"OUR OWN"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2256, 16 September 1914, Page 2

"OUR OWN"

———<?— EFFECT OF THE WAR. "Doubtless, one outcome of the war will be to draw' the attention of our jwn people to what is'being manufactured in the Dominion," says tho annual report of the Wellington Industrial- Association. It may bo that tho war will teach this lesson oven better than that taught by the holding of exhibitions, llefcrcnco to the JSew Ze.v. land Official Year Book (1913) will again prove tho altogether unreasonable amount of goods imported which could have becn.niariufactured in this Dominion. The following information is taken from tho Now Zealand Official Year Book, 1913, pp. 360-361:—"The value of imports, exclusive of specie, rose from £5,928,895 in IS9O to £13,115,953 in 1895, aftor which there ensued a steady advance to £17,247,162 in 180 S. In 1909 there was a considerable falling off, but the returns for 1910, 1911, and 1912 show substantial increases in the, value of imports." After, quoting these..figures, the followingappears: "Tho expansion of imports is still further >to bo considered in connection with the condition of the manufacturers of the Dominion, for an increase of imports arising ""from ■ a decline >■ of • internal manufactures would scarcely bo regarded as a. satisfactory position. .• That .there, has been great development: of' the-hiauufactures of'.-New-Zealand sinco 1895, not only in .the great primary industries, but throughout, is exhibted in the section giving the result of an inquiry made at the census of 1911 relative. to manufactories and works. It is desirable to consider hot only tho total value of tho import trade for. different years by comparing totals, but to ascertain tlio rates per head of population, to judge whether tho imports are relatively, greater or less than formerly. The fairest comparisons aro from calculations mado after deducting specio imported, as tho amount of this commodity fluctuates widely. The figures for 1890 and each year from 1903 onwards stand thus:— Imports par head of mean' population, excluding Maoris (excluding -specie).:— 1890, £9 lis.; 1903, £14 14s. 5d.; 1904, CIS ss. 4d.; 1905, £14 6s. lid.; 190G, £15 19s. 5d.; 1907, £17 19s. lid.; 1908, £18 55.; 1909, £15 4s. lid.; 1910, £16 7s. 3d.; 1911, £18 10s. 2d. j 1912, £19 16s. Id. Tho'total declared value of imports in 1912 amounted to £20,976,574, being an increase on tho corresponding'total in 1911 of £1,430,695. Tho figures, however, include specio. The value of coin brought into "the Dominion in' 1912 was £399,995, against £763,271 in the previous year, and if these amounts'are oxcludcd, tho increased in the value of merchandisers £1,793,971. . •' ' .■