20 YEARS OF PROGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1925, Page 3

20 YEARS OF PROGRESS

BETTER ROADS. ELECTRICITY ON THE EAK.M. AUCKLAND, November 22. Im< resting impressions of the dcvel- ! npmenl ot New Zealand, chiefly in the rural areas, during the last twenty vcars, were given by Dr .1, A. Gilruth, who lias just concluded a tour of the Dominion. Dr Gilruth "as formerly chief Government Veterinarian in New Zealand, afterwards Professor of Veterinarv Science at Melbourne University and Administrator ot the Northern Territory of Australia from 1012 until 1020. Dr Gilruth said it was seventeen years since he had been in New Zealand except for a flying call when he was a through passenger to or from America, i [is present visit, extending over nearly two months, had afforded him an opportunity of seeing places in hoth Islands with which he had been familiar between twenty and thirty years ago. The line of development that was most strikingly manifested. Dr Gilruth considered, was the tendency toward increased comfort and the provision of modern facilities in rural areas. Ho referred particularly to the supply of electricity to country districts, which had revolutionised both working and living conditions in many localities. Realising that this service was being progressively developed one could imagine what the future held for a country so Well endowed naturally for providing power of this description. Additional comfort in working and liv- i ing conditions meant much to country people and should help to solve the difficulty of the drift to the cities. ' Ponding facilities also had been improved almost beyond conception, lie understood the loading problem was still a. burning question in New Zealand, but he had been greatly struck with the improvements that had been carried out in the country districts. A journey in the Wanganui district that had taken him a day and a half to make thirty years ago he had accomplished recently in a few hours. This trip was made by motor, but in the old days Hie roads were impassable for motor traffic. Whether the fact was realised or not by New Zealand the reading problem was being solved and this was contributing a further degree of comfort to country people. The facilities afforded to farmers in the Dominion in the directions he find mentioned were far in excess of those provided for farmers in Australia. The opinion was expressed bv Dr Gilruth unequivocally that land in New Zealand was too high in price. Inquiry in both North and South Islands had led him to this conclusion. In Australia investment in pastoral property had more of the gambling element in it than was the case in New Zealand, but the margin of difference was not so great after all. The investor in rural properties in the Commonwealth expected a return of 1•' per cent to 20 per cent on his invested eapilal. In New Zealand, from what he could gather, the most that could be looked for. considering the price ol land, was a return of 7 per emit. I bat was not sullicient margin and until prices were stabilised at a somewhat lower level the development and expansion so necessary to prosperity could not take place in satisfactory measure. As far as the slock of the country was concerned. Dr Gilruth said be was pleased with the development that had takmi place. New Zealand was blessed with breeders possessing both ability and foresight. Progressive improvement had been made in flocks and herds and with expanding opportunity lie bad no doubt that the excellent work already accomplished in this direction would be continued. Surprise and concern were expressed by Dr Gilruth at the spread of noxious weeds in some left lie districts he had vi.-ilcd. The difficult period ol t lie Great War no doubt accounted in part for ilie increase ot those pests. On the other hand too much land in the possession ol one owner or unpardonable carelessness on the part of certain farmers bad led to tbe spread ol a pest that was a dire threat to farmers. The worst of these pests were not indigenous. he said, but they appeared to thrive more in New Zealand than in tbe country of their origin. Io combat them was a matter of urgent necessity. He advocated research in the country ot origin with tin l object of ascertaining what natural enemies or conditions kept the pests in restraint in their natural surroundings.