IMPORTS VERSUS EXPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1114, 29 April 1911, Page 14

IMPORTS VERSUS EXPORTS.

[By T. H. RnTnEßiuuD.] Some calculato a. nation's wealth by her imports, arguing that, if she had not wealth, she could not afford to import. There is certainly plenty of solid reasoning in this assertion, but I favour those who calculate the wealth by the exports, for ALL produce must come first from the land, whether it be stock, minerals, or even the fish in tho sea surrounding the land, for even this cannot bo captured without implements obtained from tho land. Granting that my surmise is correct, tho samo thing applies to eggs. Is it not better to export our eggs for the country's good than to allow them to ibe imported?. No one will gainsay, that

exporting other farm produce has not (lone an immense amount of good to the Dominion, in spite of the consumer having to pay more to live in consequence, and, if ive can systematically export our eggs, that also (though it does not raise the price) will add much wealth to the community.

Co-operation alone will succeed in carrying this out, for I will venture, to say that there is not one single poultry farm in New Zealand that produces enough eggs to go alone. It is idle- to fiddlo about with a few score crates. .Wo need to send them by the hundreds, or, better still, by the thousand, in each shipment, so that buyers at Homo may have a fair opening to distribute them to the best advantage, and have sufficient supplies at any one time to make it worth their while to push them. But, in a few weeks, eggs will be down again to the same old Sd. a dozen, or less, and I ask yon bow much longer you arc going to put up with it? Especially when salvation by exporting is at your hand. Get those circles formed straight away, so that tho Poultry Association of New Zealand can undertake to export this coming spring. Wo have nothing to fear. Wo know that eggs can bo successfully exported, though we may not yet have the knowledgo of the best means of packing and other little details, and we do know that it has boon done, and can be done again. Tho general public admit that it is splendid business to export our eggs, and show, so far, no opposition to the egg circle movement, but wo cannot expect them to find the "sinews of war." This must come from _ tho ponitvymen themselves, even if it is only by shillings at a time. Those who have already contributed will not get much for their money if you other good fellows do not do your share, for funds aro an absoluto necessity to get tho circles going, and those who have started operations are handicapped as long as other districts stand aloof. I ■speak not for myself—anyono else is welcome to carry on tho work, if tho association prefers to make a change in their organiser, but I plead for the poultry industry of New Zealand. This is a reform, and it can only be effected by your support. . .