Agricuiturl Depression.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1566, 26 November 1885, Page 4

Agricuiturl Depression.

Depression m agriculture and trade generally has existed for «a good number of years, and, notwithstanding the somewhat better season and harvest of last year (nob nearly so good, however, i as it was made out to be), farmers were never m a much worse financial position than afc present. When we consider the extremely love prices that; have ruled for wheat, and corn m general, the dullness m the. mutton trade, and, m fact, the very little money produced by anything the farmer has to sell, we find it very easily explained. Tliero have, natural \j, been a number of remedies for depressing, suggested by all classes of people* Farmers live too luxuriously some say, while Lady GaskelK would have them do, with their sons and daughters, the whole work of the farm ; rise at tour and work till nine ; be their own carters, shepherds, cattlemen, Blave all theae hours and make a less profit than an ordinary labourer. Others recommend State loans, allotments, co-operatiee farming, growing more green food, maize, &c, for stock (with no means to obtain more stock to eat it), and culminating: m the absurd proposal to make jam. We nßed'not discuss these remedies, most of them are useless, and others impracticable. Legislation 'has helped us spmcwhat. We have to be thank-

ful for the Giv.uml Game Act, for our Agricultural Huldings Act, which, however did not go anything like far enough. It docs not a: oli^h distraint. It gives not compensation tor consumed feeding stuffs produced o:\ the holding, while it does give it if the tenant sells that produced aud buys back similar stuff, thus benefiting corn-dealers and distrusting fanners, and it gives no compensation for aots of husbandry, not to mention other faults. Legislation however, lias not lessened the agricultural depression. State loans, w« said, have been suggested by some, but even if the State were willing they would be found impracticable. Capitalists, too, will not invest m land, and banks are chary of advances. What we propose would not directly give the farmer more capital, but would enable him to work a farm with less capital per acre than at present, and if only he will be content to uilce m the first place a farm withiu his means, he sholud have money always at his banker's with which to work, and not be compelled to make forced sales. Our proposal is fand we recommed it to energetic men with a certain capital^ to establish m good cultural .centres (not necessarily towns) dep6ts of machinery, implements, &c, ready for lure at fixed rates — sleam-plough tackle, threshers elevato.is, binders reapers drill a, drags, cultivators, harrows corn dressing machinery wag-gons, cnrts,&c , might all be ready. Look at any new implement, a bindev for example, requires by the farmer say two months m the year, and the rest of its time has to be under most indifferent cover. It costs £60 m all, and required most careful management. How many m these depressed times can afford one with ease ? Suppose, too, the manager of the depot were willing to keep a good stock of horses, aud was ready to do work by the piece ; what a quantity of ploughing he might do m the winter at so much per acre. I believe farmers would prefer to let their ploughing to a man who could do it with horses rather than to the man with the steam engine, as they do now, and it could be ilone as cheap, when coal and hauling water is reckoued against ihe steam. Look at the advantage of being able to hire and test a new impl ment ; to be'able to get any implemeut m ca^e of break-down ; to be able to have repairs done 'on the spot, as it wore, for a blacksmith's shop would be a necessity m such a place and skilled workmen to ; fcoo be able to let any farm work aud have clone with it. The capabilities of the place m the hands of a good manager should lie endless and pi on* table. The chief fauit of this proposal is that it would be some time before it could be got well into working order. However, wo place those remarks before our readers for consideration. — H.