The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1915. THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 11 February 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1915. THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

Although it is generally known that j the productive power of the Dominion had never been at a higher level than at present, exactly how favorable the position of the country is can only be gauged by a comparison with the ox- j ports from the Motherland. From a recent London cable, we learn that the' exports from the United Kingdom for the month of January showed a decrease of over nineteen and a-lialf millions as compared with the previous January, while the imports had decreased by £604,000, probably duo to the cessation of trade with enemy countries. When, therefore, we turn to the table showing the Dominion's exports for the years 1913 and 1914 (to be found elsewhere in this issue) a feeling of the greatest gratification should be engendered. Although the table only shows the principal primary products it discloses sonle remarkable fig tires which show most convincingly that. >in spite of the war our prosperity is 'such as to evoke tae wonder an, 1 , envy fci all other countries. It will be seen •that the total exports from New Zealand for 1914 amounted to over twentysix and a quarter miU'ons, as against less than twenty-three millions in 1913, an increase of £3,274,725. The dominion is in the very happy position of bej ing a country especially adapted for primary products, and as a consequence is is at a time when other countries are feeling the pinch of war that New Zealand is obtaining enhanced prices for the commodities she can place on the world's markets. Under such circumstances we ought to face the increased cost of living with all cheerfulness. It may even prove a blessing in disguise, inasmuch as it should promote a - abit of thrift and economy to a far greater degree than in the past. This prosperity has its responsibilities as well as its advantages. So far the people of the Dominion have done fairly well in contributing to the patriotic and relief funds, and the producers, especially in Taranaki, have set a grand example in this respect, but then the evidence of the "[vondcrful infhfx of money into the country consequent on the high price of produce should impel still further se'.f denial in the cause of those who are suffering untold misery as the result of the war. The remark-1 able strides manifest in the dairy in- j dustry are strikingly exhibited in the: dairy returns alluded to, and especially ' with regard to the production of cheese. J That the Dominion, and especially the province of Taranaki, should be in such ! a strong financial position cannot be j other than a matter for great satisfaction. At the same time the producers! should not lose sight of the possibility ! of a time of depression as the after- j math of the war. It would be at least be prudent to provide for such an cm- I ergeney, and should it not eventuate, j the financial position of the settlers will be all the stronger for their forethought. To have the sunshine of prosperity throwing up its glowing beams over the Dominion while the terrible, gloom of the war cloud is darkening' the lives of our kindred and allies' should open the hearts of New Zca-1 landers and fill them with feelings of the deepest gratitude. Truly their lot is cast in a pleasant place, and so long j as they recognise the responsibilities I due to prosperity, they can cheerfully I face all adverse influences. They liave * this great satisfaction, that what the ; Dominion is to-day with its wonderful record of production value is the result' of the efiorts of the brave hand of in- 1 domitable pioneer settlers, so ably and ! successfully backed up by the present j generation. All this prosperity has J been evolved from the virgin bush or open wildernes. The limit is a long 1 way oft vet. and will not be reached un- j til the whole of this fair dominion is closely settled, and then the value of the jI exports will be such as to surprise the orld.