284 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



been made at investigation into social and economic 

 questions, except for political purposes, and these are 

 largely valueless, since the investigators, for the most 

 part, have been imbued with prejudice, and are content 

 with superficial views. It is claimed, therefore, for 

 this essay that it is one of a number of similar investi- 

 gations undertaken comparatively recently, for the 

 purpose of disseminating wider knowledge of the 

 economic and social problems of the country, the 

 possession of which should be the duty and privilege 

 of every citizen. 



2. The Importance of the Wheat Industry 

 to New Zealand. 



The preceding pages have shown, if nothing else, 

 the relative importance of the wheat industry, and the 

 rural industries generally, in our industrial sphere. 

 There is no need to recapitulate the qualifications of 

 New Zealand for the pursuit of wheat growing. We 

 have already discussed these fully, and made interest- 

 ing comparisons with conditions prevalent in other 

 countries, in Chapters II. and III. They lie chiefly in 

 a salubrious climate, a rich fertile soil, a well-developed 

 means of transportation and communication, an intelli- 

 gent and efficient population, and lastly, a good system 

 of democratic government. It is primary production 

 which this country is most suitably adapted for; in 

 fact, it is upon the great primary industries agricul- 

 tural and pastoral together with the extractive indus- 

 tries, that we depend for national existence. The 

 dreams of those who advocate the establishment of 

 manufactures on a large scale cannot, in the normal 

 course of affairs, be realised for generations ; for we must 

 of necessity make large annual importations of materials 

 for the internal development of our country, and this 

 brings upon us the obligation of exporting each year 

 products of at least equivalent value. Moreover, the 



