AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 December 1911, Page 2

AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE.

Actuotjtu«"R has been well described in the past as the foundation of a nation's greatness, for the reason that it provided the muscle find sinew necessary for a State to succeed in tihe arts of war; but even in these days the importance of agriculture, which permits the arts of peace to flourish, to a nation's welfare is none the. less pronounced. The Journal of the Department of Agriculture (from which we quote) goes on to say that to New Zealand the successful conduct of the rural industries is of special significance, for. handicapped by distance from tih'o world's markets and extending, as we do, to labour better conditions than is the case in older rival countries, the secondary industries must needs play a minor part in the creation of national prosperity, thus leaving to agriculture in a. striking degree to provide the country's wealth. • The successful development of primary industries Keing, therefore, of paramount inmportance to the dominion's welfare, it is gratifying to me to be able to Tecord thai solid advancement is being made in all branches of agricultural activity, the increasing output from the farms of the dominion indicating that improved methods are being adopted and that settlers on new country are rapidly making productive the virgin lands. Our farmers are exhibiting a praiseworthy endeavour to second the efforts of the officers of the Department to breed their stock and produce their crops ion the most advanced principles. They are evidently realising the essential fact that in these days of keen market rivalry it will only pay to produce the highest-class article, and it is quality rather than quantity that must be their objective, a fact which has been repeatedly emphasised. A contented and progressive community of farmers is essential to the prosperity of a country, and there is abundant evidence that the farmers of New Zealand are of this type.