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Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1925, Page 2

Sixt.’B the foregoing was written, a 'notice of motion has been given to deal with the water supply question through a commission cl experts. Ibis mattei will come helnre the Council tu-night. The motion appears to he on the right lilies. Above all it is comprehensive, dealing with hath the present and the future. T here is a gaud deal oi divided oj iit ion there always ha.s been—as to the seat oi the trouble affecting the water supply, and the Council would he wise in referring the matter to a committee of exports. The question in any- case is really one for expert treatment. The water-supply has been tinkered with in the past, and the result is the iire.sent defective supply. It is well, therefore, to place the matter in tile hands of those competent to investigate the problem from the right standpoint. The plans of the original proposal must needs he examined and the position studied in conjunction with the Engineer’,', ropoit. holloaing that, the pipe-line would require to he I "averse;! and examined, and upon that, investigation the experts would form their opinions. The matter is of such civic importance that the work requires to lie done thoroughly and at once. The Council and its officers in the past have had the matter in hand, hut from time to time the p :l :

appears to grow worse. There would not he any difficulty if the pipe line :is maintained properly, to ensure a free flow of water in keeping with the original proposals of the engineer. What difficulty there is has arisen through some neglect or -nan! <<l Knowledge width requires to he remedied. Exports are the best to take up that aspect. as in the past the matter lias been largely one of sunni.se and experiment. Too much lias been left to chance. Such a lLpnrfc as proposed should he of ‘value for till time, and while it is hoped it will he possible to remedy present defects, it is desired no less to ensure a safeguard for the future so that the shortages will not recur again. The whole subject will lie treated best by a committee of experts as now proposed.

In llio annual report ol the British (jhamher of Commerce in the Argentine Republic, there is an interesting reference to the dairy industry, in which pointed reierencc is made to the success of the competition with New Zealand for the United Kingdom trade in butter and dices. The report goes on to sav that “in recent years the development of the Argentine Hairy Industry has claimed the close attention of the Rational Government, and with the gradual introduction ol modern methods, encouraged and assisted by the present enterprising Minister of Agriculture, the’ progress of the ir.di.s-

t'v has been impressive. The exportation of butter lias attained important proportions, nearly 83.000 tons having been shipped in 1923, over 85% ol which, by the way, was taken by the United Kingdom. Closer attention is now being given to grading. Cheese, embracing practically all the better Unfit n types, is being made on a large scale for export and local pale. An expert, recently contracted from the Cnited Ki ngilom by the .Ministry of Agriculture, is now instructing the Argentine dairy farmers in the art of cheese making and the production of other milk products so that improvement in this branch of Argentina's Dairy Industry, both in quantity and quality, can he confidently expected. The importance of the Argentine Dairy Industry is acknowledged and competent- observers are of opinion that within a relatively short time this Republic bids fair to becoming a serious competitor ol New Zealand for the hulk of the world’s butter supply, an opinion which is strengthened by a. comparison uf the land values in the two countries. It, is admitted that the New Zealand dairy farmer is settled on land which cost hint three times a.s much as his Argentine competitor paid tor his farm of the sanfe size, a circumstance which must sooner or later he reflected in the respective costs of production. From the definite statement of fact in regard to the relative position between the two countries, it is evident that as Ciinc goes on the Argentine is going to he a, very formidable rival to Now Zealand with dairy products on the Home markets.