The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1908. THE EXPANSION OF TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 43, 19 February 1908, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1908. THE EXPANSION OF TRADE.

Tor the cause that lacJts assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, A.*d the good that ice can 40.

The chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, at the annual meeting of that institution yesterday, referred to the astonishing expansion that has taken place in the trade of the Dominion during the past year. The total exports for 1907 are valued at £10,687,573. The value of the primary products exported was £19,250,000, being an increase of £1,592,436 over the exports for 1906, which were, in turn, £2,336,816 greater than the returns for 1905. If we look still further back, we find that the value of the New Zealand produce exported has doubled in ten years —surely a phenomenal rate of development. It must not,* of course, be overlooked that a considerable proportion of this enhanced value is due to higher prices; but after making due allowance for such influences, the productiveness of the country has grown at a most satisfactory rate. To obtain a full record of this expansion, we must add to the value of our exports £14,000,000, representing the produce sold for consumption within the colony, resulting in a grand total of £33,250,000 as the fruits of industry applied direct to the soil. Mr. Harkness, in quoting these figures, expressed doubt whether, under such conditions, the imposition of protective duties -was "justifiable; or, to use his oivn words, "Why should the many be penalised by heavy Customs duties for the benefit of the few?" One might answer this question by asking another —whether the number directly benefited by Protection is only a few? According to the Government returns for 1906 the manufactories and works in New Zealand afford employment for 56,359 persons; pay £4,457,619 in wages, and have an output of £23,444,235 in manufactured goods. Of course, a large proportion of this output consists of the treatment of natural products by processes which are unaffected by the tariff; but when we consider the large population of our towns as compared with that of the country, we may fairly conclude that the channels of employment provided by industries entirely distinct from labo\ir applied directly to the land are of immense value to the country. Moreover, the possession of a good local market for fourteen million pounds' worth of produce is a material advantage to the farmer, as well as to the merchant. The diversity of employment furnished by manufacturing industries is also of supreme moment in the building up of a prosperous and progressive State. In another part of to-day's issue we publish the views of Mr. R. J. Jeffries, Commissioner of the Board of Trade, upon the position and prosperity of New ' Zealand manufacturing industries. From the figures quoted in his report it appears that already in such food commodities as beer, aerated waters, and biscuits, practically the fchole of the demand is supplied from within the Dominion, and the same is true in only a slightly less degree of jam and confectionery. Other domestic requirements mainly supplied by home industry are furniture, Bf>.4 per cent; blankets, 50.2 per cent; soap, C 9.3 per cent; clothes, 65.7 per cent; and boots and shoes, 64.4 per cent. The United Kingdom and foreign manufacturers supplied in 1900 less than, one-tenth of the tinware required in the Dominion, and less than twofifths of the agricultural machinery, whilst the New Zealand manufacturers have the greater part of the trade also in saddlery and harness, cordage, rope, and twine, firebricks and cement, and nearly half of the supply of candles. The greater part of these industries depend for their stability upon tariff assistance, and tho experiment of sweeping them away is one which we believe Mr, Harkness would hesitate to make if he had the power. It is satisfactory to know that while Great Britain is the principal customer for our products, we have been able by preferential duties to materially assist British manufacturers against foreign competitors in the Xew Zealand market. The results of Mr. Jeffries' inquiries into this matter are very instructive. If they could only make a deep enough impression upon the Board of Trade to induce some reciprocal concessions, the remarkable progress which is now being made in the development of our resources would proceed at an even greater rate than that already recorded.