THE DOMINION’S PROSPERITY.

Otaki Mail, 16 January 1920, Page 3

THE DOMINION’S PROSPERITY.

the premier at levin

The Prime Minister visited the Horowhenua A. and P. Show a* Lovin yesterday, and addressed the assemblage, after beiDg introduced by the president orf the Association (Mr S. A. Broadbelt) and Mr W. H. Field, member for the district.

Mr Massey congratulated the Association and the district on the display of stock, which, he said, was a line advertisement for the' district. Ho urged on those present the necessity for producing as much as they possibly could, saying that it was just as necessary now as it had been during the past- IH e veurs.

The arrangements for the purchase of our produce by the Imperial Government would probably soon terminate, he said. Mr Massey then quoted figures to show what we had done in this respect during the war. The total payments by the Imperial Government for wool reached £47,084,542, meat £41,597,924, cheese £15,554,756, aud butter £6,815,105, making a total payment of £118,353,5fi2 up to December 31st lust.' The imports into New Zealand for 1919 would total about £30,559,077, and the exports £33.220,000. thus leaving a surplus of £22.637,000. The total trade for the Dominion last, year was thus £86,830,000 —a record for tho Dominion, equal to £77 per head of the population. He believed that, no other country in the world had done so well as this.

Dealing with the shipping, Mr Massey spoke of the difficulties experienced in getting shipping to carry our produce away, but said he behoved this difficulty would be relieved in the near future. Bigger and faster ships, and more of them, were being built for trade with New Zealand. The 1 rime Minister announced that he had received news of a, considerable rise in the price of hemp, and tho prospects of an early reduction in freights were good. Mr Massey also mentioned with pleasure the fact that the number of cattle in the Dominion increased last year by 360,000, while shoep hud kept up their numbers fairly well. In conclusion, Mr Massey referred to the repatriation of soldiers, and urged the people to continue their splendid efforts of the past during the period of reconstruction that was now before them.