EXPORT STATISTICS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 266, 4 August 1921, Page 6

EXPORT STATISTICS

NOT FOR COMPARISONS BETWEEN PORTS STATISTICIAN EXPLAINS “SOME CONFUSION OF THOUGHT” In consequence of the dissatisfaction expressed by some bodies regarding tho system followed, by the Government in the publication of trade statistics, the Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser) was invited to address the Wellington Chamber of Commerce upon the matter at the annual meeting and luncheon of the chamber yesterday. The attitude of the chamber was indicated, by a passage in the annual report, which, claimed in effect that the export trade credited to the Wellington Customs district was apt to be mistaken for the trade of the port of Wellington, and that tho prestige of Wellington suffered in consequence. The Change in 1914. Mr. Fraser said that the trade statistics aimed at giving the trade of the Dominion with other countries. It was usual to associate such statistics by either ports or districts. For some years prior to 1914 they wore associated according to ports, and owing to complaints all over the country from variou:j parochial interests against the unfairness of the system—complaints somewhat similar to those which were being made to-day—the present system had been proposed and introduced. The difference between the present system and the former one was that the present attempted to credit exports to the district of origin. Certain arbitrary districts were, allocated to the ports, and to those districts was now credited the export trade. When tho scheme had been first proposed in 1914, tlie Wellington Chamber hud considered that it would be fair, but tliat it would be an advantage if in aduiuon the figures for the port were also shown. Members of the chamber had recently said much about economy; and the mere introduction of another factor in the compilation of these statistics might more than double the work ; entailed. The Essential Factor. One ot the difficulties the situation was that a considerable confusion, of thought existed', and that there was an endeavour to obtain from the statistics in question something which should not be obtained from them. The Government could give only the one thing: it could not afford to give two; and if the system introduced in 1914 was not really what the people desired, it was fair for them to consider what they did desire. So far as the statistics themselves were concerned, the port or the district was of no consequence. The essential factor was the trade of thia country with other countries. When one came to consider the balance of trade, one was not concerned with the balance of any 'special port with any other port, but with the balance of this Dominion with other countries. The figures might be associated, ’according to the district of orgin, the port of origin (that was, ths first wharf over which the goods passed), or the final port of shipment (where tho goods went aboard tlie Home boat). It depended on the point of view which, on a would prefer. The district produced, the port worked, and the country traded. To get tho country’s trade one looked to values. ’ and compared the total values with those of other countries. If production was what was wanted, it was not sufficient to allocate to the district merely lhe production for foreign trade. It was just as important for the Dominion that Canterbury should grow wheat which did not go outside the Dominion as that Taranaki should produce butter and cheese which mainly went abroad. If thev wanted the production of districts credited to the districts, why should the production not be got in the production statistics ? The Statistics Office told the people the number of sheep shorn in a particular district, the number of dairy cows there, and many similar things which provided a gauge of district production. In the light of the facts ha had mentioned. he thought it was rather a pity -to quarrel over which port or district was to get the credit for something that was sold to other counti’ies. What Port Statistics Should Be. Ports worked and did not trade, and were entitled to be credited with all the cargo they handled, expressed in terms of tonnage. This would afford a basis of comparison between ports. For such a comparison it was not sufficient to say merely what proportion of the export trade of the Dominion a particular port handled. It would be of advantage if the commercial community would consider what was the interesting factor that it wished to have brought out in the statistics. Inquiries were being made as to what statistics there should be in relation to the ports. These statistics should not be part of the trade statistics, but should be prepared for consideration in connection with a number of other factors, such as the liabilities of the port, its expenditure, and similar matters. . AVhether the present system should be continued or not depended on the demands of the community. The greater number of districts had demanded the association of the figures according to the system in force. If that system was to be altered it was for the community to demand its alteration and consider what should be lhe new system.