SMALLER EXPORTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 8

SMALLER EXPORTS

NEW ZEALAND'S REDUCED PRODUCTION SHORTAGE OF. FARM LABOUR Farmers who have appeared before Military Service Boards in various parts of New Zealand in support of appeals have stated that the shortage of labour, brought about by the enlistment of over 70,000 of the Dominion's ablebodied men would reduce prodtiction. Experienced men who have had opportunities for inspecting the country districts lately assert that tlie withdrawal of primary producers for service with the army is already having a marked effect in the direction of decreasing the present and prospective production of the farms. The facts are disguised to some extent by the high prices prevailing for wool, meat, butter, cheese, and other products, but the decrease in actual production lias 'already been traced in tlie official statistics, and in the opinion of the farmers it constitutes a warning that should bo heeded. The latest figures available show the exports of New Zealand produce for the twelve months ended 1916, and February 28, 1917. It will bo seen that'they show decreases in almost every item.-' Increased quantities held in store at the close of the 1916-17 period account for some part of the falling off in exports, but this factor does not appear to be a very important one, since the shortage of shipping-space was acute in the latter part of the 1915-16 period. The figures are as follow: —

. • ' , 1916. 1917. Butter (cwt.) ...... 118,381 333,545 Cheese (cwt.) 811,050 858,846 Beef (cwt.) 722,067 1.010,418 Mutton (cwt.) 1,425,950 ,1,279,197 Lamb (cwt.) , 1,149,833 $86,703 Pieces (cwt.) 35,042 9,819 Wool (lbs.) 195,757,722 150,274,274, Sheepskins (lbs.) ... 28,293,630 21,769,733 Tallow (tons) 26,275 Hides (number) ... 285,098 261,783 Flax (tons) 25,667 28,337

The decreases revealed by these figures are striking. They are so pronounced that they more than, counterbalanced. increased prices and produced a decline'in the total vahie of the produce exported during the period, lho values of the products shown in tho above table were:—l9l.6, £32,635,01f; 1917, £30,613,534. . ■ The position is illustrated further by the following figures, which show the exports of produce for three years, 1914, 1915, and 1916:

1914. 1915. 1916. Wool (lb) .. 220,472,898 196,570,114 185,606,859 Meat (cwt) M 29 973 3 591,260 3,326,045 Butter (cw ) ' 434 067 420,144 358,632 o"tewt!) 863,776 . 317.258 949,416 S skins (lib.) 28,598,241 ■ 28,506,346 24,758,969 Tallow (tons) 25,515 26,763 22,® Flax (tons)... 19,703 23,220 27,674 ' 'nib vaiuus of tuo exports included in ; the Übovß list were as lollowlull, 1916,\ £25,792,062; 1916, *28,003,UJW. y . . XJut, tlieso figures represent increased prices., not .increased production. If the 1915 prices had been received by exporters in 1916, tile valuo of tho exports in the fist would have been £24,553,893. If : the. prices in 1916 had been on the 1914 level, tho values of these exports would have been under £21,000,000. - , , i "The decline -in , production has be-1 gun, and attention has been drawn to it in several quarters," said a gentleman closely connected with farming pursuits to a Dominion reporter. "I suppose the matter has received tho attention of the Government, since tho Acting-Prime Minister has stated definitely that tho maintenance of our Reinforcements is more important than the maintenance of our production. That may be so. But tho figures ought to be considered very seriously, and personally I am not convinced that the maintenance of the Reinforcements demands the .continued withdrawal' of farm labour. I think the time has come to exempt farm workers, just as the Government. has already exemptedshearers, slaughtermen, and miners. Recruits can be drawn from other branches of industry. ' :

"The farmer is being put in a most difficult position. He knows the importance of production and he wishes, naturally, to sell as much as he can while the prices are high. But lie must face several facts: Firstly, the present.shortage of labour; secondlv the probability that the! short ago will he_ much more acute next season; and thirdly the possibility of bavins to go to the front himself. This thircl consideration affects the farmers of military age. What is the result? The farmer feels impelled to proceed cautiously. He plans to reduce the amount "of work to be done on his place next season. Often that means a. smaller flock, a reduced area in crop and a smaller number of la'pibs. He would be much, more likelv to attempt to secure maximum production if he knew that labour would available."