We have said that the exports from New Zealand during 1888 show an excess over imports of about two millions sterling, and that the figures in one sense maybe regarded as highly satisfactory. They are satisfactory not only as showing increased productive power, but as proving to our detractors at Home that we have the capacity to pay our way in spite of the persistent efforts which have been made to create a feeling of d___ro_t in tho colony. These repeated attacks upon New Zealand have admittedly prevented people from coming here and settling amongst üb, and So the flow of capital belonging to- fresh settlers has been diminished. As a consequence of this, and of a 1 determination od the part of the trading community to confine imports within the narrowest limits, dur imports have not only not incz-ased in proportion to our.exports, they i_ave actually diminished com pared with previous years. For tbe time being we have, in fact, been approaching the position that aa old settled country would occupy that had a large foreign debt and was able to pay its way. We are showing that we can pay our way/ There is, however, not the slightest iqSggce of the efforts made at Home to ; _jojj__>W New Zealand succeeding. The amatele fact that we have managed to largely increase our exports and. diminish our im ports must produce the natural result. It w_i .show 1 thai New Z_____fd tia possessed of rawttrces, which are out of a_ propt. rtwn to the burden of 6_r _i____tit____.' _fce_e~ facts become thoroughly known to in vestors and intending immigrants, we may expect to see the colony take its place as one of the most attractive fields of settlement in the Empire. Capital and population will- then flow in in such abundance as not only to further increase the volume of exports, but at the same time to largely augment the value of our imports.
