DOMINION’S PROGRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 25 July 1924, Page 2

DOMINION’S PROGRESS.

POPULATION INCREASE. TRADE POSITION HEALTHY. (Special.to the “Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, Jujy 23. In presenting the financial statement to the House of Representatives tonight, the Minister for Finance drew attention to the Dominion’s progress during the past decade. The Minister stated: The period covered the Great War, on account of which, both during its continuance and since, the Dominion has passed through greater economic difficulties than ever before in its history. During the period the population has increased by 18 percent. The total trade, which per head of population is the highest in the world, increased by £50,271,277, or 110 per cent. Export of wool increased in volume 17 per cent, and in value 35 per cent.; frozen meat, 18 per cent, in volume and 103 per cent, in value; butter, by 236 per cent, in volume and and 418 per cent, in value; cheese, by 136 per cent, in volume and 288 per cent, in value. In addition to encouraging the primary industries the Government has not been unmindful of the smaller industries. The exports of apples increased in volume by 295 per cent, and in value by 512 per cent., whilst in the case of honey, the increase in volume was 375 per cent., and in value 624 per cent. Every assistance is being given to these producers to establish ail export market for their commodities. The total exports for the year ended March 31, 1914, were £23,471,246, but for the year ended March 31, 1924, ’ they were no less than £51,652,606 —an increase of

1 £28,181,360, or 120 per cent. These figures are a tribute to the productivity of New Zealand, _ and also an indication of the increasing prosperity of its people. The solicitude of the Government is borne out by the greatly increased social services afforded, as evidenced by the expenditure for education and public health, and in free pensions. The salaries and wages of public employees have increased from | an average of £162.40 to £245.744. New Zealand has led in the' reintroduction of the penny post, and increased facilities are being provided for every section through the Post and Telegraph Department. There are now 4,174 more miles of telegraph and telephone lines than in 1914 r being an increase of 27 per cent, during the period, and telegraph and telephone wire used increased by 156,990 miles, or 127 per cent. In 1914 there were 37,846 telephone subscribers, as compared with 5'5,031 in 1924, an increase of 47,545, or 127 per cent. The progressive policy pursued in opening up the country and improving the means of communication is confirmed by the expenditure on roads and bridges, which in 1914 was £353,836, while in 1924 it was £749,737, being an increase of £395,901, or 112 per cent. During the decade 229 miles of water-races for irrigation purposes have been constructed, representing _ an increase of 276 per cent, on that in existence in 1914. ndie arca N of swamp land drained through the Government drainage operations was increased _ from 42,220 to 180,335 acres, representing an addition during the period of 138,115 acres, or 327 per cent.