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Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1930, Page 4

Tiie dairying outlook for Westland, even though prices may not at the moment he so very encouraging, is not at all discouraging. Mr W. Wilson when addressing the Minister of Mines last Thursday on the subject of the railway extension, referred to the pastoral progress of Westland. He made a comparison in the stock, now and thirty years ago. For instance in 1899, there were 19,151 sheep, and in 1929, 76,987. In regard to dairy cows, in 1889, the number was 2,487, but in 1929, the total was 12,924. The export of butter last year was 20,015 boes, and cheese 618 crates—that apart from the large quantity for local comsumption. Also the total cattle increased from 11,070 in 1899, to 41,189 in 1929. There is no question about the suitability of the land for pastoral pursuits, and dairying must be a growing industry. As the railway is pushed south, and the large holdings are cut up and used for more intensive pioduotion, instead of stock raising, that fact will be demonstrated amply. The present season has been a wet one, following a rather remarkable beginning for good weather, and feed had a good start. Feed has been well maintained desnite the amount of rain, but cropping has been difficult owing to the wet, and feed may be short in the winter. To meet this situation larmers should go more in for ensilagemaking which should be possible here even with a damp climate. The seasons have been little better elsewhere, and importing will be more costly than heretofore because of the general shortage. Tn the' North lain ml now farmers are making more and more ensilage as the best standby in the event of failure in garnering ripe, crops. The better growth of this season, it is being pointed out, has taken more out of the ground, and farmers in any case will he wise to start top-dressing earlier than usual to secure the neces-

sary advantage with the earlier growth, which will be required. It is being agreed on all sides that the market shows a- general lower rate. Wool is welt down, and meat is falling, and butter has the tendency to be below former prices. Quantity and quality will be the best aids to meet the situation, and this calls for attention to the feed, supplies of which should be provided as amply as possible over the winter months. More attention must be given to marketing also, and in this respect the former advice for centralisation in the manufacture of the article to be produced, i,s more apropos than ever. Only by this means will the highest returns he possible for the finished article. Referring generally to the industry, dairymen who had been in Britain recently, a contemporary remarks, bad eniphasiseu the points that herd-testing, manuring and better farming could increase the production per cow and per acre, and increased production was necessary if farmers wished to gain returns equal to those received last season.