PROGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 50

PROGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND.

REVIEW FOR PAST DECADE. A SPLENDID RECORD. Some interesting particulars illustrating the progress ot the dominion during the past decade, were given by Mr Massey in placing tire Financial Statement before the House of Representatives on the 3rd. In the course ot his remarks Mr Massey said : '“Notwithstanding that during the past decade the dominion has been passing through crises of various kinds more severe and trying than any before experienced in its history, a general survey of tne period 19a2-13 to 1922-23 proves conclusively that most satisfactory progress has been made in all the normal activities of New Zealand. During the period the population, including Natives, has increased by 213,709 or 19 per cent, The total trade, which per head of population is the highest in the world, increased by £37,514,849. or 83 per cent. Exports of frozen meat increased 37 per cent, in volume and 115 per cent, in value; wool by 71 per cent, in volume *ind 67 per cent, in value; butter by 196 per cent, in volume and 333 per cent, in value cheese by 101 per cent, in volume and 179 per cent., in value. The total exports of the dominion ior the year ended March 31, ISI3, were £23,047,296, while for the year ended March 31, 1523, they were no less than £45,548,700 an increase of £22,501,404, or 98 per cent. This is a splendid testimony to the productive power of New Zealand. The well-being of the people has been promoted by the greatly improved social services which have been provided through the increased subsidies for education, public health, and free pensions to which I have already referred. Greater facilities have also been provided through tile Post and telegraph Department : there are now 4300 more miles of telegraph and telephone lines than in 19..3, being an increase of 30 tier cent, during the period, while the telegraph and telephone wire in use increased by no less than 189,601 miles, or 213 per cent. In 1913 there were 32,252 telephone subscribers, while in 1923 the number is 82,459, an increase of 50,207, or 156 per cent. Continued attention has been paid to the need for opening up the country and improving the means of communication in country districts. The annual Government expenditure on roads and bridges. in 1913 was £337,585, while in 1923 it amounted to £643,156, an increase of £305,571, or 91 per cent. “While carefully managing the country's affairs, with due regard to the health and comfort of the people, the Government has not overlooked the necessity for developing the waste spaces of the dominion. During the decade 164 miles of water-races have been constructed for irrigation purposes, representing an increase of 193 per cent, on that previously in existence. The area of land drained in connection with the swamp-drainage operations of the Government was increased from 30,010 to 172,358 acres, an increase of 142,348 acres, or 474 per cent.”