The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1913. PANAMA EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8611, 23 December 1913, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1913. PANAMA EXHIBITION

When the Supplementary Estimates had gone through Parliament it was discovered that no provision had been made for the representation of the Dominion at the Panama Exhibition, or rather the Exhibition to bo held at San Francisco, in honour of the opening of the Panama Canal. This was an error in judgment on the part of the Government. The British Government, too, after much coquetting with tho subject decided the other day that adequate representation of British interests at this Exhibition would he too expensive, and the Gorman Government went further, for, not content with the plea of expense, they persuaded themselves that the exhibits, should they face the expense of sending any, would be destroyed by earthquakes in the Panama Canal 1 Tho last excuse is particularly futile, because it is a want of confidence in the Canal itself and for all time. Apparently the Germans have forgotten their reputation for enterprise. So far as Now Zealand is concerned, however, all is not lost, /for in answer to a question in Parliament one of tho Ministry said that though no provision had been made, something might bo done, after all, for the due representation of this country at San Francisco, a.id in good time. We take this to mean that if there is any evidence of a strong public opinion in favour of representation of tho fullest and best kind at this Exhibition tho Government will be prepared to meet it. Therefore, there, is reason for an agitation from all parts ot Mew Zealand for pressing upon our timid Government the need) for representation at tho most important exhibition on American soil since tho days of Columbus. It is to the British Empire more important than any other exhibition in the history of tho outlying dependencies. We make a point of referring to this tion because there is a great effort afoot for ensuring tho success of the Dominions Exhibition to bo held in London in 1915. That will ho, no doubt, a very imporbanjt census of Imperial industry. It will be opportune, also, immediately after the final reports of the Commission investigating tho resources of tho Empire- which is now travelling over the ground of its appointed researches. It will, moreover, deal with the groat question of trade within the Empire. The latter is a question fraught with interest of the deepest, as every readgr knows who has followed the discussions on tho subject from the Imperial Conference of 1901 onwards. It is, however, we cannot help pointing out, _ a question presenting more points of interest to tho British manufacturer than to the oversea producer. To these countries of the primary industries “par excellence” tho Dominions Exhibition is of much less importance than the San Francisco Exhibition. Wo of the overseas are producers seeking tho great markets of consumption, and wo of New Zealand have tho best quality of products that are exported from any of the oversea ports. Our production, moreover, is increasing by leaps and bounds, and when the soil is better unlocked these leaps and these bounds will be prodigious; to all of us who aro familiar with the developments of the past, they will be amazing. But while the production increases thus in tho near future, what of the markets for its consumption? Britain is our greatest market, and no one will say that Britain can be prepared to double her consumption of our products at short notice. On tho other hand, the doubling of our output does not express the limit of our producing powet. The difference between our polity and the polity of Britain is that while we strain every nerve for the increase of our agricultural and pastoral output, the same effort is put forth by them for arresting tho agricultural decadence that has distinguished the past and is making dismal the present. One of the two objects of the reform proposed by the Liberal Government in tho land system of Britain is the

increase of the agricultural yield of the Kingdom, and if possible the production of sufficient food to meet tho wants of the population, so that tho nation may not be in danger of famine every time there is war with a European Power. What will happen to our products -if that object is attained ? To say tho least, we shall be looking round for now markets with more hurry than pleasure. It is for the people of New Zealand to take thought of this contingency. They can realise that the Panama Canal opens tho American East to them, as we showed on a recent occa sion. The markets are immense and tho consumers rich enough to pay for their liking and of taste sufficient to coniine tneir attention to the best. The great point is that tho now American Tariff is a new fact —the governing factor in tho commerce of tho future. In the light of this fact, theio shines tho hope of not only the absorption of all the produce of our growing agriculture, but tho substitution eventually of a new outlet for the market of Britain filled to overflowing by the producers of Britain herself. The immediate future in such a market is substantial enough to make us strain eveiy nervo to secure success, and the remote future may carry in its hands the issue to us of life and death. This opening does not concern country people solely. The merchants and the manufacturers are much interested in the capture of tho new market. To mention one manufactured article alone, there is no woollen in all the States like the nigs of the Pc to no and Kaiapoi factories, and no flannel and no blanket or hosiery of wool which can compare with the product of New Zealand mills. We commend the matter to tho Chamber of Commerce, the Farmers’Dnion, and the New Zealand Dairy Association. Between them these three ought to be able to start an agitation and maintain it to successful issue. They have a Government which has hinted that it would. not be averse to having its hands forced in this matter. What tho Government seems to lack is inspiration and confidence. The people can supply the deficiency.