THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14984, 3 June 1914, Page 10

THE DOMI NION'S TRADE.

AN ERA OP PROGRESS

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

(SPECIAL TO "THE ).Ili_S.") 1 . DUNEDIN, Juno 2. The Prime Minister made some important statements at the opening of the Winter Show to-day. He said that from the Teturns in the fruit report, ho had no doubt that within a very short time they would represent a million of money to New Zealand per annum. Ho was going to do all possible in his power to assist the fruit industry, and, in this connexion, he mentioned that he felt very confident that water could be got by artesian wells for the irrigation of some of the dry areas of Central Otago. He had instructed his officers to mako experimental tests.

PANAMA EXPOSITION., As to tho Panama Exposition, he announced that the Union Company had consented to carry free to San Francisco all bona fide exhibits from Now Zealand. They would be taken charge of by the Now Zealand Government officer, and housed in the New Zealand Governmont house. If exhibitors wished, their exhibits would bo sold on their behalf. Tho sum of £15.000 had been voted by tho Government for the purpose of adequate representation, and £3400 had been authorised to be,spent on the erection of the New Zealand buildings.

AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS. rho Prime Minister made an effective reference to the Dominion's agricultural and pastoral strength, aud demonstrated in a convincing manner how, in recent years, the value of varied yields had increased. Tho position as to, the principal products and exports during the past two years was very-satisfactory. ' For the year'ending'March' 31st, 1913, the value of the principal .'products totalled £21,160,545, while for 1914 (ending March 31st) tho value wa5'£22,112,996. _/_'•' The miscellaneous exports were worth £1.400,000 and £1,877,044 respectively, making a total of £22.560,545 for IQI3, and a total of £23;5!XL040 for 1914, an increase of £1,429,495. A comparative I statement was made as to the total 'agricultural,exports from 1863 to 1913. and also the percentage of agricultural exports to total exports. While tho percentage w*as only 25 in 1803, the proportion of agricultural exports to the total exports increased remarkably during the next 30 years, aud continued to increase steadily during the two s'uceeding decades, the percentages being 25 in 1863. 76 in 1883. 77 in 1903, and 85 in 1913. The returns were:—" Total Agricultural Exports. Exports. £ £_, 1863 ... 3,485,405 843T,9G1 1893 ... 8,985,364 6.851,088 1903' ..15,010,378 '11,511.200 1913 ...22.990,672 19,525,771 NEW MARKETS. . Tho Prime. Minister also emphasised the fact that tho growth of New Zealand's .primary products had necessitated" tlie opening of new markets. He cited the'- following-—West Coast .of Canada, West Coast of the United States, and, in tho near future the East Coast Via tne.Panama panaU Ho also, referred.to the new .contract-with the Union Steam Ship Company as to" services to Vancouver and San Francisco, tho provision of larger and faster steamers, and the question of cheaper freights:

EXPORT OF WOOL. The export of wool for the year ending March. .. 31st, amounted to 153,000,0001b, valued at" £7,500,000. This showed, as compared with tho export of 10 years ago,* an increase of 17. per cent, in quantity, and"67. per cent, in value. Ho mentioned that the pricesobtained at"the third series of colonial wool sales in London wero about _d per lb higher, for merino wools, and Id per lb higher for erossbreds, as compared with prices at the same time last year. FROZEN MEAT TRADE. The statistics olv the trade in frozen meat also revealed satisfying progress: The returns were:— * . Mutton. Varue 'Cwt. , £ 1912-13 .-..:. 1,092,692 1,544,250 1913-14 ... 1,272,203 1,905,502 Increase ... 179,516 361,252 This w-a,s the highest increase for TO years. Lamb. ■ '. 7 Value -Cwt. £ 1912-13 ... 901,146 1825:312 1913,14 ... 1,186,638 2,548,944 Increaso ..." 285,492 723,602 Compared with 10 years, ago these figures represent an increaso of 80 per cent . in quantity and 135 per cent, in value. ■ ' ■ * - Boef. Value Cwt. £ 1913-14 ' ... 323,988 446,816 'Compared with 10 years ago, there was an increase of 81 per cent, in quantity and 109 per cent, in value. Hides and; Skins. During T903-04, the value exported was £530,683; in 1912-13, £1,095.517, and in 1913-14,' £1,214,106. Tho increase for last year was £118,679.. while "the increase for 10 years was 129 per cent. Tallow. In 1903-04, tho. exports wero valued at £472,390; in 1912-13, £672,849; and in 1913-14, £701,035. Tlie increase for tho year was £28.236. and the increaso for ten years £228,695. BUTTER AND CHEESE.

