MR. MASSEY AND THE FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1992, 24 February 1914, Page 6

MR. MASSEY AND THE FARMERS.

ENCOURAGING ADDRESS AT PUKEKOHE.

COLD STORAGE FOR FRUIT. | ■ ! (By Tclesraph.—Specfe! Cs>rreapond*ht.l Auckland, February 23. The Prime Minister (tho Right Hon. W. F. Massey) can talk as a practical farmer to the farmers. At a gathering at the Pukekoii Show..on Saturday he spoke of agricultural matters. Hesaid .he had predicted that the exports from New Zealand .would reach a value of £2.5,000,000, and he was confident that this prediction, -would be verified, 'Die important point was .that most of the exports came- from the, soil. (Applause.) In New Zealand they .would have to look to the'land .for at least a.century to come,.and, therefore, every onconragement should be given to the producers. The Land and Its Yield. As Minister of and. Agriculture', ■said.Mr. Massey, it .Was. ! his duty-to encourago the settlement of tire-land by providing access to holdings, raflway facilities, and better roads. All' his colleagues were giving him tho/greatest help in this direction,- and the re-suit was already visible in the increased exports. (Applause;) Mr. went on to say that tho Go'vonuneiit was doing rnoro for ;scicntin'c farming thaii had ever been'<Joho. in New- Zealand before. . (Applause.) 'Bio Government was 6imply following tho example of bther countries, iiftd a : Board" of Agriculture 'was bcitig set lip to advisethe, Minister oh matters'cbhnectfed with agriculture.' The.'Board woiald coiisist of tiyolvomcmbeft. -Already fii-e-iiad been elected; leavihg three mora to bo elected. It would tften bo his diity to appoint the remaining four mcmbWs. ■He looked fbrwari] to. tfi'e Boafd proving bfinimcnse behent, hot only to ' the Minister but also -,to air those ohga'ged in the agricultural industry; The question'of the payment of compensation to farmers foj condemned cattle had also, continued Mr. Massey, been considered by his Department. Itwas recognised that the present compensation paid was altogether of pro» portion to the value of. the animals condemned, and he .had--.therefore asked Parliament to increase the.compensation from £8 to £12 per animal. (Applause.) ■- The Frytt Industry/ The Prime Minister then made reference to the importance of the fruit industry in the Dominien. The -value ef the export trade, ho said, was not /yet properly realised. Last year, tho cs* port of fruit had been doubled, and would be doubled again this year, There was an Unlimited market ■in South America for apples,- and. tino'-of the difficulties hitherto 'experienced by' the fruitgrower's -Was the Want of capital to provide for cold storage and,canning- establishrneiits. "I atfced for'the! sum of £.25,000 from Parliaiinojit to provide those convenieiices, aiid il\p, money was ftraiitcd. • lit a very feir w'eeks ili'o' mouoy will be available, and with the. provision of the cold storage and canning establishments, apples may be kept in good condition the whole year round, and orchardists will thtvs be able, to get better returns tha.n formerly." (Applause.) Concluding bis speech* Mr. Massey said that 1 reference, had, been made to the fact that he. had been a farter. Ho could assure thein he was still g. farmer, and was proud of it, (Applause.) Therefore., he would not forget the farmer, aiiid would irever losssight of-the agricultural industry. (Ap-' plause.) •