OUR FLOURISHING EXPORT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2384, 13 February 1915, Page 6

OUR FLOURISHING EXPORT TRADE

While die export returns for the calendar year, embracing as they do a portion of each of two separate season's output, may not truly represent the produce, year's results, yet they give a very fair idea of tho condition of the country's trade. Thero is much reason for satisfaction, therefore, in the figures recorded for the year ended December 31 last, which establish a record for tho Dominion. It will be seen from the table which wo append, covering a period-of ten years,-that (excluding specie) our exports during that period have increased' by something like 67 per cent. I've 1905 15,642,063 1906 17,992,480 1907 20,0CT,641 1908 16,075,205 1909 19,636,151 1910 22,152,473 1911 18,980,185 1912 , 21,511,626 1913 22,810,363 1914 26,253,925 I The dislocation ,of shipping towards I the end of 1913, due to the strike, affected tho returns for that year, but, making allowance for this, the total for 1914 must be regarded as highly gratifying. This _is more particularly the oase in view of.the fact that the increase in our exports has been spread over practically all our principal lines of produce, and the increase has not been in values only, but in quality as well. Tho values of the chief items for 1913 and 1914 respectively are as follow: 1913. 1914. ■ £ £ Butter 2,061,651 2,338,576 Cheese ...... 1,770,297 2,564,125 Beof 347,338 1,029,529 Lamb 2,332,372 2,554,517 Mutton 1,630,332 2,115,080 Wool - 8,058,620 9,318,114 These figures are very striking, and in every caso the increase in the total value was partly due to the added volume of the exports. With' the signs porting to a continuance of good prices and the maintenance of the standard of quality and quantity of our staple products, the people of the Dominion have every reason' to view the future with equanimity despite the disturbing influences of the war.