The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1916. THE DOMINION'S RECORD PRODUCTIVITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1916. THE DOMINION'S RECORD PRODUCTIVITY.

At such a function as the opening of the Feilding Freezing Works it was only to be expected that the Premier (Kt. Hon. W. F. Massey) would expatiate upon the Dominion's productivity. It is a theme which should interest any and every audience in this country, for it immediately concerns the prosperity not only of the producers, but' af every class in the community. It is very probable that few people were prepared for the intensely gratifying statement made by Mr. Massey as to the total value of the Dominion's exports for last year, which amounted to the large sum of £38,781,711. This the Premier, with pardonable pride, claimed to be a record which no country in the world has equalled in proportion to its population. Such a marvellous achievement for a young undeveloped country like New Zealand may well rank as a world's record, just as it constitutes a splendid tribute to the wise legislation of the past in the direction of facilitating settlement, fostering primary industries, assisting the settlers with cheap money, and in every possible way advancing the welfare of the country and its people. In estimating the value of our exports it must be remembered that the enormous increase does not mean a corresponding rise in the volume, but that the prices have exhibited an upward movement. Since 1595 the level of prices and exports has risen continuously, forming a distinct epoch in 'New Zealand's economic history. If we go , back to 1894-5 it is found that the total value of the exports was £8,536,381. By 1905-6 the figures had more than doubled, being £17,541,042, and ten years later (1915-16) they had again al[most doubled, having reached the highest point in the country's nistory—£33,7Bl,7ll—and even now the development of the resources of the country is a long ivay off completion. Taking the figures used by Mr. Massey relative to farming and dairying exports, it is found that frozen meat exported in 1894,5 was valued at £1.322,810; by 1903-G the value had risen by over a million, and last year had reached nearly seven and a half millions. The rise in butter export values has been phenomenal, for whereas in 1894-5 it was only £231,700, by 1905-6 it had reached £1,540,227, and in 1915-16 had almost touched three millions, the actual figures being £2,949,787. Cheese shows even more remarkable results, for in 1894-5 the value was only the insignificant sum of £160,061, while in 1905-8 it had only reached £300,056, but by March 31, 1916, the value of this article had surpassed that of butter, having risen to £3,197,880. Wool is more subject to fluctuations in price than most of our other exports. Its total export value in 1894-5 was £4,028,651, Dut. in 1901-2 the value had fallen to a li&le over three millions, the lowest for many years. By 1905-8 the figures nad risen to £6,605,790, and ,ast year reached th- splendid total of £11,769,297. Figures like these speak for themselves, and arc emphatic testimony to the marvellous prosperity with which New Zealand has been so favored that she now occupies the enviable position of being tke largest exporting country m the world in proportion to its population. The result of this is seen in the enormous sums of money held by the banks tor their -.ustomers while awaiting prsfitahle investment, by the large amount at the post office savings bank, by the exceptionally numerous owners of property and by the comfortable existence enjoyed by the people generally. New Zealand has by leaps and bounds increased her financial strength to a remarkable extent, and the' more the country is developed and its numerous resources profitably utilised the stronger will be her finances and the gieater her productivity. At a tiwo like the present, when most of the countries of the world are depleting themselves of their financial resources, Nto Zealand (the youngest of the Governments) stands out like a giant as regards her financial strength, while the outlook is so promising that there need be no anxiety as to receiving a setback after the war. There seems to be excellent ground foi assuming that her prosperity will not inly continue, but will increase, for as a very large producer the Dominion cannot fail to do exceedingly well until such time as the stock in the war zone has been replenished, and that will be seme years yet. Lucky New Zealand! No w»nder the Huns cast envious and longing eyes at this happy, contented and remarkably productive portion of the globe, and it is to preserve this country from spallation by the enemy that, amsng othej reasons, has induced our bravo manhood to take up arms in order to put an end ! to, once and for all time, the Hun menace. There is yet one step more l,hat the Dominion should take. Her financial strength is so pronounced that all her r.ght-thinking citizens must experience a feeling of shame that the Motherland has had to finance our war expenses at a time when her burden is already far too heavy. Wealth has its responsibiliiies as well as its advantages, and unless the Dominion finances her own war expenses she is liable to be flouted as selfish, and be robbed of .the credit of being a help instead of a drag to Britain. The Premier glories in our prosperity and financial strength, and rightly J bo, but the country will recelvo an addoJ I

lustre if w e finance our just share of the expenses of the war, while it "will be covered with Bhame if we fail therein.