THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 17th DECEMBER, 1900. THE TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 14815, 17 December 1900, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 17th DECEMBER, 1900. THE TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND

We are probably running little risk of error in saying that every section of the community has felt the benelit of the prosperity which this country has enjoyed during the past few years, and which ifc continues to enjoy in full volume. Evidence need not be sought, it obtrudes itself on every hand, of the improved condition of the people of the colony. While there is thus a strong and well founded impression that " things are prosperous," it is only wheu figures are available that a clear and accurate notion of the progress that is being made can be obtained. Such figures are provided by a sheet of comparative statistics which has just been issued by the RegistrarGeneral. It is impossible not to feel some astonishment at the advance which the tables disclose, and at tho present moment, when the farmers gathered at the show have probably been discussing the position of agricultural products, a brief statement of the results will be acceptable. An examination of the figures cannot but be both useful and interesting. The year ending 30th September, 1900, is compared with that ending 30th September, 1890. Talcing the export of wool first we find that in 1390 the quantity sent away from the colony was 102,52-2,185 lb., and the value of it was £4,206,365. At the end of tho decade the quantity bad risen to 144,829,515 lb. and the value to £4,936,216. The increase in this item of the country's produce within the 10 years just closed has therefore been 42,307,330 lb. or 41-27 p<n- cent. During the same ten years the export of frozen meat lias made vast strides. For the year 1890 the quantity exported in cwis. was 852,753 and this was valued at £1,045,576. By the time the year 1300 was reached the weight exported had risen to 2,065,430 cwts. and the value to £2,327,133. Represented in a single statement the increase in weight has been 1,212,677 cwts., equal to 14221 per cent, while the increase in value has been £1,281,557, or 122-57 per cent. The figures show that the ratio of progress in value has not been pqual to that in quantity. Though these percentages are large those which appear under the heading sheepskins and pelts are oven better. In 1890 2,148,592 sheepskins and pelts were exported, and they were worth £121,686. In 1900 the export was 5,442,962 skins valued at £312,047, giving an increase in number of 3,294,370 and in value of £190,361. Put into per ventages the rise in quantity was equal to 153*33 per cent and that in value 156-44 per cent. In this case it will be observed that the prices have more than kept pace with the increasing export. The most remarkable expansion is that which has occurred in the butter export. The development of this trade is, indeed, phenomenal. From 38,371 cwt. in 1890, the export rose to 162,262cwt. in 1900; and the value in the respective years was £132,576 and £699,909. The difference in quantity represents an increase of no less than 32288 per cent., and in value the increase is equal to 427-93 per cent. While the quantity ex- ' ported his multiplied itself four times in ten years the value has increased five-fold. The figures with respect to cheese are also eminently satisfactory. The export, which was 41,310cwt. in 1890, had risen to 103,796cwt. in 1890, an increase of 62,486cwt., equal to 151-26 per cent. The difference between the respective values was £138,446, equal to 156-18 per cent. The gold export has advanced from 232,6250z5. to 387,66305!5, and the value has increased in almost the same ratio. The output of coal shows an i increase of 337,837 tons, worth £168,919. The aggregate increase which has taken place in the export of the produce of the colony may be shown thus : — 30th Sept., 1900 ... £13,477.966 30th Sept., 1890 ... 9,759,846 £3,718,120 An increase which, put in the form of percentage, is equal to 38-10 per cent. The total imports have increased from £6,371,479 in 1890 to £10,047,332 in 1900, or an increase of 57-69 per cent. Having discussed the exports we may now turn to another series of headings which are of equal import--1 ance to those engaged in agricultural and in pastoral pursuits. The number of occupied holdings when the census of 1891 was taken was 38,178. On the 30th September, 1900, the number was 62,485— an increase of 24,307. The occupied area of land has increased from 31,867,505 acres in 1891 to 34,422,653 acres in 1900, showing that during ten years 2,555,148 acres that were previously unoccupied have been taken up by " owners. In the same period 4,476,037 acres that were formerly in a natural state have been cultivated. The area of land in cultivation in 1891 was 8,039,765 acres, whereas in 1900 it was 12,515,802. The increase in tho area of soil tilled was equal to 5567 per cent as against an increase of 80 18 per cent in the land occupied. It was, of course, not to be expected that cultivation should cover ground at an equal speed with occupation. There is an immense difference between tho two processes, and cultivation ollows occupation with comparative slowness. The relajtion between the two percentages of increase must be regarded as highly satisfactory. Sheep have increased iij number from 16,116,113 in }BUl'to 19,348,006 in April, 1809 ; the flocks of the colony have thus grown larger by 3,232,39tf

sheep, which represents an increase of 2006 per cent. For the year 1899---1900 there were 1,222,139 cattle on pastures as against 831,831 in 1891. Within the limits of the decade 354 miles of railway have been opened for traffic, 1850 miles of telegraph line have been erected, the deposits in the P.O. Savings Bank have increased from £2,441,876 to £5,320,370 (117-88 per cent), and the value of land and improvements has advanced from £122,225,029 in 1891 to £138,591,347 in 1898— an increase of £16,366,318 in seven years. While these figures in some cases show no more than that that progress has been made which might have been expected from an energetic and enterprising people, in other cases they show an expansion in volume which is abnormal, and which must be attributed to unusual circumstances. This colony, in common with other parts of the world, has beyond question experienced a period of prosperity almost unprecedented. There is much difference of opinion as to the causes to which the said prosperity is to be ascribed, but we think that the foundation of it is real. The people of the colony may be congratulated on the progress revealed by tbe statistics we have examined, and at the same time they may be warned not to lose their heads, for there arc not wanting signs that something like a decline, or a lull, is approaching.