The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1933. THEN AND NOW.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1933. THEN AND NOW.

I'HE President of the Canterbury A. and P. Association when speaking last week, and referring to previous reports by who had lamented tire low prices for produce ruling during their term of office, said in one light or this year’s experience, the prices they lamented scum a s though fney belonged to an era of prosperity ! dust at the moment there is a period of elation over the success of the Conversion scheme which has given special came for .satisfaction to the Government, but while there is tins little rift of blue in the dark clouds overhead, the fact remains that stock and dairy produce on which tire real prosperity of the country is founded, still- show a declining tendemy. The hopes of the lamb trade recently are damped by the late sharp decline, and wo find the dairy produce marxet quite uncertain. This state of affairs must be (a trying experience for the farming community, -who having had a flourishing experience for a term, is now enduring the reverse. The adjustment of the exchange rate must be helpful at this time to the exporting farmers, but the view is expressed in Canterbury' that practically every branch cf farming i s being carried on at ia loss today. This is a serious statement' to be made in respect tab a great producing province like Canterbury, and should bring home to. the public at large how the country, ; is held back by this ’serious' slump in the prices cf primary products, It is said that pastoral(sts in particular .are .having a bad time, mut that unencumbered properties of this elms* are not much more than returning-working expenses. In Canterbury, ton, the crops have been subjected to <u' period of drought which will also affect tile volume of production, this season. This is not a pleasing picture to contemplate, and it is to be hoped better fortune will soon wait on our East Coast neighbours. Westlanders often complain of the rainfall, but it is well to bear in mind, that the moisture assures the grass, (and that on this .side of the ranges there should be no fear about the supply -.of winter feed. The Coast always comes well out of it in timers of drought, a fact we are likely to overlook when there is a special visitation of unfavourable weather. But to return to the plight of the primary producers,- the country must realise they have done their best in increasing production and maintaining quality. But they have to sell on a world’s market which is sadly disorganised. For that reason there cannot be the same- flow of money into the country, and to meet the shortage there must bo a curtailment and economies both privately and publicly. The Government bias been busy increasing taxation, levying in all directions. It is to be hoped their resource.? in that direction arc exhausted, because taxation seems to have reached the apex. Having reached that point, it is now for the public administration to he overhauled to ensure less taxation being required to balance accounts, and relief in that direction would be a help to the primary producer,, as tb the general taxpayer. Of late years the national expenditure has grown abnormally and revision is now overdue to come back to present day requiremen+s.