THE PROGRESS OF THE COLONY.

Evening Star, Issue 11252, 28 May 1900, Page 1

THE PROGRESS OF THE COLONY.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. [Special to the Star.] , WELLINGTON, May 28. The Registrar-General (Mr Von Dadelzcu) has just issued a very interesting circular containing statistical comparisons of New Zcalßqn’i Sl i°Qm g t mY pro t gress of the colo ».V from 1890 to 1900. This shows great expansion and extraordinary progress in all branches of indusiry, iiroducUou, and investment. Thus w.ale the population of lire colony (754.545) has increased, during the decennial period bv noarty 21 per cent.,' (he principal exports (including wool, frozen meat, tallow, sheep skins and pelts, butter, cheese, and kauri gum) grow b* 43.14 m quantity and 4.19 j n value in the case of wool. The increase in the quan°L b n ‘ e - r eXl ’? rled ' V,IS 230-87 in quantity, and 366.01 in value. Frozen meat exports increased m value by 92.6; (allow, 91.82sheepskins and pells, 118.45; cheese, 66.87. tiff citlSrI 1 . exports, including specie tfcH.blO.bSb), increased bv 45.28; exnorts (£11,923,422), excluding specie, 24.60. The satisfactory feature in these figures is (ho large increase of products aud exports as compared with (he growth of population. The Customs revenue (£2.042,002) increased bv 52.48; excise duties (£82,715) by 39.12. The output of coal was 975.234 tons, valued at £487,617, an increase in the ten years of 53 per cent, in quantity and value. The output of gold entered for duty for exportation (389,570 ounces, value £1,513,180) showed an increase of 101.65 per cent, in quantity, and 95.64 in value. The occupied holdings (62,485) increased m ihe same period by 63.67, but regarding this Hie Registrar notes: “ This comparison is not quite a fair one, as in 1699 holdings of exactly one acre in extent and certain holdings occupied by Maoris have been included by the Department of Agriculture, which was not done in 1890. The land in cultivation (including sown grasses, but excluding gardens, orchards, plantations, and native grass (12,474,511 acres), increased by 4,459,035 acres, equal to 55.63’ percent. Sheep increased from 16,116,113 to 19,348,506; cattle, 815,831 Io 1,210,439; horses 211,040 to 266,951. There was also a largo increase in shipping inwards and outwards. The gross receipts of the Government railways showed the very- satisfactory increase of 44.77 per cent. Tire miles of telegraph line (6,910) increased 36.56, and the messages (1,625.891 in number) 76.92. ’ As regards banks of issue, Hie amount on deposit (average amount) increased from £12,368,610 to £14,591,253, equal to 17.97. Savings-banks (amount to credit of depositors Hu post offices) increased in ilio ten years from £2,441,876 to £5,320.371, equal to the enormous percentage of 117.88; while the deposits in private savings banks increased only by 16.27 per cent., or from £694,992 to £808,082. It may bo argued that the largo increase in deposits remaining in the banks is an indication of restricted investment in trade and industry, but this is at once disproved by a glance at the figures showing the large increase in products and exports. In live stock, holdings, and land under cultivation Hie. proportion should be reversed. Jt is Hie large increase in the wealth derived from these sources, and the consequent general welfare of the working classes, that have caused the augmentation of the savings bank deposits. In times of slackness of work and falling off in production there are heavy withdrawals from the savings banks. . It may be added, as another indication of sound progress, that the number of policies in force in the Government Life Insurance increased in the decennial period from 28,102 to 39,366, and in value from £7,544,030 to £10,341,702, equal to 40.08 in number and 37.08 in value. } The value of land and improvements in counties by 25.37, and in boroughs by 23.23. Tiro unimproved value of laud increased by 11.79, and of improvements increased from £35,640,335 in 1836 to £54,190,103 in 1898, or 52.05; while the value of land with improvements grew from £111,137,714 in 1883 to £138,591,347 in 1898, or a percentage of 24.70. . Finally, the total private wealth, which was estimated at £14i5;531,461 in 1890, had increased to £217,587,481 in 1899, or £74.956.020, equal to 52.55 (more thana double). The increase in the amount per head was from £228 to £2BB. He would bo a bold man who, in the face of these figures, would deny that the last ton years have been a period of all-round prosperity and progress. Some of the above figures have been, already quoted in speeches delivered by the Premier and the Hon. J. G. Ward, but I am assured by Mr’ Dadelzsen that they are now given for (ire first time in a complete form.