TEN YEARS’ PROGRESS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5948, 11 July 1906, Page 4

TEN YEARS’ PROGRESS.

The Registrar-General has just issued a leaflet of “ statistical comparisons,” which presents in succinct form a record of ten years’ progress in New Zealand. The figures are in many respects striking and eloquent. Taking the increase of population as tho basis, we find that the increase, as between the years 1595 and 1005, was 183,750, or 26.30 per cent. How has this increase affected land occupancy and production? We find that the increase in occupied holdings has been 17,162, or 32.49 per cent.; in land in cultivation it is 3,416,116 acres, or 31.93 per cent. This shows that tho growth of settlement and cultivation has been more than commensurate With the increment of population. The increase in live stock is 103 per cent., despite tho fact that there was a decrease of 695,729 in the number of sheep in the country. Against this, cattle increased by 763,035 —an indication that dairying is to some extent superseding wool and meat-growing. What are tho figures regarding trade? Our total exports increased by £7,113,377, or 84.78 per cent., while our imports increased by £6,428,728, or 100.45 per cent. In every principal item of our products, except grain, the increase is remarkable—grain standing alone, and showing a decrease of 4.16 per cent. Tho increase in the value of our wool export has been 46.95 per cent.; of frozen moat 113.28 per cent.; butter, 518.87 jjer cent.phormiuun fibre, 3210.20 pel’ cent. These figures are really extraordinary, and bespeak a vast advance in producing power, in wealth, and in general prosperity. In the matters of internal trade and accumulation the evidences of progress are no less striking. The railway receipts increased in the ten years by £1,056.663, or 89.32 per cent.; the postal orders issued by £729,108, or 89.72 per cent.; the depositors in savings banks by 152,863, or 93.49 per cent.; the amount to credit in savings banks by £5,153,258. or 111.53 per cent.; while deposits in other banka increased by £7,001,186, or 51.69 per cent. The increase of life insurance in the Government Department alone during the decade was £2,380,748 on the amount insured, with bonuses, or 25.48 cent. Tho output of coaTduring the ten years increased by 6,428,728 tens, or 118.23 per cent.; the output of gold by 226,9930 zor 77.34 per cent.: and of kauri gum by 3458 tons, or 46.57 per cent. These statistics tell a gratifying tale of a people enterprising and industrious, of rapidly-growing production, of profitable trade, and of advancement in wealth and comfort. They provide the beat possible answer to the pessimists who are still in evidence, and offer the beet guarantee of a continuance of prosperity if the sound and progressive policy of Hie last ten years is adhered to. '