DOMINION’S FINANCE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 87, 17 August 1923, Page 5

DOMINION’S FINANCE

“ **A HIVE OF INDUSTRY.” MR MASSEY’S SATISFACTIONj Per Press Association. Wellington, August Id. I ‘There is nothing to boast of In; connection with tne public accounts for the first four months of tins year,’’ remarked the Prime Minister to a deputation from Dun emu to-day, “but they are quite satisfactory.” “The count y is a hive of industry,” ho auaed, “otherwise we would not be able to export products of so enormous vaiue, There is plenty of encouragement in this for , the Government to take a little risk in reducing taxation, and umess something uuioraceu happens, even with what we are doing, w« should have a balance on the right side at the end of the year.” The Prime Minister supported hia optimistic references with a declaration that it was simply marvellous how Hie trade of New Zealand had developed. His attention had been, called to tins phase by Sir George Fenwick quoting the imports and exports for tho year 1922. “1 can dQ beTrer,” "remarked Air Massey, wh« said thai. eleven years ago the Dominion’s exports were between £22,000,000 and £23,000,000 in value, while the latest figures regarding our exports sowed a total to June 30 of £48,916,216. If the exports and imports were taken together, it could be shown, ho thought, that the trade per head of the population in New Zealand was a wo! M’s record, possibly only excelled by Holland. The latter country might be close up, but he did not think it could beat New Zealand’s record of last year.