OUR HEAVY EXPORTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 6

OUR HEAVY EXPORTS

ASTONISHING FIGURES INCREASE IK MEAT SHIPMENTS. Tlio reason of Now Zealand's present prosperity is fully explained in certain figures, showing the value of Now Zealand produco exported timing tho twelvo inontlis ended September 30, which figures were made available by tho Prime Minister on Saturday. In the first six months of the year under review tho valuo of exports was £ 1.2,530,DCO; in tlio next thrco months tho total was nearly doubled, rising to £2,3,644,783; and the gross total for the year was £29,.'M1, 179. These figures do not include imports re-exported to such places as Rarotonga, Tonga, and Fiji, which would amount to another three-quarters of a million. The total of £29,341,179 represents the Dominion's surplus production. A great deal of tho increased export has been in meat. Although there was a shortage of refrigerated space on outward steamers, a shortage wliich must liavo had go mo effect in certain localities in retarding export, the export of meat for the twelve months ended September 30 was 1,566.622 freight carcasses more than for the corresponding preceding twelve months. The total export of meat in freight carcasses for the two years was as follows: — 1914-15 : 6,894,099 1913-14 ; 5,327,477 Increase 1,566,622 It lias been alleged lately that the Board of Trade is buying New Zealand meat at lower prices than it has to pay for River Plate beef and mutton. In recent correspondence with the Prime on. tljis subject, tho High Commissioner states that his inquiries show that freisrlit and insurance charges from tlis Argentine to English ports are ?,d. per pound lower than those from New Zealand. Argentine beef has also this advantage—that it can be sent to French ports for the use of tho armies. New Zealand meat cargoes, on the contrary, must bo sent to London to bo sorted, because they arc made up largely of lamb, and lamb is not used for tho troops. Mr. Mackenzie's opinion is that New Zealand meat costs the Imperial authorities just as much as Argentine meat-, but lie, is seeking definite information on tho subject.