PRIMARY PRODUCTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1862, 23 September 1913, Page 10

PRIMARY PRODUCTIONS.

A NOTABLE YEAR,

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS;

MINISTER'S REVIEW.

Primary producers havo had a year or encouraging- prosperity, according to the annual report of the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Tourists. '•The past year," the Minister for f ,'\griculturc (the Hon. F. Massey) "states in his annual report, "was noteworthy for the favourable conditions attending plant and animal production, except in one or two isolated instances. Combined with this, solid advancement must bo recorded in tho methods of production, resulting in a. greatly increased toll of wealth being extracted from New Zealand soils. Associated as I havo been all my life with farming, it is particularly gratifying to me to witness evidences on every hand of improved methods. Tho New Zealand farmer is keeping fully abreast of the times. He is realising the necessity of a closer study of his business, a fact clearly indicated by the keen manner in which he is co-operating with my Department in tho co-operative rield experimental campaign. The important industry to this country of stock-breed-ing has always been in capable hands, and no pioneers of Empire have displayed more enterprise and keener discrimination in selecting tho best blood of the Old Land, both in establishing their flocks and herds and in bringing theso to their present" high standard of excellence. Especially praiseworthy has been this work when it is remembered that in no other country is the cost of importing live stock from Britain so great."

The Minister commends the work,of hfrd-book societies and states that it will give riso to a new era for the dairy industry of this country, especially as tho definite advancement in productive type thereby made possible will proceed hand in hand' with improved system of feed and management, which are now becoming more general in dairying districts. Ths Pastoral Industry. "The pastoral industry of the Dominion," the report proceeds, "is on a solid foundation. It has been declared that tho limit of our production of mutton and wool has been reached, but the critics have spoken in tho absence oi a proper knowledge of the position. Not only have we not reached the limit of our production, but tho field for expansion is considerable, particularly in the hinterland of the North Island, where forests have yet to bo subdued and country specially suitable for sheep has still to bo utilised.

"A noteworthy fact in connection with our sheep industry is the bringing into use of special fodder crops to take the place of turnips and 'rape, which are often precarious crops b.v reason of blight. Silver-beet, introduced bv tho Agricultural Department, is proving an admirable substitute for these. Given cultivation of. the right variety and" proper management of the crop, silver-beet promises to bo invaluable for winter feed and for fattening purposes." *

The. Minister goes on to emphasise tho necessity of conserving the national supplies of raw materials. Tho wastage of nature's bounties taking place, ho states, is prodigious and alarming. The oniy attempts being mado to stem this waste are by agricultural education, and by such services as tho construction of forest? to which may. be added tho conserving of water-power. "Wo have already arrived at tho stage," the Minister continues, "when better use must bo mado of the land in occupation, not only by bringing largo grazing tracts under tho influence of tho plough, but by staying depletion of the virgin fertility on tho cutlivated lands, and adopting sane methods of maintaining their productive capacity. Not only must every tiller of the soil bo brought to a Jrealisation of his duty towards his country and posterity, but the national conscience requires awakening to the importance of any public undertaking to this end, for the soil is "tho one unfurling; national resource, the sole asset that does not perish, because it contains within itself, if not abused, the possibility of infmito renewal.'" Tho Rural Exodus. "One great problem of the day facing tho public men of all nations," the report continues, "especially in , the countries of tho Old World, is tho steady drift of. the rural population towards the towns, tho best blood and sinew—tho vital material for tho defence of country and maintenance of race —deserting the soil to enter tho workshops, of great cities.".

111 this connection tho Minister quotes the finding of tho - Rural Life Commission sot up by ex-President Roosevelt in the United Statek of America. Tho general and immediate needs of country life wero thus summarised from the findings of the Commission by ex-President Roosevelt: (1) Effective co-operation among farmers to put them on a level with the organised interests with which they do business ; (2) a new kind of school in the country, which shall teach the children as much outdoors as indoors, and perhaps more, so that they will preparo for country life, and not, as at present, mainly for life,in tho town; (3) better means of communication, including good roads, tlio rural telephone, and a parcel post ; (4) to these may be added, better,sanitation. Mention is also made in tho report of efforts that arc being made in England and in France to regenerate country life. Markets and Tariffs. After mentioning the favourable returns in different primary industries during the year, the report goes on to state that while nothing has occurred to weaken the position of London as tho world's, greatest market, tho increasing inability of the farmers of other countries to meet the local demand for food supplies is presenting fresh avenues of trade, which promise to bo, temporarily at least, moro remunerative than the London connection; while there is a growing feeling among somo of our producers that other ports than London will prove more satisfactory for reaching British consumers. Tho new American tariff promises to have a still further expanding effect on our export trade, and indirectly to strengthen tho position of New Zealand cheese on British markets. ' With wool, meat, and dairy produco on the free list, the effect on our wool trade should be highly boneficial, our meat will have a new and important outlet, and Canadian cheese exports to Britain will probably decline, even moro than they have been doing of recent years, with tlio improved market for Canadian butter which the United States will now afford.

"What is taking place in the United States of America may not improbably bo iho forerunner of a world-wide movement in favour of the removal of Customs and other restrictions against foodstuffs. In the loading nations of the Northern Hemisphere, tho non-producer is increasing out of proportion to-tho producing population, and tho consequent. expanding cost of foodstuffs is emphasising tho importance of removing tariff barriers on tho necessaries of life. An Assured Future. "The New Zealand farmer has, therefore." the Minister concludes, "every rr»son tp regard the future ivitli cojifldone*." His markota are assured, aud.

if lie supply the oversea consumer with high-class products, ho may rely on obtaining satisfactory values for them. With the ever-expanding closer settlement of our country, the volume of our e.rports is also growing—n direct advuntago to the primary producer, as any increase in the land and /sea carriage of goods means a corresponding improved opportunity for securing moro economical handling; while, with an expanding export, better marketing facilities for the produco of the Dominion will probably result. The splendid development taking place in all our agricultural and allied industries is a most gratifying sign. It presages a splendid futuro for our country, for it is thereby fast approaching the ideal of tTib nationbuilder—a contented and prosperous community of freehold husbandmen."