WEALTH FROM LAND

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 17

WEALTH FROM LAND

YEAE'S ACTIVITY

INCREASED PRODUCTION

Increased production brought about by improved farming practices is referred to in.-the annual report of the Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C. J. Beakes), presented to Parliament yesterday. The value of the work performed by the Department is briefly outlined by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. A. J. Murdoch) in a preface to the report.

"The reports of the Director-General and heads of Divisions," said the Minister, "outline a -wide range of effective ■work.for the benefit of our agricultural industries. The remarkable expansion recorded in the country's flocks and hords, and the substantial increase in production of our main staples of dairy produce, meat, and wool, are due mainly to improved grassland farming practice, and to better animal husbandry nud hygiene. In the promotion of these matters, as well as in the development of the fruitgrowing industry, the-De-partment has given an excellent lead. iAs regards dairying, herd-testing has been an important factor. The Department with its strongly established organisation, and wide resources and exporieno.o, is keeping well to the fore in I agricultural research and instruction. Good fundamental work is being done at many points, and in applied agricultural science New Zealand is achieving an acknowledged place. This cannot fail to assist our primary industries in the world trade competition which, under present conditions, steadily grows more intense.

"The year has been marked by a more or less heavy decline in world prices for the primary products which form our main export staples. It is seldom indeed that such an all-round simultaneous fall has occurred, the more common experience being a balancing of one commodity against another in market fluctuations. But although a general downward trend or reversion of values seems to be establishing itself, a fair recovery in certain products, such as wool, may be anticipated. While the position can be regarded with reasonable optimism, it certainly calls for serious study and action at every weak point capable of amelioration. Due provision "will be made to enable the Department of Agriculture to take its full part in this respect.'' STOCK INCREASES. The report states that during the j^ear sheep increased by 1,917,572, as compared with' the previous year, and cattle of all classes by 172,021. The increase in dairy cows alone was 18,665. ■lv the case of swine, however, it was regrettable that a decrease of 30,166 had occurred. Horses also decreased by 5174. "The large increase in the number of sheep," the report states, "and ■the noticeable increase in the number of cattle, can be regarded as mainly due to the great improvement in. farming .practice which has come about by the increased use. of fertilisers and by better grassland management. . . As regards pigs it is a matter for regret that they have decreased in number, especially as the prices received for porkers and bacon pigs exported to the [United Kingdom proved to be payable, and havo been still better during the season now in progress. The position of the pig industry demands special attention." It is recorded that the value of dairyproduee exported has attained to a very high proportion of the value of New Zealand's total products. For the year under review the value of dairy produce exports represented £18,842,9*94 out of ■n total export of £49,045,517, or 35.4 per cent.

The report states that the fruit export industry continues to make satisfactory progress. The' export figures for the 1929 season, although somewhat lower than those of the previous season, "were the second highest on record, and The prices realised were quite satisfactory to the producer. The 1930 apple crop has been the heaviest so far recorded, aiid the fruit generally is of excellent appearance and condition. It is stated that the season's export will no doubt constitute a record.