The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1927. WESTLAND’S FUTURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1927. WESTLAND’S FUTURE.

lb inference was made earlier in the week to the farming possibilities of Westland. The advent of the Canterbury farmers on Monday week, keeps settlement matters in mind, and we have this general knowledge, that those familiar with farming and who came here, are invariably impressed by the general outlook and the possibilities. Such being the ease we may be hopeful that the coming stream of visitors will be captivated too, and will carry away with them a revised idea of Westland and its future. It has been well established that the pastoral prospects of this district are regarded with favour. That is, there is the land here which can turn out the stock to produce excellent dairy products. There is a definite foundation to work upon. With the copious rainfall, grasses do well, and there is an assurance of feed under right cultivation methods. More of the land needs being brought into profit to carry larger herds, which in turn requires to lie kept up to producing standard by regular testing. In relation to the destiny which has boftti mapped out for the Coast as a “second Taranaki,’’ it is interesting to note that in Taranaki Province there)are in. round figures 360.009 cattle, -while in Westland Province (roughly of similar occupied area) there are about 40,090 cattle. Taranaki, to moke fomparjsoti, js carrying

about 210 cattle t > the 1040 acres, while Westland is carrying only 23 cattle to th' same area. 'Die dillereuce is thus about nine to one. \t estlatid has a good way to go yet to make up the lee-way, hut under more intensive methods ol settlement and occupation, a good deal of the disparity could be made up quickly. The land resources of the district arc far from being exploited in 11 to direction of producing more. It was shown yesterday what the Auckland district was doing in the way of greater production—and the manifest advantage of the inerca'c can lie realised lest when produce prices are low. By producing, more - tilth the drop in prices- income is kept up. and the settlers are not suffering >.) serious a disability as wan’d be the case other" ise. Had seasons, s i tar as prices are concerned, do not mean lo—

(•-, necessarily, ii the settlers set aboul producing He re. Ihe benefit, to themselves and the country at large bv such enterprise is of the greatest community value. He the interchange of farmers’ visits lliexperience gained must he very helpful to the observant settler as to the possibilities governing his own fate. The observant man is able to glean information and make comparisons from which to derive valuable knowledge about his work. New methods or systems may Ik> discovered which may he labor saving or time saving. and with information so acquired. the way to improved out >ir

be found. We take it that the funnel- is like every other industrialist — there is something to he learned alii ays. Knowledge is to be gained always. and the ripest quality is Unit from experience and a proper understanding of the position. The land of Westland is'built up largely from river formation and forest grnwtb. It lias natural qualities of great production value, once ibo nature of the soil is understood. Settlers need to master that part of the problem of production first, and then turn attention to their herds. There are nowadays various sources for expert information on farming and agricultural matters which can ’be obtained for the asking. The man on the land is well served indeed, in that respect. Given the will to perform, the settler nowadays has much to his advantage, and utilising all that is available the future of Westland can be forged ahead much faster by the man on the land, were the fullest use to he made oT the scientific knowledge always at his disposal.