WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE DOMINION’S AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES. A VISITOR’S VIEW. [Si* Eci.tr. To Tiie Guardian.] WELLINGTON, October 20. .Mr F. B. Smith, the Agricultural Adviser to the British Overseas Settlement. Delegation, who returned here yesterday front an extensive tour of tli South Island, when seen to-day expressed tv very different opinion of New Zealand as a field for settlement from the one credited to the members of the Delegation by the .Melbourne cable agent. ”f am convinced,” he said, “that New Zealand is a farmers’ country. as wc understand it at Home, a country, that is, specially adapted to farming and stock-raising. I think a man coming from Great Britain has a very good chance, of getting on in New Zealand. The prospects for capable, industrious young men are undoubtedly good. There are many farm labourers in England to-day, who are only getting 25* a weelr, exclusive, of board and lodging, with a very small chance of ever getting more, and I am .11110. many of them would make good in this country if given a chance. In fact I have already met many men ot the class I have in mind who Inn* ulrendv done so Imre.” Air Smith was not speaking after a mere cursory view of the. country. He travelled overland from I'ictnn to Bluff, and lotl the main highways to make sure lie was not being shown only one side of the picture. NEW ZEALAND FARMING.

Replying to questions intended to obtain from him an expression of opinion as to the status and methods ot tlm New Zealand farmer. Air Smith was quite frank. ‘T believe, ’’ he said, ‘■that the New Zealand fanner is doing a great deal to help on the development and prosperity of the country. But you must remember fanning differs from most other occupations. The farmer lives alone, and one has to he careful to have proper regard for the peculiar temperament he develops from his silent occupation, when com-

paring him with, other producing factors in the community. For instance, the farmer is not brougfil mlo close contact with quick-witted people every day. With the exception, perhaps, ol dairying, he cannot sec the days results in the same measure that the tradesman, the merchant and tho pioI’essional man can do. Therelniv lie has not quite the same menial stimulus as they have. Vrt. he is doing a lot. Production is carried on by him under difficult, circumstances. He works long flours. It- is tree ho iea.K an indoIKMulcnt, healthy open-air existence, and in niv opinion, one ol the best, lives ill Uh l woild: but he is til it all the time, anil necessarily lacks many of (lie benefits and social amenities to he found in the towns. Ot course. Air Smith had in his mind the small working fanner, and not. the large employer of labour. KARA! LABOUR.

Mr Smith declared that everywhere lie went in the Dominion either in the North Island or the Smith, he heard complaints of the shortage ol etlieient labour. 11 is advice to .voting men canir!g to New Zealand fiom the Old Country, if they wero contemplating going on the land, would ho to take employment L.r a year or t,t\n and earn expet iern.e and money. New Zealand was a. country worth while. ••'I here is a very high standard of comfort among the people." he said, in conclusion. ‘*l he houses are well constructed and nicely kepi- Ihe people an- well c-hul. I saw no poverty ami

no sundowner*. t sow lino schools and hospitals. social instil ution-, village halls nnd meeting j. Iho towns :iro well planned. and |ilo;i>intf to the eve ol a visitor. Iho coiintiv seems" to 1m very prosperous, anil to have a gloat. future ahead ot it. I his necessarily. was to a large extent a superficial view, as the country. natnrally, v. onld ho turning its host side to the visitor. Bat .Mr Smith has summed tip tile general po-ilion well enough and his report should lz,> far to corroet the misapprehensions occasioned hy the cureless summary ol the Melbourne eahle afloat. IU’SINKSS AND KKXTIMKXT. Tile Wellington lutsiness community, speaking generally. refuses to he greatly impressed hy the ‘•halnneo sheet”, issued hy the Poverty Bay Funnel s’ Meat Company litis morning. Tt decs not question the aeouraey of the figures siip«plied hy tla- directors of tile Company, nor for a moment doubt the (-nod 'faith of the management; but.it holds that it would he highly impolitic, as well as Itagruntly unjust, for the authorities to take any steps to prevent. the hank concerned realising upon its securities to the host, advantage. It is notorious that the hanks ha\e been over-generous and that at the moment several of those investments are causing them grave anxiety. H> impair their securities at this juncture, even with the laudable purpose of riti" the wav of the Meat Trusts, would greatly add. the critics say. to ‘-be dillii-nity of the situation, and 'ilumatelv would prejudice the credit m U' community as a whole. But " 11 >■ holding this view strongly the •'■•.ness eonttnunitv still thinks the Mont ,-oaid has handled the position clumsily and created on impression ms policy is dictated rather hy expediency than .»> any intimate understanding of the producers’ needs and obligations.