The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA" MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1913. CHANGING CONDITIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 19897, 15 September 1913, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA" MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1913. CHANGING CONDITIONS.

What the "British Australasian" de.sscribes as the most striking economic fact of modern times is the ever-grow-ing independence of the civilised ana partly-civilised races, of the thickly and the thinly populated countries oi the world. Although particularly noticeable in regard to the supply of foodstuffs, including meat, fish, and dairy products as well as cereals, a similar tendency is also observable in regard to various raw commodities, such as wool and cotton, now so" universally in demand as to rank among the necessaries of life. The point emphasised by the "British Australasian" is that for a, continuous, adequate supply of the products which furnish the food and clothing of the people, the eyes of tho older communities are turning more and more towards the younger countries, especially those of vast area, with great possibilities of increased production and development. It is a truism to say that for many years past Great Britain has been drawing a growing percentage of her foodstuffs from overseas. For half a century or so she has not been able to feed herself, to use a homely phrase, and her dependence upon foreign countries for a sufficiency constitutes what many eminent publicists consider the most pressing and critical economic and political problem of the day. But it may possibly come as a surprise to many, to loam how the United States of America, onco regarded —and, that, too, "omp.iratively recently—as the great provision store, so to speak, of the world, have now to look abroad for the wherewithal to feed their own millions. Yet the annual report of the British Consul-General at New York leaves no room for doubt that such is the caso. Consumption has outstripped production. Reviewing the changes which have occurred during tho period 1902-11, the Consul-General points out that the exports of wheat products dropped from over 334,700,000 to 69,300,000 bushels; imports increased from 120,000 to over 1,100,000 bushels, whilst production decreased by over 113,300,000 bushels. During the same period and the calend-

ar year 1912 r thero.-w i a& a^so a marked | and in some *ca*es a "ivapio! decrease in the exports of meat and dairy products. The imports of foodstuffs, on the other hand, have steadily increased, particularly in live cattle, butter, cheese, and fish. The experience of Great Britain i- apparently about to have a counterpart in that of the United States. This economic revolution is finding legisla-* tivo expression in the Wilson Tariff Bill, which may be regarded as a recognition and admission of the fact that the United States are no longer selfcontained and self-sustaining, but, like Great Britain, must in future draw a portion —and probably "an increasing proportion —of their supplies from oth■er lands. " This," says our London contemporary, "emphasises the possibilities which the Wilson Tariff Bill will, if passed, open to the producers of Australia and New Zealand. Both the Commonwealth and the Dominion are passing through economic changes, the effect of which is to over-centralise their population in consuming rather than producing areas; but, in all human likelihood, many years will elapse ere the home demand outstrips, or even equals, the local supply. There are numerous indications that for years to come a surplus —and an increasing surplus—of food and other products will be available • for export. Science and*enterprise have aone much to neutralise the disadvantage of the geographical isolation of the Austral Dominions; artificially chilled air has rendered possible the safe conveyance of perishable produce from one side of tho globe to the other; capital will readily be forthcoming to establish new, and extend old, industries; and while it by no means follows that Australia and New Zealand must- remain mere primary producers to the neglect of the higher branches of human activity, yet it is unquestionably in the former sphere, and upon their readiness and ability to avail themselves of the golden opportunities which changing conditions offer, that their success, progress, and prosperity rest and depend. Pastoral, agricultural, and dairying pursuits indicate not only the line of least resistance, but the direction in which the largest, speediest, and most profitable development is possible. An undue anxiety to create and expand manufacturing industries will retard rather than facilitate material advancement-"