PRIMARY PRODUCTS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1928, Page 4

PRIMARY PRODUCTS

F A U.\l Ell S’ PROTECTION. AUCKLAND. Fob. ‘2B. Statistics to prove that tlie primary producers of the Dominion had shown themselves worthy of protection ol their industries and of State aid were freely quoted by the Hon. 0. .1, Hnwkcn, Minister of Agriculture, in an address at l’apatoetoe last evening'. Commencing hv dealing with criti' cism against the wheat and flou duties, he said that Canterbury wheat growers had responded very well in deed to the measure of protection ac corded them. Last year very I: money went out ol the country to pur chase grain, and this year so heavy was the harvest that it should not b necessary to effect any overseas pur chases at all, although not long ag< L 1,500,000 per annum was reachin, other shores to supply the grain need' of the Dominion. Now this sum wa c kept in the country and more mer were employed. A reduction ol 10 pc; cent in the freight on fertilisers, ad mittedly aided by the “fertiliser war. had resulted in the vastly increased use of manures, with the result that production in many branches of farm ing had increased to a degree positively astounding. Eight thousand pounds had been given bv the State to loster herd testing. with equally gratifying results. During the past ten years production per dairy cow had been increased 2per cent, until to-day the average yield was 20011) of butter-fat per cow, only -|()lh behind the average of Denmark. “ I am confident that we can yet heat Denmark in this,” said the Ministei. Among other instances which he mentioned in his justification of help foi the farmer was the subsidy on exported fruit. Last year some 500,000 cases of apples had been exported, anil tin total this year was expected to approach 1.000.000 cases. " A •Minister of Agriculture should keep his eye on small men like the Iruit grower. Ihe bigger men can look after themselves. sa?d Mr Jlawken. “The fruit grower is doing very much better than many people think.” Fortunately, said the .Minister, lie was given no avenues for borrowing money, fruit farms vveie not regarded as the best security, with the result that to-day the grower was j n the main very much better ofl financially than most people. Owing to. the dry ,spell butter production eon Id not be expected to differ greatly from that of last season, but cheese nianutnet,uros had been exceedinglv substantial, and should show an increase over 1020-2/ figures.