THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1907. DAIRYING IN THE KING COUNTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 31, 24 May 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1907. DAIRYING IN THE KING COUNTRY.

THERE can be no doubt as to the part which the dairying industry has played in the development of the North Island, and judging by present indications, there is every reason to believe that the industry will go on expanding, and play a still more prominent part in the future development of the country, and of the Auckland Province in particular. The annual export of butter from Auckland is increasing in a truly remarkable manner, and it requires little discrimination to know that the present output will easily be doubled, or trebled, when the lands, at present lying idle, are brought into productiveness. Had it not been for dairying, with its system of steady and assured cash returns, a progressive land policy would hardly have been possible in New Zealand, and the settling of the working man on the land would have remained merely a pet theory of the political dreamers. The inauguration of the industry meant the dawn of a new era for the colony, and the present rapid growth, in wealth

and population, of the North Island may be attributed mainly to this cause. Thus, wc see in new districts dairy factoi - ies and creameries springing into existence wherever the small farmer takes up the land. In Waikato, since the cutting up of the large estates, factories have been established on all sides, and stations which were employing one or two - families, are now supporting ten times the number. As far as the King Country is concerned, it may be said that the industry has hardly begun. A small factory at Te Kuiti, and one or two further down the line are all that can be shown up to the present. In the Ohura there is now a project on foot to establish a factory and two creameries next season, and it is to devoutly hoped the scheme will be carried to a successful issue. In a district like the Rohe Potae, capable of carrying a large population, it is essential that the settlers be provided with a ready means of existence, and nothing so far, has been found to operate in this direction like the dairy factory. Moreover, the establishment of the industry in any district means an immediate increase in the value of all the property in the neighbourhood. For that reason alone it should have the support of every common-sense person in the locality, apart from the fact of it being the means of enabling a large proportion of the community to reap the reward of their industry, and live in decency and comfort. The Ohura people, like the rest of the King Country settlers, have to combat a great difficulty in the matter of roads. It is quite a simple matter to establish an industry in districts -provided with firstclass means of transit, but an entirely different aspect is given to the question when quagmires have to be negotiated in serving the factories. Still, much can be accomplished by the hearty co-operation of the settlers, and each season should see an improvement. It is the duty of the Government to afford every encouragement to industry, and it is just as much the farmer's duty to see that he receives adequate facilities, both by means of his own efforts, and the efforts of the authorities. [jThere is ample scope for every branch of farming in the King Country, and with the present existing prices for wool,and mutton, and beef, there is no fear of stock raising being neglected. However, the inducement for close settlement in the shape of the dairy factory must always render the dairying industry a prominent factor in the progress of the district. It is therefore the duty of all to work towards such a desirable end, and advance the common interests, by every means possible. Until better roads are provided, it remains almost a matter of impossibility to establish dairy factories, and it is to be hoped that this fact will be impressed upon the Minister for Public Works, at the forthcoming conference between that gentleman, and the representatives of local bodies at Wellington.