THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8288, 16 November 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1906.

The wonderfully prosperous condition of this country is once more impressed upon one by the figures supplied by the Customs Department, showing the quantity and value of certain exports for the seven months of the present finanoial year. Our mala exports are rapidly increasing, and if the figures that are available, showing the value of the experts from April Ist of the present year up to the beginning of the current munth, in comparison with *he exports during the corresponding months io 1905, may be aocepted as a criterion for the balance of the current financial year.it is keyond doubt that in 1906-7 the quantity and value of the exports will largely exceed those of tne previous year. Such a position of affairs, it goes without saying, is highly sutisfaotory, and again em« phasises how much this country oould be made to produce in comparison with what it at present produces. But to return to the com. patison already mentioned. So far this year there has been an increase

Id (ho following commodities exported, viz,, oatter, obeess, frozen beef, mutton, and lamb, and hemp, but a decrease iu wheat, oats, and potatoes. Figures which should be read with interest in regard to the different values are as follow, 1905 (leren months) figures being given first in each instunue:— Butter, £181,923, £331,291; cheese, £46,847, £94,273; beef, £141,862, £220,828; mutton, (caroases) £738,025, £779,517, (legs and pieces) £12,988, £33,316; lamb, £792,204, £928,386; hemp, £356,692, £445,079. II; will thus be seen that the total increase in the export value of butter, nheese, frozen beef, mutton and lamb, and hemp for the first seven months of the present financial year, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year is no less than £662,749. So far as wheat, oats and potatoes are concerned there has been, aghin comparing the same periods, a decrease of £125,254 in the export value. The broad fact, however ; to be gleaned from the figures quoted is that the country is in a highly prosperous condition, and, consequently, the responsibility of the Government; Is, if it may bo so expressed, exceptionally great. Careful and progressive administration will assist in maintaining and even in increasing the prosperity of the country, while, on the other hand,' experimental, faddy and hastilypropounded measures, such as the Land Bill of last session threatened to be, will result in inuring the good fortune of the people.

At the meeting of the General Committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association, held on Saturday last, when the proposal cf the Mnsterton Chamber of Commerce that the Committee should appoint represents tives to confer with a oommittee set np]by the Chamber of .Commerce in regard to the proposal to establish freezing works in the Wairarapa, oame up for discussion, a member of the A. and P. Association's Oommittee contended that the Assn» oiation should not encourage the movement, as it was "really a matter for private enterprise." Candidly, we fail to see the "point" of the argument. In our ignorance we -havo always thought that the A. and P. Association existed to encourage individual, ur private enterprise, in various industries, and more especially in two great industries—the pastoral and agricultural industries. As an instance it may be remarked that sheep-breeding "is really a matter for private enterprise," but/it would b3'the height of absurdity if upon such a plea the A. and P. Association dotermined that it would take no further interest in shoepbreeding. So far as we understand the position the Chamber of Cummerco has simply asked the A. and P. Association to set up a committee to consider in conjunction with othera what success would he likely to attend the establishment of freezing works in the Wairarapa. The questiou is one thai the A. and P. Association may very properly cousider, and it is to be hoped th'itj the report of the joint committees will be of an illuminating character. We under stand that the Carterton Chamber of Commerce recently went pretty fully into the question of freezing works for the Wairarapa, and that it has a considerable amount of information in its possession. Possibly if the Masterton and Carterton Chamboro of Commerce were to combine iu furthering the proposal increased ■ interest, at least, would be created in a project which it is evident both Chambers consider is within the range of feasibility.