EXPORT STATISTICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6870, 14 July 1909, Page 6

EXPORT STATISTICS

If it.-is worth tho while of a Gov'emnlerit department to Undertake the task of compiling figures to shew the Volume and value of tho Dominion’s exports, and.to.go,to the . expense, of printing and distributing such information, we would suggest tliat it is its duty io take the most scrupulous care in order to ensure the accuracy of the compilation; - This obligation' is clearly not regarded as of first importance by the industries and Commerce Department. The consequence is that the department’s “Export Leaflet,” issued every month, is only approximately correct, which is only another way of saying that it is Very frequently wrong. Indeed it would seem to he always in. correct. We caimot conceive that any good purpose is served by this. Incorrect statistics are a pest at any time, and in a country like this prompt and accurate information concerning the shipment of produce is particularly desirable. It will be seen from e nows article published this morning that the incorrectness of tho published statistics is r due to- two things (1) To the Department of Industries and Commerce- relying upon the Customs Department for figures relating to shipments abroad, and (3) to the Customs Department not insisting ori shippers passing entries immediately after the sailing of an oversea Vessel.- The consequence of this- last omission is that tho. Customs is never in receipt of , complete data at the end of any period and the shipments of produce given for any one month or quarter invariably includes figures relating to exports carried forward from previous periods. . Consequently not only axe the totals, ■ published unreliable but any Comparison with previous years obviously vitiated; The- Customs Department apparently does not feel inclined tc insist on shippers passing their entries promptly. In the opinion of the secretary of five department it is not desirable to “make criminals” of people. This is, of course, quite beside the question. It is' ludicrous to' Say ■ that a firin of shippers would bo placed in the position of “criminals” by being made to obey the department l a regulations; However, that is a matter fot the Customs to consider. The main pomt is whether, it having been admitted that tho Customs Departm.ent’s figures • are unreliable the De-; parfcraont of Industries a-nd Commerce hab any Justification fox putting them forward. Its leaflet certainly contains the saving' clause that it is “subject to alteration,” but this cannot Be taken to mean more than Mere clerical errors—it most decidedly does not tug. gest that whole shiploads of produce are omitted from the calculation. At private enterprise seems to be able to get the facts the Minister might with advantage consider whether it would Hot he' just as well for the reputation of hie office if red-tape rose to the occasion and overcame the difficulty ■ presented by the Customs' Department by making some original research among manifesto Oh its own account, This export leaflet should Be-right in all rto details. It is admitted fe WToHg. It has no business to be prints ed in that form.