SUMMAARY.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 12723, 15 December 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMAARY.

IMPROVING PROSPECT'S.

In* the course of a speech at Mackeitr aie last week, the Minister of Agricidtuie referred hopefully to the outlook for the agricultural industry. The harvest promised to be bountiful, it all went well, and for the . majority of -our produots there should be satisfactory prices. This applied specially to wool, wheat, cheese, and butter.. The unfortunate slump which spoilt last, season's frozen meat trade has disappeared, and if prices have not regained the buoyancy of a year or two ago, they ensure profitable business for the Dominion-, and tlie outlook in this direction! is steadily improving. Mr Mackenzie anticipates that tlie settlers of the Dominion will reap fully £3,000,000 from the increased- price of wool (based on the price in May of last year) and the increased output. - The increase for the year ending ?»larch 31st over the output of the previous year was 22,000,0001b5, and he remarked that the present season promises to mark a stiU greater increase. The Customs returns show striking evidence of the returning prosperity of cur industries. For the first seven months of this year the exports of the country show an. increase in value of more than £2,000,000 over the corresponding period of last year. The difference between imports and exports mark® sound commercial and financial progress. Dealing with the export of wool, in regard to which everything points to a continuance of the preterit satisfactory conditions, the Minister quoted some interesting statistices-.^ The^- total of tho world's flocks r at "the end "of 190S, tics. The total -of the end of 1908, he said, was 482,884,528 as against 522,564,135 in 1893, and during the same period the world's wool-using population had increased from 522,---836,225 in 1895 te 610,391,508 in 1908. The flocks aro thus decreasing, while the users of wool are increasing. It might be interesting to note where decreases in flocks come in. Germany has decreased her flocks from 25,000,---000 to 7,000,000, and France from ' 32,000,000 to 17,000,000. ''I might point out," he continued, "that decreases iv flocks have occurred in these countries to which we have no access for our frozen meat, so that does ;not ease us in that respect.' Another interesting thing to note Is ike change that has taken place in the populations of comparatively new countries, and the' effects on the production and consumption, of their products.-' The United States has not for a considerable period increased her output of wool, whilst her exports of wheat and cattle have enormously diminished. This is due undoubtedly to the fact of the great increase in her home consumption. With her population numbering some. 83,000,000 souls, she has now reached the point of absorbing much of what she produces. On the other hand, the Argentine, with her vast ariiount of undeveloped country, is more than taking the position formerly occupied by the United States in exporting her produots to the markets of Hie world.' The diminishing exports of countries which have hitherto largely supplied the requirements of j Europe, riiean, .of course,. > corre-v ! ponding increase in the demands upon other producers, and offers assured , markets to" those that lay themselves '■ out to supply the standard of produce for- which the markets are clamouring-