PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17472, 5 June 1922, Page 6

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

MR MASSEY IN THE SOUTH. In the course of an interview last evening, Mr Massey gave the impression that his trip through Otago and Southland had not caused him to relinquish his optimistic views as regards the fuiure of the country. He had, he said, found that the feeling amongst the Southern producers was quit© good compared with the position six months ago, though the farmers were somewhat disappointed at the damage suffered by the crops through the wet weather in Southland. While in the South he had riot had any instances of unemployment brought before him, though he had no doubt that unemployment existed to some extent there. He had attended tho Dunedin Show, and he could say that the exhibits were particularly good. During his tour through the Southern provinces, he had met a good number of farmers, and nearly all were in good heart. Sheepfarmers were gratified at the improvement in the price of wool. There had been a satisfactory increase in dairying in Otago during recent years, and though _ prices were not 60 good as those ruling eighteen months ago, they compared well with pre-war prices. The change in the conditions of tenure of sheep-country had been referred to appreciatively by farmers. This question of tenure, as it affected Taieri, Canterbury, and part of Southland, had been investigated two years ago by a Commission composed of practical men, and farmers could now secure longer leases. Under tlie old system the carrying capacity of the hillCountry runs had dropped 30 or 40 per cent, in 30 years, but this had now been rectified, and, speaking for himself, he expected to see the stock-carry-ing capacity considerably improved during the next five years.