net decrease, however, it amounts to
16} per cent. as compared with 1884.
The effect of this upon the Treasury
will be apparent to any one who
gives the matter thought, and should
induce the Opposition press to give
due credit to the Government for car
rying on the public departments as it
has done efficiently, with falling
The shipping returns for the same
periods show that although nine YES
sells arrived in the first half of 1885
from European and Chinese ports,
against eight arrivals in the CORE
spending period of 1884, the tonnage
was less in the first half of the present
year by sos tons, and the value of
carg0es was $26S, 945 90 less. This is
30 clear confirmation of the ADvER-
Users position on the revenue
question that We need not say word 1
to enforce it.
TheAOmparative statement of the
merchandise imports from
all points, for the half years under
shows a steady decrease
upon every head, the falling off in
value on goods free by treaty being
1920, 972 "A, and on those free by Code,
$40, SIS IL, while goods paying duty
give a decrease of $500, 547 81; spirits, {
SIS, Al 16; bonded goods, $33,931 81;
and bonded spirits, SIS, 1858 u, the
whole decrease aggregating $685.
E6s 80. l
If, however, our imports have v
allen off heavily, our domestic ex- Il
ports make good showing. The s
statement of exports is
or the first nine months of 1884 and s
1856, as follows:
1886, nine months, exports -. 81, 665, 116 20 a
664, nine months, exports. 1927, 112 &c 81
Increase, 1885. ........... $685. O4 At :,
Tt follows, therefore, that there :
hould soon be q healthy revival of o.
rade. The country has been dimin- C,
shing imports and increasing exports re