The Star Delivered every evening' by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waverley. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1913. EXPANSION OF BRITIS TRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 9 December 1913, Page 4

The Star Delivered every evening' by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waverley. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1913. EXPANSION OF BRITIS TRADE.

Whether under the beneficial influence of an English freetrade tariff or in spite of protective tariffs in other lands, it is at once astonishing and inspiring to observe how British trade continues to expand. Surely it shows that the British people as producers, manufacturers, consumers, and traders must possess an intelligence and a vitality that gainsay all the pessimism about the present and future of the Empire and its citizens. Much requires to be done to improve the conditions^ of life amongst the people—to make, these conditions positively better and to reduce or destroy the causes of vice, privation and unhappiness, but this necessity is quite a natural concomitant of a quickening social conscience, enlarged and still enlarging ideals, and great industrial progress. Social conditions little heeded heretofore are now felt keenly, and though they cannot be bettered by a wave of the hand, the fact that their betterment is recognised as an urgent necessity is big with promise for the necessary change. The indications are- that the energy hitherto given to material progress will be able, without prejudice to that progress, henceforth to spare some of itself for the betterment of the social life of the people, and that the wealth-making power which has been established will ensure practical success to the effort. If statesmen and the people generally have sufficient intelligence, heartj and conscience left for this work, there can be no question of lack of means, to judge by the expansion of British trade—an expansion shared in by all parts of the Empire, and associated with progress in other parts of the world as well. In the ten years 1902----1912; population in Britain increased by 9 per cent., and exports by 72 per cent., o.r eight times as much as the population. This means an extraordinary increase of wealth in proportion to population, as well as marked commercial expansion throughout the Empire, and strengthening Britain's international trade relationships, even with protectionist countries. Last year, notwithstanding such tariffs, £40,500,060 worth of British products and manufactures went to Germany, £25,500,000 to, France, £14,000,000 to Italy, and. £12,0q0,0p0 to Japan. In every one of these^ses the increase in the past ten years.wasl 50 per cent., •while in the case of British1 trade with the United States the value for the year was £30,000,000, an increase of 27 per cent, on the trade of ten years previously;. and it is only reasonable to expect di greater increase in future, under th# non-protectionist tariff .recently adopted by America in her own interest; indeed, an American message published yesterday shows that New Zealand wool is already in increased demand.. Last year Britain's exports to Canada were worth £23,500,000 while in 1902 the valne' was I £10,500,000. Then Britain's last year's exports to New Zealand were at £10,000,000, as compared with £5,500,000 in 1902; and even in avowedly protectionist Australia, the increase has been from £20,000,000 to £35,000,000. In addition fco progress in other productive industries, the wheatrproducing area within the Empire has, within the past ten years, increased by 45 per cent. Altogether, the total value of British experts to foreign countries has risen within 41 years from £174,000,000 to £297,000,000, and, including trade within the Empire itself, the increase for the period named has been from £283,000,000 to £454,000,000-aU this m'exports alone. Does it really look as though thte British Empire were played out?