THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1907. A VALUABLE PUBLICATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8992, 29 November 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1907. A VALUABLE PUBLICATION.

One of the most fascinating and useful publications annually issued from the Government printing press is the "New Zealand Official Year Book." There is a dry-as-dust look about the title, and, to the average man, a casual glance at the open pages offers little inducement to closer scrutiny; but to any lover of the dominion there is a world of interest contained in the tables, diagrams, special articles, and synopses of the development of our commercial, industrial, municipal, official, and social affairs. The "New Zealand Official Year Book" is the completest work of its kind in the British Empire for' comprehensiveness and accuracy of statistics. But the chief interesting feature is the phenomenal record of progress which is to be found within its covers—a progress unexampled in the history of the Empire in proportion to the size of territory and number of inhabitants. In a study of the figures and diagrams one has to remember that the huge volume of exports and imports represents the energy of but 883,430 souls (exclusive of Chinese and aboriginal Natives), and that the extensive industrial pursuits are carriea on by but a small proportion of that number. It is only necesfsary to point out, to give a faint idea of the general prosperity of the dominion exemplified by the Year Book, that our imports last year totalled £15,211,403 and our exports represented £18,095,137. Those who would obtain an insight into the, enormous industrial activities cf this small dominion should spare some little time for a perusal of the splendid handbook which is yearly issued by Mr F. J. von Dadelszen, RegistrarGeneral of New Zealand.