DOMINION EXPORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1917, Page 8

DOMINION EXPORTS.

EFFECTS OF THE WAR.

FARMERS' APPEALS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, April 12. ■Farmers who have appeared before Military Service Board, in various parts of New Zealand in support of appeals, have stated that the shortage of labor, brought about by the enlistment of oyer 70,000 of the Dominion's able-bodied men, would reduce production. Experienced men who have had opportunities for inspecting the country districts lately, assert that the withdrawal of primary producers for service with the arniy is already having a marked effect in the direction of decreasing the present and prospective production of the farms. The facts are disguised to some extent by the high prices prevailing for wool, meat, butter, cheese, and ~ther products, but the decrease in actual production has already been traced in the official statistics, and in the opinion of the farmers it constitutes a warning that should be heeded.

The latest figures available show the exports of New Zealand produce for the 12 months ended February 29, 1916, and February 28, 11117. It will be seen that tliey show decreases in almost every item. Increased quantities held in store at the close of the 1016-17 period account for some part of the falling-off in exports, but this factor does not appear to be a very important one, since the shortage of shipping space was acute in the latter part of the 1915-15 period. The figures are as follows:

1910. 1917. Butter (cwty ..., 418,381 333,343 Cheese (ewt).... SI 1,0.50 858.840 Beef (cwt) 722,007 1,010,418 Mutton (ewt)...' 1,425,950 1.271). 197 Lamb (cwt) .... 1,149.833 880,703 Pieces (cwt) ... 33,042 9,819 Wool (lbs) 195,757.722 150,274,274 Sheepskins (lbs). 28,29.'Mi30 21,709,733 Tallow (tonsj .. 20,275 20.115 Hides (number). 255,09S 201.783 Flax (tons) 25,007 28,337

The decreases revealed by these figures are striking. They are so pronounced that they more than counterbalanced increased prices and produced a decline in the total value of the produce exported during the period. The values of the products shown in the above table were: — 1910— £32.035,517. 1917 £30,6131,534. The position is illustrated further by the following figures, which show the exports of produce for the two years, 1915 and 1910: 1915. 1910. Wool (lbs) 190,570.114 185,500.859 Meat (ewt) 3.591.200 3,320,0113 Butter (ewt) ... 420,144 358,632 Cheese (ewt) ... 517.238 949,410 Sheepskins (lbs). 28,506,340 24,738,909 Tallow (tons) .. 20,703 251472 Flax (tons) .... 23,220 27,074 The values of the exports included in the above list were'as follow.-: - 1915—£25.792.002. 1916 £28,608,692. But these figures represent increased prices, not increased production. If the 1915 prices had been received by exporters in 1916, the value of the exports in tile list would have been ;£24|553„593. If the prices in 1910 had been on the 1914 level, the values of thees exports would have been under £21,000,000.

'The decline in production has begun and attention has been drawn to it in several quarters," said a gentleman closely connected with farming pursuits to a reporter. "I suppose the matter has received the attention of the Government since the Acting-Prime Minister has stated definitely that the maintenance of our reinforcements is more important than the maintenance of our . production. That may be so. But the figures ought to be considered very seriously, and personally I am not convinced that the maintenance of the reinforcements demands the continued withdrawal of farm labor. I think the time has come to exempt farm workers, just as the Government has already exempted shearers, slaughtermen, and miners. Recruits can be drawn from other branches of industry. , ,

"The farmer is being put in a most difficult position. He knows the importance of production, and he wishes, naturally, to sell as much as he can while the prices are high. But lie must face several facts: Firstly, the present shortage of labor; secondly, the probability that the shortage will be much more acute next season; and, thirdly, the possibiiitr of liaving to go to the front himself. This third consideration affects the fanner of military age. What is the result? The farmer feels impelled to proceed cautiously. He plans to reduce the amount of work to be clone on his place next season. Often that means a smaller flock, a reduced area in crop, and a smaller number of lambs. He would be much more likely to attempt to secure maximum production if he knew that labor would be available."