AMAZING FIGURES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17078, 29 January 1916, Page 8

AMAZING FIGURES.

♦- - If the proofs were not substantial, we should' find it almost impossible to believe the published records of New Zealand's external trade during the last twelve months. The total value of exports in 1915 has already been announced, and the " New Zealand Trade Review," in its issue this week, supplies the other side of the Dominion's external trading account. The huge balance of exports ought to be noted very carefully by those extremely cautious people who think that Now Zealand ought to let the Mother Country supply all our money for war' expenditure.' Excluding specie, the figures for last year are: —■ £ Exports .... .11.430,822 Imports .... 20,658,720 Excess of exports . £10,772,102 To say that this gives the greatest margin in the history of the Dominion is to put the situation very feebly. Tho excess of exports is nearly double the margin in 1910, which year hitherto held the record, and in that year imports were lower than in 1915 by over £-1,000.000. It may be thought—and the mistake would be quite excusable—that the extraordinary preponderance of export values is due to a shrinkage in the volume of imports, and that impression might well arise from the anxiety about Customs revenue that has been shown on occasions by the present Minister of Finance and his predecessor. The volume of imports, however, was well above the average, and has only been kept from also making a record by the dislocation of markets cutting off certain supplies. Neither in the total nor per head of the population has importation usually been as high as last year, and only on two occasions have tho figures been exceeded. The extraordinary balance of export values over imports last year was due almost entirely to the war. The greater part of the £10,770,000 comes through the enhanced prices secured for agricultural a-nd pastoral

produce—secured, too, nearly all from the over-burdened Mother Country that is supplying us also with huge loans which we do not require. Some idea, of the effect of tho war upon prices may bo gained from a comparison extending over three years. The excess of oxports over imports, again excluding specie, has shown the following remarkable expansion:—

While imports have kept well up to normal, the margin of exports has increased in tho two years, has swelled in war time as against peace time, by over £9.600,000, equal to more than 830 per cent. We have said that this wonderful increase is due to tho higher values of agricultural and pastoral produce. A few examples will suffice to prove this. The export values are:—

Tho list might be extended, hut we merely wish to emphasise the fact that owing to the war New Zealand is making really enormous profits out of the Mother Country. The figures speak for themselves. They establish the Dominion's ability to help in the war with money as well as with men, and we. feel sure the public will support us in asking how much longer the. Government is going to ignore the question and remain apparently indifferent when the course to follow seems to he as plain as it would be easy.

£ 1913—The last peace rear . 1,156,721 J91-1—Part poaco, part war . 5.100,69!) 1915—All war .... 10,772,103

1013 1915 (poa.ee). (war). Increase £ £ £ Wool . 8,037,620 10.387,875 2,330,255 Meat . 4,575,063 8.010,910 3,«».SI7 Till low BC3.0S8 780,828 117,710 Butter . 2,061,512 2,700,625 G39.083 ChecFO . ] .770,297 2.730,211 959,911 Hides . 205.108 572,370 307,268 Live stock 70,2ns 190,393 111,185 Oivls 20,132 132.827 103,075 Clin ft and h; iv 1,117 151,552 153,535