TEMPERATE SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS 77 



TABLE SHOWING VALUES OF VARIOUS CLASSES OF NEW ZEALAND 



EXPORTS, 1892-1915. 



In the 20 years, 1892-1912, the exports of animal foodstuffs rose 

 from 15% to 36% of the total exports by values, and their combined 

 value was more than five times as great in 1912 as in 1892. This 

 should be compared with the increase in the value of wool exports 

 during the same period. It will be seen that the 1912 figure was less 

 than twice that of 1892. Hence the exports of animal foodstuffs 

 have increased nearly three times as fast as wool exports, which 

 shows clearly that the country has changed its animal industries 

 from a predominant extensive to a predominant intensive pastoral 

 form. The value of the wool exported in 1892 was over three times 

 that of the animal foodstuffs, while in 1912 it was actually smaller 

 than the latter. 



The detailed figures of exports (not given above) show that while 

 during the period 1902-12 butter and cheese exports together 

 increased more rapidly than meat exports, the increase in them 

 is due more to cheese than to butter, the exports of cheese by 

 weight having increased no less than nearly eight times in the ten 

 years. 1 



All the facts above noted are explained by the present stage in 

 the progress of New Zealand agriculture. During the 20 yeais 

 1891-1911, the area of cultivated land (including land under so\\i\ 

 grasses) rose more rapidly per inhabitant than the area of holdings. 

 The country is now reaping the benefit of pioneer work in forest- 

 clearing of an earlier decade. It has been shown that the remaining 

 areas of unoccupied land are now small, and, though considerable 

 areas of " stump " land may yet come into cultivation, limits to 

 the expansion in the area of productive land are in sight. The 

 refrigerator and the separator, together with an advanced system of 



1 The exports of cheese from New Zealand have continued to expand 

 rapidly since 1912, and promise to do so further in the future. See Report 

 of H.M. Trade Commissioner for New Zealand, 1916, p. 10. 



