The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1916. BRITAIN'S SUPREME EFFORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1916. BRITAIN'S SUPREME EFFORT.

The key to Mr. Asquith's recent impressive statement concerning the necessity to 1 bring into force the provisions of thy Munitions Act, in order to dilute labor for the purpose of obtaining an output of munitions sufficient for national requirements, has now been furnished by the Minister of Munitions (Mr. Lloyd George) whose important announcement in to-day's eaoles comes as welcome news, indicating as it docs that the British lion has now been thoroughly aroused and is gathering his immense strength for a furious onslaught against the disturbers of the world's peace. This statement completely bears out the theory we expounded a few days ago when commenting on Mr. Asquith's action over the munitions question. Mo. Lloyd George now practically proclaim? that the time for decided action is about to arrive, and in readiness therefor England is preparing to put her whole weight into the war in such an effectual manner that Germany will realise its crushing power, for the effort will he such as Britain has never previously made—a truly prodigious effort backed by the united strength and determination of the whole Empire, and assisted by the equally determined forces of our brave Allies. The hour is approaching that the barbarous Teutonic hosts may well dread, and the friend:* of freedom and peace may anticipate with all the joy that deliverance from tyranny, op-/ pression, ruthless and fiendish savagery cannot fail to evoke. ''We shall win," said Mr. Lloyd George, well knowing that the statement was not a mere fdln boast, but founded on well assured grounds that the means of winning were no longer problematical, but were actually in hand or within reach. There is a true ring in the Minister's words that should inspire the peoples of the Empire, as well as the Allies, with that faith that overcomes all obstacles. If anyone is the least sceptical about Mr. Lloyd George's prediction being verified, it is only necessary to heed the reasons he adduces. Before the war Britain, he said, had the greatest fleet in the world, but she now had one of the .greatest armies, "which would soon be the best equipped in the world." He might well have added that in conjunction with those two prime factors was the moral and physical support of tho Empire welded into one colossal spirit of determination to crush our enemies and destroy the power of these military d-spots. That war-even such a terrible holocaust as that which is raging-is not without some compensating advantages may be gather! d from the Minister's remarks concerning the organisation of the great army of industrial v.orkers. ■'lnstead of being impoverished, we shall be richer, for everything constituting real wealth will be better organised, equipped, trained and disciplined in the nation." These wordi pt the Minister'* convey an implied

acknowledgment of shortcomings in the past, as well as an inspiration and assurance i'or the future. Every unit of the vast British Empire should now put forth its resources to the very utmost, not only to achieve a decisive victory, but to have a good. margin of strength to spare wherewith to face the strenuous task of making good the, wastage of the war, and carrying on tho campaign against the trade of our enemies, i c - .., ,j.,,, ; -

THE DOMINION'S EXPORTS. The marvellous development of the Dominion's resources can only be realised by going back for the last twenty years and tracing the phenomenal growth of our exports. There are, of course, some years in which the total values are less than in the twelve months preceding, but it lias to be remembered that market prices fluctuate, and In certain years suffer a considerable decline, while in others, as was the case o' late, high values prevail. Allowing for this factor, the progress of the Dominion is accurately reflected in its export returns, and a glance at those returns alfords ample and reliable material for "ratification, especially during the lust few years. In 1805 the! total value of the exports was £8,400, J 000, and from that year onwards the; rise has been almost continuous, though in 1908 there was a slipping back o£ nearly four millions, and in IDII ofj over two millions. Coming to recent years, we find that in 1913 the value) of our exports had reached over twentytwo and a-half millions, but in the following year it jumped up to £2G,2G1,447. and last year (l!)lf>) there was a. further upward bound to £31,748,912.. It will thus be seen that in twenty years our exports have increased in value by £ -23,358,750, or nearly quadrupled themselves. A record like this is one of which the .Dominion may well regard with the utmost gratification. If the returns are analysed for the) twenty years period, it will be seeni that wool Ims increased by nearly six; millions, frozen meat by over four and a-half millions, and 'butter and eheesei ■by about four millions and three-quar-. tcrs. Taranaki has every reason to be satisfied with the important part it has played in swelling the exports of. the Dominion, and, incidentally, adding to the prosperity of the province. When it is considered that twenty years ago the total export value of butter and l cheese for the Dominion was qnlyl £378,510, and that of frozen meat £1,202,711 (making a combined aggregate of £1,041,221), and that the exports from Taranaki alone in 1015 amounted to close on three mililons, some idea may be formed of the progress that has taken place in the district. An even more gratifying comparison is that for the last two years, which shows that the Taranaki exports increased from £1,104,051 in 1914 to £2,058,038 in 1915. It has to be borne in mind, however, that all Tarannki's exports were not credited in 1914 to the province, Wellington benefiting in the of- ' ficial figures. Ifc is a fair contention to assert that if the whole of Taranaki's products last year were included the value would exceed £3,000,000, or nearly a tenth of the total value of the ■whole of the exports of New Zealand. In other words, Taranaki exported more than £SO per head of population, against the Dominion's average of £32 per head. That such a splendid result should he achieved reflects the highest credit on the farmers of the province and speaks volumes for the productive capacity of the land and the possibilities ahead. What will be achieved when scientific farming, intense cultivation and culling of herds becomes general? The answer to that query is for the future, but it can confidently 'be anticipated that the output will bo more than doubled. Certainly, the prospect is one that is very cheering, enabling ns to face the future, however dark it may be left after the war, with every confidence.