THE PRODUCE YEAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 81, 7 April 1910, Page 2

THE PRODUCE YEAR.

LARGE INCREASE IN EXPORTS. OVER FOUR MILLION POUNDS. The exports for the twelve months ended 31ft March last — the Government's ' financial year — show a notable increase in both quantities and values of almost all the principal exports. The grand totals for the year are as follow— 1909-10 £20,048,449 1908-9 15,699,046 Increase for 1910 ... £4,349,403 The "leaders" in exports for the year compared with thoso of tho previous year were »s follow: —

With the exception of timber there is a substantial increase in values (and in quantities aUo) of all ,tho staples above set out. ' THE MEAT SLUMP. Tho year ended 31st March takes in the "dull meat jtear," when price*, which have now happily recovered, sunk to a very low and unprofitable level. How bad trade in Snrithileld was may be gathered from the remark*, of Sir Montague NelHon at the recent meeting of Nelson Ihotber*, when he said that something like a million of money must have been lost on frozen meat at the (Smithfield Market during the twelve months ended 31st December last. The rcaxonn for this low w«re not far to ceck, he raid. The supply largely exceeded the demand. The total increase in the importations of frozen sheep and lamb* during 1909 over 1908 was 1,415,--000 carcases. That large increase coupled with the bad state of trade generally in the United Kingdom, accounted for the enormous loss wnich meat importers had suffered. Between the months ot Apiii and August the glut in the market was terrible. Ho could not say that they had never seen anything like it before. Wheat shows an enormous increase in value for 1909-10 compared with 1908-9 but it will bo found to have been exceeded this year when the full remits of the harvest ore available. THE WOOL FUTURE. Wool prices have kept up throughout the year, and the market i» still buoyant. Some who profess to be able to prophecy describe the future of the wool market as full of promise, and no Menu of a return to the old low values. That remains to be seen. The substantial increase in dairy produce wijl be noted with satisfaction Prices still remain high for both butter and cheese. TWENTY* POUNDS'- PER HEAD. Tho year's producing record is certainly a good one for a population of a million (inclusive of mothers and babies), when it can produce over £20 per head of products from tho soil itself to say nothing of its manufactures for its own requirements It must be remembered that only the chief products are given in tho total. No cognisance is taken of coal— a most imjiortanl item of export if bunker supplies be considered as exports. Then there are little side lines fucli as peas, hops, fruit, rabbits, minerals (excluding gold), and innumerable- "trifles" which in the aggregate make a stupendous total of exports for so young and * partly populated a country. The total oxporU when available will show a great increase over those of previous year*.

is\nj-i\j Wool rjolrf Butter L'll€CfC Meat (frozen) ... , Wheat [)aU Flax Kauri Gun Hidci Skins fallow limber £ 7,941.655 1,992,189 1,635.373 1,186,708 3,392,782 1,451,545 448,638 372,650 540,729 219,785 810.302 658.274 . 354,186 £ 5,537,861 1,942,968 1,422,198 865,456 3,282,536 2,802 127,630 310,364 444,309 169,367 586,560 526,952 370,116