The Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1912. THE VALUE OF EXPORTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 21 May 1912, Page 4

The Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1912. THE VALUE OF EXPORTS.

THERE are many Nelsonians who have not yet awakened to the fact that there are ,striking (possibilities before the dairying industry in this district. With latest n:ethods, the Waimea Plains are suited for dairying far more than is generally realised ; but it is in the outer districts that it is so important to Nelson. The curse of this place is that there are some people who cannot see past the confines of the city boundary, and so, little interest is taken in the country districts, which constitute the backbone of the Province. Practically all our wealth comes out o'f the land, and yet there are people so shortsighted as not to realise it. Murcliison has, in the cow, a veritable goldmine, and Takaka and Collingwood are turning out large quantities of butter and cheese. And there are other districts round about that are finding out the fact that dairying pays, and pays handsomely. It must be remembered, ho'wever, that during the present season prices have been particularly high.

It will be seen from the annual report of the South Island Dairy Association that a. large number o'f butter factories sold their output up to the end of March at to f.o.b., whilst most of the factories sold their cheese at 6d to 63d per lb. f.o.b. New Zealand butter in the British markets ruled up to 135s per cwt., and cheese to 75s per cwt. It is considered that the high price of butter is attributable to a shortage resulting from the drought during- the summer

and autumn in the United Kingdom, in the United States, and on the Continent. The total exports from New Zeaiaiid were ahead of the previous period, and besides the butter sent to London, no little quantity went to West of England ports, and also to Vancouver, Sail Francisco, and South Africa. Again, Ncfv Zealand butter sold in England at higher price than butter from other eoJ--o-nies, and easily maintained its position as the best colonial product.

All this is satislactory. It mean* 'hat there is more money in circulation m New Zealand, and a large export trade is essential for the welfare of the country. Many still remember the hard tiines before the advent of refrigeration, when it was impossible to export very much except wool to England. But with the development of the export tra.'.e new life was put into the country. ,u,'t Now Zealand has gone steadily ahead ever since. But there are other things to consider. No one appreciates more tL'wt we do the necessity that exists for giving every encouragement to export trade, for, from an economic point of view, New Zealand's position cannot „.l>e regarded as sound unless a great .'deal more money comes into the couiiTrv to pay for exports than goes out to bring in impoi'ts. In the slight depression that occurred a few years ago, it was clearly seen that the trouble was caused largely by the fact that the value of exports was lower than the value of imports; or, rather, that there was not the necessary difference between the two amounts. And for these reasors it is essential that exports should i>e well maintained. But there is anotfer side to the picture. It is a cry-ingJshame that people should have to pa* as much as they do, for instance, for butter and meat. The matter of regulation should be very carefully handled; but there is no good reason why something should not be done to bring dflwn these prices. It would be interesting to know who is making the profits.