A NATIONAL STOCKTAKING

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1929, Page 2

A NATIONAL STOCKTAKING

(Auckland Star.) Coincident with tlie Prime Minister's prediction that better times are abend, and the general expression of New Year hopes to the same elie-’t, there a pears the annual statistical report on tue farming of the Dominion. 'I here is much in these stocktaking sheets that proves afresh the need ior a vigorous land policy; there is also a good deal that is satisfactory as showing steady progress. The area occupied in 1927-28 was actually less by 132.0;.(I acres as compared with the previous year, but the number of occupied holdings increased by 88. il we go back ten years we find that the total number of holdings lias increased by only live thousand, provided that the statistics are on the same basis and are not eompiitated by inclusion or nuriinrlusion of borough figures. An addition of five thousand of the holdings o! the Dominion, in a period that includes all the soldier settlement activity, is not impressive. Moreover, the number of persons employed on the land shows a decrease of 3390 compared with the previous year, and 13,200 compared with 1925-26. The latest figures has one very peculiar feature, which should be explained. Males show an increase of nearly four thousand, and females a decrease of nearly eight thousand. Why this {inference?

The bright spots in the return are the figures showing increased production. The area under use has not increased, but existing farms arc producing more. At the beginning of the year there were 50,000 more dairy rows than a year previously; sheep increased by a million and a half; pigs by OG.ODO. The sheep total is a record. The wheat harvest of 1927-28 was the largest but one in our history, and by a new treatment of seed the average yield or barley lias Ik?oi> improved by seven or eight bushels to the acre. Figures for top-dressing show an increase ot 1,400,000 cwt over the amount used the previous year. Tn nearly every class of machinery there has been an increase. What the hydro-electric enterprises mean to the farmer may be gauged from the fact that whereas the number of electric motors on farms was -156 in 1921. it was 10,000 in 1928. Finally it may be noted that the tendency is for the average bolding to grow smaller. It was 509 acres in 1927 and 507 in 1928, but ton years ago it was 539. Apart from the large holdings that are fit for subdivision, there arc Humberts of moderaffoly-siaed farms? that are not producing to anything, like full capacity, and would be more

profitable if they were smaller. The trend towards a smaller average will have to be accelerated by the new Government.