EXPORT QUANTITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 115, 14 May 1920, Page 4

EXPORT QUANTITIES.

Far more attention is paid to the figures of export values than to those of export quantities, yet the two sets must be studied together if one is to get a. true view of tbe Dominion's position. A comparison between the export quantities revealed in the statistics for 1914, and the figures for the calendar year 1919 and the financial year 1919-20, shows how largely the prosperity of New Zealand to-day i_ a prosperity of increased values and not of increased production. It illustrates, too, the general plight of the world, caused by stationary or declining production and soaring prices. Take butter for example. In 1914 the output for export was 434,000 cwt., and ite value in round figures £2,338,000. In 1919, however, we exported less, 345j000 cwt., and still less in the financial year 1910-20, but ite value rose to three millions. The cheese figures show a remarkable development both in quantity and value. The export was 863,000 cwt. in 1914, and the value f2,564,000; in 1920 the quantity was a million and a-half, and the value £7,790,000. But even here, while the quantity increased by less than 100 per cent., the value trebled. The figures for meat export give the following comparison:— 1914. 1919. Beef 613.000 cwt 776,000'cwt Mutton 1,332,000cwt l,B_3,Ooocwt lamb 1.140,000 cwt 1,049,000 cwt 3,094,000 cwt 3,648,000 cwt An increase of about half a million cwt. in export of frozen meat in five years is nothing to be proud of. Now take the values. Beef jumped from a million to a million and three-quarters, mutton from £2,115,000 to £4341,000, and lamb frorri two and a-half millions to three millions. That is to say, while the increase in quantity has been half a million cwt., the increase in value has been nearly three and a-half millions sterling. Let us look at the wool figures. In 1914 we exported 220,000,0001b in round numbers, valued at £9,316,000. In 1919 the weight had increased to 274,000,0001b, but the value was nineteen and a-half millions— a 24 per cent, rise in tbe weight, and a rise of more than 100 per cent, in the value. The case of tallow »as striking as any. We sent away 24,500 tons in 1914, valued at £694,000. We shipped 46,874 tons in 1919, valued at £2,680,000. These figures are a call for more production, for better farming and opening up of land. The country has not moved along in the last six years at the rate it would have set bad the times been normal, and, facing a huge war debt, we should hurry and make up for lost time. The condition of high prices in which the community is floating may change! at any, minute, and the country should be in a position to more than make good by increased production what it may lose by a drop in" values. A policy of vigorous land settlement, including the breaking up of great estates, encouragement of immigration, cheeking of gambling in rural lands (a serious obstacle to increased production), and .better fanning methods—all these means should be quickly and energcti , cally set in motion to develop the j wealth of a country that has as yet i been scarcely more than scratched.