PROSPERITY EVIDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 4

PROSPERITY EVIDENCE.

MORE PURCHABINQ POWER. MINISTER QUOTES FIGURES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI, Friday. The Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, opened the winter show here last night. There were record entries and attendance. The Minister quoted figures showing the development of the Dominion in the past year, comparing the figures with those of the previous year. The increase in exports was £10,000,000 and in imports £10,000,000 and also there were 266 more factories. Production was £10,500,000 more and 7000 more people employed in industries were paid £1,500,000 more wages. The wages bill for the whole Dominion for tlie past two years had increased by £10,000.000. Public works were employing 22.000 against 13,000 a year ago and the railways were employing 3300 more and the Post and Telegraph Department 1000 more. Seventeen thousand more pensioners were receiving £2,000.000 more than the previous year. All of this was increasing purchasing power. Mr Langstonc said 27,000 more motor-cars were sold this year than the previous year. For April this year more motor vehicles were sold than in the whole of 1933. There were 49,000 more radios than a year ago. Mr Langstone met a large gathering of natives at Kakahi yesterday when they unanimously agreed to hand over 10,000 acres of land for a native settlement and development scheme.