The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1922. THE FRANKLIN DISTRICT.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 713, 10 March 1922, Page 4

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1922. THE FRANKLIN DISTRICT.

“We nothing extenuate, nor aught set down in malice.”

The pinch of hard times is being felt in a great many quarters in the Dominion at the presents time, but it is a remarkable fact that, speaking broadly, the district of Franklin has scarcely been affected. Of course, in common with outside dairying interests, the drop in butter-fat has been felt by dairymen but the prosperity of the distinct as a whole, lias not been unduly affected. The main reason for this is no doubt, the varied farming interests that >' :o l:'m can boast of. Dairying is

an important phase, but in addition to that industry cropping of various sorts is a feature of the district. Another important factor is that Franklin in the main, is a district of small holdings. Experience lias taught that it is better to farm fifty acres well than have two hundred acres badly farmed. As the years go on, the tendency will be for the growth of the small holding. An speaking at Cambridge about two years ago at a gathering of dairy farmers, made the assertion that in fifty years’ time a fifty acre farm in the Waikato would be considered something fairly big. He may not prove a true prophet, but at the same time he may be a near prophet. The proximity of Franklin to Auckland' and its markets, its cheaper freights, and its responsive soil, all tend to keep up the prosperity of this really remarkable district, even when the prosperity of the country is popularly supposed to be under a cloud 1 . We claim that no district in the Dominion is more stable at the present time, or is making faster headway than Franklin. Yet there is still room for more farmers, more businesses, more settlers of all. kinds. When the tide of immigration sets in from the Old World, Franklin will be one of the first districts to respond to new capital and new endeavour. The district is sound to the core, and the fact that it has in no sense been a “boom’* district, permits it to weather comfortably the financial stress that is so severely trying many less favoured ditricts in the Dominion.