READING FOR EVERYBODY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2218, 23 October 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

READING FOR EVERYBODY.

AUSTRALASIA OR CANADA

WHICH IS TAKING THE LEAD. That Canada in growth of population is outpacing every other part of tho British Empire everyone knows ; but how does tho Dominion compare with Australia and Now Zealand in productiveness and wealth? Mr Blkington, F.R.G.S., writes an interesting and beautifully ilustrated antido in tho “World’s Work,” under the title of “New Zealand of To-day,” and lie brings to a fociis some interesting statistics showing how Australia and New Zealand compare with Canada:

“How many peoplo are under the impression that Canada is the world’s granary, that Canada as a. butter manufactory beats tho world, that Canada’s banks liavo the most enormous reserves, that the productiveness per head of Canada is greater than that of any other country? Iff yon doubt mo, ask anyone, and they will tell you that Canada tills itdio bill. Then ask them quite quietly, how they know it? And tho answer will bo: ‘Ob, everybody says so. Look at the size of it ! Look at its population !’ You who are wiser null say: ‘Look at tho figures ,aiul then you will find that not Canada but Australasia beads tbo list.’ “Take wheat. In 1001 the export from Australasia was 23,31G,0GG bushels, whereas from Canada it was only 1G,779,028 bushels. “In 1905 Australasia’s export of butter to Great Britain was 51,313,000 pounds, whilst Canada only exported 33,301,000 pounds, and the ’United States only 9,075,000 pounds. The deposits in tho Australasian banks amount to £130,752,000a gainst Canada’s £110,921,000. “Now take the exports in bulk of tho two countries we are comparing, .and in 1904 (I have to take that year as comparative figures of last year are not to hand) it will be seen that Australasia’s exports amounted to £11,000,000 moro than Canada’s. “We Englishmen, too, in our tight little island, hug the idea that in our country tho producing power per head is greater than in most countries, but figures again upset those ideas, for Australasia leads tho world. Productiveness per head. Australasia £23 0 0 Canada 16 0 0 United States 15 0 0 Great Britain 7 IS B

“Everyone knows that wool is the staple industry of Australasia, but few realise its enormous production of that commodity, or that in the year I have previously taken, she not only beat Canada but the United States and Canada put together, by 150,000,000 pounds ,aml towards this total New Zealand supplied 134,647,376 pounds. A GREAT LITTLE COUNTRY.

“From these few figures, whioh anyone can verify, it wall bo seen that Australasia is nearer being tlie world’s producer that any other country. And as New Zealand, in proportion to its size, is very many times a greater producer, an idea can be gained as to the greatness of this little country; and when it is further remembered that the first steamer and tho first batch of emigrants only arrived in New Zealand in 1840, its rato of advance is almost incredible.”