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 IT. 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 
