Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of the Falkland Islands.

Date:
[1932]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of the Falkland Islands. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/36 (page 9)
    The actual return of wool exported during 1932 is just under 4,000,000 lb. to a value of £110,000, from which figures it will be seen that the average price realized was rather less than 7d. a pound as against an average price of from 7|d. to 8d. a pound in 1931, and 9d. to lOd. a pound in 1929. The further fall in price is due to the continued slump in world prices but it is satisfactory at least to note that Falkland Islands wool continues to hold its market ; with the advent of better times the industry should be in a position to make a ready return to prosperity. Seal Oil.—The Falkland Islands Sealing Company, Limited, which is of recent incorporation and has confined its activities hitherto to the production of oil from hair seal, again did not operate in 1932 on account of unfavourable market conditions. The Company was successful, however, in disposing of the stocks re¬ maining unsold from the previous season. Its prospects from the point of view of production are encouraging and given a recovery in demand and in price it may yet succeed, despite its initial difficulties, in establishing itself as a profitable concern. General.—Apart from the commodities above described the Colony has no resources of known commercial value. Agriculture can hardly be said to exist, although it is of interest to observe that the acreage under cultivation, mainly of forage crops, is increasing. There are no forests and no fisheries, while mineral deposits suitable for working have yet to be discovered. VII.—COMMERCE. The aggregate value of trade for the year was £203,997 as compared with £257,728 for the previous year. Imports showed a decrease of £28,725 and exports of £25,006. The following table shows under the principal heads the respective values for the past five years :— Imports. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932. £ £ £ £ £ Food, drink, and tobacco 45,568 43,850 44,584 40,267 33,117 Raw materials and articles 22,289 17,944 13,057 12,093 8,210 mainly manufactured. Articles wholly or mainly 74,338 95,281 53,613 56,965 39,561 manufactured. Miscellaneous and unclassified 2,973 4,073 5,191 1,415 1,162 Bullion and specie 1,900 — V 35 — Total imports ... £147,068 161,148 116,445 110,775 82,050 Exports. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932. £ £ £ £ £ Wool 280,770 236,992 190,943 125,818 109,475 Hides and skins 13,332 13,029 14,704 8,941 5,119 Tallow ... 1,016 1,529 722 1,860 1,150 Live stock 600 — 473 — 246 Seal oil ... — 16,423 5,920 — 5,000 Bullion and specie — — — 8,000 — Other articles ... 593 897 1,179 2,334 957 Total exports ... £296,311 268,870 213,941 146,953 121,947