Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1930. The Lesson

NZ Truth, Issue 1261, 30 January 1930, Page 4

Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1930. The Lesson

THE overseas trade, returns for 1929 reveal that, while exports remain ahead of imports, a very marked decrease' *m the value of the Dominion's exports occurred during the twelve months ended on December . 31 la*st. . • ' •In 1928 the Dominion ended up the calendar year with an excess of exports over imports of oyer £11,000,000, but this total .was reduced last year to just over £ 6,000,000, exports decreasing by £600,000 and imports increasing bs' £4,300,000. ' The calendar year does not show the true position; for it takes into account parts -of two i export seasons. Consequently the. figures at the end of July next are likely. to be less favorable to the Dominion, and the excess of exports over imports is likely to show an even greater decrease. Primarily this decrease is due to the lower prices being paid for the Dominion's products abroad. Increased production m dairy produce has to ;i large extent offset the lower prices, but m the case of wool there is no such compensating 1 movement. Two things are emphasized by these export and import figures — firstly, the need for still greater production, and, secondly, the need for a. sound and comprehensive closer settlement scheme. Just as the Government -has 'muddled the- unemployment problem, so has it muddled its land settlerp.ent schemes, it has hot tackled either matter vigorously- or comprehensively. Both problems, to a large extent, are part of each other. Uneiriplovme"t can be alleviated, and an adverse trade balance to a certain extent prevented, by a sound system of land settlement. It is full time that the Ward Government stopped its stupid policy of dillydallying, and tackles these two problems broadly and comprehensively; for delay will only aggravate the position and make the remedy all the more difficult. '