New records for butter, and cheese had been established. In 1903-04 the quantity of butter exported was 314,319 cwt.', valued at £1,416,484; in 1912-13 it was 369,133ewt., valued at £2,056,615 and in 1913-14 .the total was 395,169 cwt., valued at £2,140,019. The increase for the year was 267,036cwt., equal to £83,394. The increase for ten years was over 25 per cent, in quantity and over 50 per cent, in value. Durinor 1912-13 the quantity of cheeso exported totalled 634.173cwt,, vnhi«d at £1,859.179; in 1913 it was 742.371 cwt., valued at £2,195,273, an increase of 108.198C-W-., and of £336.094 in value. Compared with ten years ago. New Zealand was now exporting more than eight and a half times the quantity and more thanlO. times the valuo. For tbe first time the valuo of cheese exported exceeded that of butter. Ifc was safe to predict a continuance of the present excellent market for cheese, and he belioved -that before long the exports of cheese would- reach* the enormous total of 50,000 tons annually. • THE .HONEY. TRADE, .". - For-the yer eliding March 31st. 1913 586cwt. of honey, valuer! at-£llß2, was exported. For -the nine months ending December* 31st, 1913. the quantity was 1.690-rwt., valued at.£3293. . THE* FRUIT INDUSTRY 1 . As'" regards the "fruit industry, .the Prime,' Minister,-, who takes."a live, interest in its development, gave interestin"' particulars. In 1912 tha area of orchards was 36,967 acres; "the follow-

ing year the area increased to 38,79" acres, while this year (including tho acreage to be planted this winter) the area was 41,G4G acres. The export of fruit in 1912 was 14,869 cases, in 1913 33,000 cases, and 85.000 cases this year, returns that bore testimony to the rapid development of tbo industry. For tho twoit'e months ended 31st March last cbout 25.000 cases of apples were exported to Monte Video and about 20,000 cases to Rio de Janeiro. This year 1000 cases of pears were exported to Vancouver, and 533 cases of pears ami 201 cases of peaches to San Franoiscu. Tho Prime Minister, in his concluding remarks, congratulated the farming '•lity on the excellence of tho season. OVERSEA MARKETS. Ditcussing tho question of markets for New Zealand prixruce, he said that the llome Cbunciy had never placed any difficulties in the way of the Dominions. Ho reierredv to tho removal of duties on New Zealand produce exported to the Unfced States, and ohaiaote'rised the improvement as being almost ecfual to an open door. Tiiero wore a number of States that objected to coming into competition with New Zealand, and perhaps there would be something of a fight in connexion with the trade. He thought that that market could he increased without San J*'ranciseo. New ZeaJand. was going to be able to do a large trade with tho eastern side or' America by way of tho ranama Canal, and in that way should get access to 90,000,000 people, in addition to tho 40,00_*,0(J0. sho already supplied in tho Old Country. He hold that New Zealand was justified in being very hopeful as to tlie outlook for her produce. Ho believed that tho prosperity of tho past de-ado, and more, was going to last lor •nnny years to co_io, probably lor half a century. Tha - : bo*n~ the-c:>c,. it v tho Government's duty to foster tho agricultural and pastoral industry

it was from agriculture and its allied industries that increases of income were coming and would continue to come. He spoke of tho educativo influence of Shows, such as the Dunedin Show, an-" of their social value in the direction •"* bringing together those who- were en7 !> """ T *;* th" agricultural and pastoral industries.

TRAuE WITH AMERICA. Speak.ng oi t_e new contract entered into bet.eeen the Govei'ii__u_ and _ne Union Steam Ship Company in respect to s.e.raer services with Vancouver and San. Francisco, the Prime Minister said that as tho contract had not been finally completed, he. could not possibly go into the details, but he could'buy that tho contract was likely to turn out satisfactorily. The Government had arranged for a considerable reduction in the freightage for tho next two years, and for a very substantial reduction after that. Another important provision in the contract was that two of the unsuitable steamers would be withdrawn and replaced by very much larger vessels. He hoped, and believed, that the result of the new. arrangements would very considerably improve Now Zealand's trade.' with tho west coast of America. The new. arrangements as to butter would- a~ply not only to Sin Francisco, but, also to Vancouver, the contract to which port had still some years to run.