"WHO PAYS THE PIPER?”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8079, 6 April 1912, Page 6

"WHO PAYS THE PIPER?”

A PEW IDEAS FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, (To tba Editor "N.Z, Times.") Sir,—The Chamber of Commerce have had thoir iuiiiniffi'—the ha've been presented, ■with their ecoro, which appears to bo all bowling (or bawling) and no batting, or in other words a very onesided ropoiL, and the blackest, side at tliat. Because a diamond is rough-cut le not to say that it is not etxual to tho t very beat brilliants. # or that ebony has *no value because it is black and roughcut. Bet ue take tho rough-cut side of fcho report of tho Chamber of Commerce <ou the “Trade of New Zealand," showing for tho year* 1906-11 a big increase in ’export* with Ihe exception of the year 1907-8. But what lias been done? A comparison has boon drawn between tho most propitious season to the farmers on record (tho 1909-10) against the most udver&e’eoason. (tho 1910-11). i' l .:" climatic conditions of those two seasons have been realised in tho extremo and are certified in tho department's "Journal of Agriculture" issued monthly. Much bawling is done on this most unjust comparison because tho imports have exceeded the exports by £1,300,696. If wo compare tho imports and exports of 1908-0 • with thoso of 1910-11, wo find tho discordant note changed to one of complete To present a comparison with dho worst to the best season on record savours very much of enptiousness. lo arrive at a just analysis we must take inn aggregation of tho whole five years. 1906-11, sot out by tho Chamber of Com- ’ mereo and not draw single comparisons between the worst and best seasons. Average comparisons of th,e five years ■per year are as follow: —■ Exports £19,166,822; imports, ,816,690,505; excess »f exports -63,286,139. To this must bo Added the increase of population, which evidently has not been taken into contrideration. In 1906, ending March 81st, the population of Now Zealand was 889,968 persons. Tho population now ia over 1,008,468, an increase of over 118,500 persona which more than warrants the Increase of imports. _ , Tho loans or national debt outlined by the Chamber of Commerce, although ■"taken from official sources," must have been on a one-oyed system. Whilst showing tho public debt to be 5881,078,122, it was omitted “from official Kiuroes" that 40 millions bore interest *t 4 per cent., nearly 23 millions at per cent, and 10 milnone at 3 per cent. Which shows, that over 63 millions of i our public debt are more than paying interest on its loan. But this interestbearing portion of our public debt is »ot to be taken into account, because ■the Chamber of Commerce says that the discharge of our public debt depends ' 'principally upon the difference between the exports and imports, as though the whole of the national prosperity depenfl- ' ed upon the exchange or the whim of an I, erratic importer. Wo next glance through the imports and exports of the four centres given by the Chamber of Commerce for the years 1902-11, Sufficient to say that the exports for the ports of Lyttelton and Dunedin have been in excess of imports, therefore, wo will turn our attention to the exports and . impdrts of Wellington and Auckland as ■outlined by the Chamber of Commerce. . .'From 1902-11 tho exports of Wellington ' have increased ‘from 8 millions to nearly 12 millions. Exports from Auckland in- , creased from 7 millions to 10 millions. I' The imports for Wellington for the same ■period increased from 10 millions to ,13 I- millions. Imports for Auckland increased from 9 millions to 14 millions., ! Thus wo see at a glance that, Welling- • ton is not only tho largest exporter, but ;■■■■ a very careful or moderate importer. Or Auckland’s excess, of imports over exports in this comparison is £3.797,377, Wellington £1,222,321. If the Chamber ' ■; ' of Commerce throws the onus probandi ' of (ur national debt upon the imports •V: and exports problem, we, in WeDingV tafii have a right to ask why we should ■;-•■ 'ho taxed to the tune of over 250 per ■i-r. .aent. because Auckland. is regardless ot imports'oVet exporte. On those figures a Massey Government might be acceptable to Auckland and to the Chamber of f; Commerce, but it certainly would not suit Wellington. if' l Why did not the Chamber of Comf: merce throw, some light as to the high 1 cost of living and its remedy (if any)? Why the tightness of the local money market? Why tho advanced rate of ini' terest to 6 per cent., or its "probable " advance"? These are questions that ■■ seriously affect commerce. But the j. chamber has blinked at them.—l am, etc.; . ; . K. EAT N. I- Kilbimie, March 29th.