THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12581, 11 October 1911, Page 5

THE DOMINION'S TRADE.

LAST YEAR'S OPERATIONS,

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.)

■ WELLINGTON,- this day. ','Pair production, reasonable, remuneration, a contented and progressive community <of farmers is essential to the prosperity of a country, and there is .".Inn id ant evidence that the farmers of Now Zealand are of this type," remarked the "Hon. Thos: Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, m the annual report of the -Department of Agriculture, Commerce ; and Tourists. . ■..■.'■"■> - -The past year was one of gratifying prodnction, notwithstanding '" a <dry : sum-nifi--and. autumn, especially m Rome Ht.uthevn districts. It was •an advantage rather than a drawback m certain bush sections >of ; the>- North Island, as it. enabled excellent burns to be secured, and these on > country the clearing of i which- was '-almost regarded as hopeless. Prices for the bulk of our- staple >prodnets > have *been satiefacbory, • and the year orr the "whole has been one of fair prodwetion -and reasonably remunerative returns; • V ~. ' . .< .. - .. i . \\ , - It< i.^ indeed gratifying to report -that :«»_ the trade for; the year the Dominion has again been able to show an increase, although -.fiot > a great- one. i •■•• :> iThe to'talvaiue of. the exports foi'i the -year*ending -March -3lßt last > was . £21,---!543,900, nsj against £21,491i809'(f0r : the previous "year/" an increase of £52;091, equalling <<24i' per cent. -"This \& eminently Msatiafactaiy, .m view of the •> fact that -the previous year. was, a;»ecordi one m the history 'of the- Dominion's commerce. fThe-inqveaie.in the values ior the year • have" accordingly «otj been so mai - ked"asi m- the • pcevious- year. Owing to -an-'amfortunate winter the wool clips throughout the Dominion were lighter, the .result compafed- with the previous year being a shortage m ■ weight of 21,50557571b5, and m value of £747,221. • On; the other hand it is pleasing to record ->the -following increases m quantities - and values: —

The imports for the year, were valued at £17^713,185,' showing an increase .of £2,359,604 over the previous year. sThe. exports 'show a surplus of £3,830,715 over imports. ' The total trade for the year was .valued at £39,257,085. For the previous .year,. ; it . was valned ;at £36,845,390.' The increase, therefore, m value! of ..trade "was £2,411,695. , i i The,. .values of., exports and imports, .including^ "specie,' for the last six y ( ears was as ; follows :—- '

Dealing ■■■■with the-meat trade, the Minister states *'in- the early -months 'of this year prices receded; and the reason was tho <«ariie» aa tliab- which was largely responsible for <tl\iei' slump of -1908-9, disinclin»ti'on ri to sell -*'< at- ruling rates,- and consequent accumulation of stocks.. Some holders^©! •New Zealand meat' apparently could'JTiot immediately.' clear afc a •profit, and stored' m- anticipation of van improved demand, a dovibtfnl- poliby, especially «'with' perishable goods. (The 'Aigontiuo people/i educated on • American principles,' alloiwed • -their meat to < pass intir oonsunlption, ivreapective of 'rulnig''maa\keW'valuesyv.a policy which enabled them not JWyu to f etain their cortneGtion,'»fb'utviotje*tend it to channels whe've/nufistor^d' meat formerly had a connection, palpably a good thing forvtho Argentine shipper and a bad-one for the Ncyr.Ze«a}And. producer.

,Year, . , Exports. .Imports. , Excess of 1 ' ■'-'•" •' •'.■<■.■<■ Exports. 1905-6 ... £16,267;329 £13,184,086 £3,083,243 1906-7 ... 19,531,588 15.322,046 4,209,642 1907-8 ... , 17,869,354 «18,210,155 340,801 1908-9 ... 17,011,801 16,820,626 191.175 1909-10... "21.491,809 15,353,581 6,138,228 1910:11... '21:543,900 17,713,185 3,830,715 i /, „,w« ,i.. *Excess- of imports.

■ , Value. 'Lamb,,' 'quantity 118,867 cwt. ... ...£371,529 Mutton, 185,520 cwt. ... 360,576 Beef, 21,092 cwt. 48,150 Skin.s 1,430,615 „ 72,724 Hemp. , 4230 tons 32,534 Butter,' 45,874 cwt. 225,682 Cheese, 14,487 ttwt. 30,433 Timber, 8,889-,889 ; sup. Icet 48,786