The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 19', 1914. A RECORD YEAR FOR FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2180, 19 June 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 19', 1914. A RECORD YEAR FOR FARMERS

The meetings of farmers at Palmerston North _ in connection with" the National Dairy Bhov? have been characterised by o tone of braeing optimism which indicates that things are going well with the. mAn on the land. The dwellers in the cities have every reason. lorsatkfao" tion in the knowledge that there is a strong demand for onr meat, wool, and dairy produce in the markets of the. world, for they fcaow that the centres of population. Burst enjoy a substantial share of the general prosperity.. The varion-s discu-Sstotts that have, taken pjac? at Palmers ton North during the present week show that the spirit of enterprise is abroad. The New Zealand farmers arc not content to rest Upon their oars, but arc inclined to Wee the pace a bit.' They have-been doing well Recently, but they 6ccm determined to do still bettor, and ai'Q thinking out and _ planning now schemes for increasing the quality and quantity of their oittpwfc, and getting the best possible prices for their exports. This-, of course, must depend largely on improved methods of production, better means of distribution, and the opening of new markets. The present time is one of unusual_ activity from all these points of view, -n-nci the nea* future will probably, sec a marked inenjaso in the expansion of our export trade. During tlie year ending on April ,18 last the splendid total of £24,233,422 was attained for our cultural produce iieing, of course, responsible for by far the greatest share—and the increase yver the previous year was no los 3 than £1,g04,815, This is it im'igtiHteftnl rerorii for a young country Villi A population of little over n million; but it can be improved upon, and both the Government and thu fjirmcfs seem dcteriniiied to inakft a vigorotiii effort, along carefully IboUglst-out lines, to make the vp'vy miwt'of the agricultural possihilttiVs of the «m«. try. It is not ennugh in tlwfte days to put. the people on the land, and leave them Ihern without re.urmabSj? facilities, in the way of roads, i-aii-ways, and other tbiisjp irtccwajy toenable them to make the best use- of.

their holdings, . and get their produce to market; The most effective way of chocking the overgrowth of the towns, as compared with the rural districts, is to plan* within reach of the settlers as many as possible of the, comforts and conveniences of civilisation- which are at present enjoyed by those w/to live in the populous' centres. A good deal is already-' being done in this direction, but still more will have to be done. Tins is one of, the matters to which . the new Board of Agriculture will probably give its attention.

The Prime Minister's speech all the official opening of the- Show was I in complete harmony with the pre-! vailing spirit of _ hope and confidence. He w?s in the happy position of being able to quote "figures ! which completely upset the gloomy predictions of the anti-Reform, pessi-i mists, who never tired -of telling the i people of the terrible things whichwould happen if ever the Reform Party should obtain control of the! Administration. A convincing reply to thesj forebodings is con-: fcained in the PftiME JtolsiEii's sat- ■ isfactory declaration that—"We are able to congratulate ourselves, not' only from the farmer's point of view, but from the standpoint of the Dominion as a- .whole, that the ■ exports this year Were a, record in almost every article of produce/' He was not so foolish as to claim that this gratifying state of affairs was entirely duo to tfe action 'of the Government, but the- Reform Party is quite entitled to claim that the facts disclosed by the export statfJfcies aits a complete answer to the. concerted cry of tire Opposition tbat the advent -of Reform to power would put .a check upon the prosperity of. the eonmtry. Moreover, the Government Ran justly ■ assert that it has.done something to help and encourage the eottntry settlor's, and that its agricultural policy has been a real factor in the attaiftment ofHie' splendid position which the figures disclose, 'When, we look for-; ward the prospect is most heartening. Aa. unusual number of new and promising lines of advance have : recently been opening o-trfc before us. The tariff has prepared t-ho way for great possibilities of trade with the United State and the value of this avenue' of commence will ho to some' extent enhanced by the opening of the Fans,-' ma Canal, which will give- our products -access to the Basbern ports of North America. Canada- is not, at present able to do much more thaa -supply the wants ©.f its own. papulation in the way of dairy produce. This will remove a powerful competitor in outside niarfanV itnd shoald increase the demand for New i Zealand's exports. It is also possible- that before'Ve-ry long the, German Government- will' remove soma of the barriers which at present- shut out the. agricultural products of other nations, and if so, there is no reason why we should not bo able to Establish a, profitable trad* with Germany, Rut our trade with Britain will still overshadow that with any of out other easterners. It has been built- up o*l firm foundations,* and it is capable of great expansion in .many direcWhile L&ndon will probably remain the principal port for our shipments, something will no doubt ■be, done to extend o&r trade- with fflt-hcr Rritjsb''ports. The trend of events ja' this, connection is fodi- / caied in a ■-cslegra.in published in. arßcrfctejf which states that our High Commissioner, speaking at the opening of thn preliminary section, of bite new deck at .Hid]{ declared that direct shipments from . New_ Zealand would involve a re'.rfetfen h freight rates and loss risk of the deterioratioii of protte cargoes, The present is <a time of 'great possibilities., and it is not surprising the farmers of the Dominion, gives Squad and- prudent gflwßflacnt, are . looking forward with eoundeftee to a further qufcltenfug of the pace of prosperity.