STOCK-RAISING IN SOUTH TARANAKI.

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 15 June 1933, Page 4

STOCK-RAISING IN SOUTH TARANAKI.

Striking reminders that South Taranaki, despite the slump, is still a richly productive part, of New Zealand, have been offered by news items which have appeared in our column's recently recording the export of stock from this district. Last week it was announced that, a consignment of eleven pedigree Clydesdales purchased locally had been shipped for Tasmania; yesterday it was announced that some 550 head of dairy cattle-, valued at approximately £3OOO, were being railed from Hawera this week for various part's of the North Island. These figures do- not represent the whole of the sales which have taken place during the current stock-buying season, but nevertheless the two news items referred to come as a very welcome reminder of the important part this province plays in building up the reputation of this Dominion as a stockraising country. These, facts should be borne in mind by those among- us w T ho are inclined to concentrate wholly upon the worst side of things when contemplating the outlook for South Taranaki. In this part of the Dominion we live so close to the dairy industry and are the centre of so much controversy on cheese quality and cheese prices, and on farming and manufacturing methods, ■that we are apt to overlook the evidence that lies to hand to prove that the abilities and energies of. all our farmers are not absorbed •entirely in the production of milk for cheese-making. Thanks to our climatic and soil advantages and to the •enthusiasm of breeders, this district, is drawn upon very largely to fill the cattle requirements, both in pedigrees and grades, of other dairying districts. Taranaki holds a high place in the esteem of other parts of the Dominion for its success in this sphere of stock breeding; five province needs no “boosting” on that account outside its own boundaries, but within its own confines there are some , people who stand, in need of reminding that the prevailing slump lias not robbed Taranaki of its advantages, natural and acquired, nor has it caused; buyers of our 'Stock to lose faith in our province. The fact that a buyer acting on behalf of overseas interests should purchase so. heavily of Clydesdale hou-ses bred in this district is a special compliment to

our breeders. The production of high

quality dairy stock is a natural consequence in a dairying country where the farmers are also enthusiastic husbandmen. But the presence of pedigree heavy horses is not a consequence of the ordinary farming operations of the district, inasmuch as this is not a ploughing and cropping country. The breeding of Clydesdales in the heart of this dairying country has been a deliberately separate undertaking and it has been carried on with such success •that locally bred stock can win awards at the Sydney Royal Show and find purchasers on the other side of the Tasman.. These are facts which should not. bo disregarded when the depression complex becomes -too heavy to be borne comfortably. or when the .propaganda issued on behalf of other districts offers allurement.