The sun., 1919-05-06
IMPORTS ARE S2O9,616,OOO
50,000,000 Bushels of Wheat
Now In Storage Soon to
Go Forward,
Special DespofcA 70 THH suN.

nj" immaculate CesballOn OF the war time
volume OF trade. IL was presented last
week with summary Of trade results
for the first quarter of the year showing
that exports were actually the largest
In the history of the country. while the
balance in favor of Canada for the
period was less than . per cent below
the previous high mark.
March exports OF domestic produce
at se1,l52,361 were exceeded in March
or two previous years, 1918 and 1917,
but imports also declined, and the net
balance of S19.402,7s2 was nearly
100000 higher than a year ago, IL
somewhat lower than in the same month
in 1917 and 1915.
Three Years. Figures.
March comparisons for three years,
taken from the Customs Departments
monthly summaries show the following
results for three years:
Exports ,. ,el lss, 900 ,ss, So 900 si,s, 4i5 900
Excess exports. sls 4c2 900 $50 900 $40 o7s 900
Taking the quarters results to March
III In the three years In which the
volume OF the country's foreign trade
far exceeded anything previously re-
1919 1915 1917
nports 500 40 900 Ses2 tS2 900 $3.50 7ib 40
IMPORTS ..... sos,slsoCo 200, $4,000 242, $50 900
hcess exports. sso.Taooo ,s2, :saooo .i7.o5s. 90
Although a considerable part OF the
heavy export movement could be at
tributed TO belated shipments of war
supplies ordered before the armstice,
the armistice itself operated to check the
froward movement OF other goods that
would have been rushed out OF the
country II the war had continued and
will yet figure in the countSy's exports.
Chief in the list is Canadian wheat
A year ago the countrys surplus sup
ply had been virtually exhausted; this
year. because Great Britain and France
are using up old reserves, now that there
Is no submarine menace, close to 50,-
10000 bushels of wheat are In stor-
age. This wheat will go forward In
time, and during the early summer may
be expected TO form an important item
in export hgurea
II grain has not been in urgent de-
mand for Europe. meats and dairy
products have. In March, Canada
shipped abroad products Of this descrip-
ton to a total value OF S17,9s4,474,
against 3s.55374s in March. 1918, and
$1+.s0e,s+l In March. 1917.
ldlIIlB III the
OF fisheries and forest were also the
highest on record for the month at
$500. 63l and $5.630.022
Exports classed as manufactures are
naturally contracting because of the end
OF the days OF large munition shipments
but none the less the figures hold we'll
all things considered. and would Indicate
a considerable diversity in the manufac-
tured output Of the country. Against
the March total of S37.9s9.62s in this
classification a year ago. the March.
1919, return gives S32.4s6.l67.
For the time being and for some little
time to come. Canada, like the United
States, seems likely TO benefit by the
great abundance of natural products
needed by the rest of the world. The
worlds vhea at situation looks brighter to
such producers because of chaotic condi-
lions still prevailing in Russia. and
likely to prevail for some time, while
production in most OF Central Europe
will be restored but slowly TO a pre-
war basis. The country's increased sup
ply OF cattle despite the large consump-
ton OF the war years, is highly i'm
portant asset in view OF EuropeS de-
mand for fats.
In Soma directions the production OF
metals will be marked by contraction {:
In others there are already definite signs
OF expansion. The precious metal mines
OF northern Ontario ond British Column
bia which worked on short time because
OF the shortage OF labor. due to enlist
ments in the overseas army and the high
ost OF supplies, are steadily increasing
their output. The shortage OF coal prom
Uses vigorous development work In the
coal mine areas of the Maritime Prov
inces and Alberta. now that labor Is
more freely available. Similarly in
such native industries as pulp and paper
there are promising signs that the an
nual production will continue to rise for
| some years to come. These considera-
tons, along with the actual results
| shown in recent months. hold out high
promise that the year will rank up well
with its record breaking predecessors.