DOMINION PROSPERITY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 580, 28 June 1913, Page 5

DOMINION PROSPERITY.

INCREASED SETTLEMENT. EXPANSION OF DAIRYING. Mr H. Beauchamp, in the course of his speech at the Bank of New Zealand meeting on Thursday, stated that New Zealand imports for the year ending March 31st, 1913, amounted to £22,BF7<>ver the figures for 1910, and the exports were £21,309,688, an increase of only £1,178,878 over 1910. "It must be admitted," he said, "that the Dominion is bearing the strain of dear money better than many neople anticipated. The State finances exhibit a healthy condition. The Minister of Finance is able to show a surplus of about £700,000, which is practically the amount of the increase shown by the ordinary revenue. Domestic trade is not so active as it was a year ago, but still it cannot be described as dull. With prudence, care and economy on the part of tha people, we shall weather the present-financial stress without serious consequences, and development are proceeding on satisfactory lines. Quite a number of estates have been acquired for close settlement. The division of large estates for close settlement must bring about—indeed, has already brought about - some changes in the pastoral industry. The tendency is now towards the production of butter and cheese, and the development of the dairy industry is a striking feature of New Zealand farming. So long as present high j nrices rule the i" dustr y Wlll be po , pu P " we may be sure that most of theTSates that are acquired for close settlement will eventually be helping to expand the output of the dairy inZatrv The result must inevitably be to retard the growth of sheep farmfnV Consequently, it would appear that notwithstanding the breaking-in of new lands in the future it is unrloiv that our maximum sheep-carry-Loaoity "HI exceed 25,000,000 * nfl This roughly, would enable us pr Joce annually aboat 500 000 ? * of wool and provide about SOO,OOO carcases of mutton and lamb tb. position as a whole " Mr Beauchamp concluded, and not withstanding the temporary moon- . rtenr money, 1 01 ST that the proEpects befjre New Zealand are bright and pro- . . Pivpn more workers and mising. respite from labour f ? Wer h fnis and a sensible and rea* dl able co operation of labour and SOn -t«l I can see nothing to hinder continual progress and prosperity."