A RECORD OF PROGRESS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8845, 22 June 1907, Page 2

A RECORD OF PROGRESS.

Land Production and Land Values- ’■ In his address at the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zeaalnd yesterday the chairman, Mr Harold Beauchamp., said:— In dealing with the affairs of the bank it is difficult to refrain, even if ouo Wished to, from making some reference to the prevailing prosperity, also the ■ commercial and economic conditions that exist at present. The trade returns of New Zealand testify most eloquently to tho satisfactory growth of onr oversea commerce, and tho same may bo ' said of the trade returns of most ' other countries. Indeed, 1006 wa9 ' a record year in this- connection- ) Taking the export figures of several countries, and comparing same with ; 1905, we get the following remark* ; able results :

Great Britain 13,9 per cent increase, Germany 0.9, France 8.6, Belgium 11.3, Italy 6.1, Russia 10.8, Hutted States 10.5, Canada 8.5, Australia IS. 6, New Zealand 19.0. CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND. Tho figures for Canada are approximate onlv, but those for New Zea* laud are ‘ tho official returns for tho year ended 31st March last. The ex* pansion in the exports of this Colony is very striking, bat it is without doubt due more to the abnormally high prices for commodities than to a substantial increase iu their volume. In point of-fuct, wo know that New Zealand’s export trade haalatterly been inflated—if I may use that term—by tho remarkably high prices obtained in recent years for the staple products of the colony. For example, tho value of butter exported for the year ended March 81st, 1901, averaged 90a Ij-rfd per cwt, while for 1907 tho average was 98s 9d ; cheese averaged 47s lOd per cwt in 1904 and 55s 2hUl iu 1907; hemp averaged £26 4s 3d per ton iu 1904 aud, £39 11s 4d iu 1907, and yon are all aware how beneficially we have been affected by tho sharp advances that have taken place iu wool, sheep* skius, tallow hides, leather, aud other of our products in recent years. THE VALUE OP LAND.

As I have indicated, there lias been unfortunately only a moderate increase in the quantities, hut tho big prices have stimulated enormously tho demand for farm lauds. Broad acres command very big values, which undoubtedly are based ou tbo figures now ruling for produce Forty pounds per acre may not, in tiio opinion of a farmer, bo excessive under existing conditions, but I would emphasise the fact that such a valuation loaves no room for an appreciable fall in tho price of ,tha produce of such lauds. In the light of past experience, "contomj plate such a contingency, and if this occurs to the extent of from, say',20 to 23 per cent iu the value of produce, it would seriously affect aud perhaps embarrass many who have bought agricultural aud pastoral lauds at fancy prices. How to minimise the effects of a : possible shrinkage iu values of produce is a matter of urgent import tauco, aud it seems to me that farmers generally must give closer attention to the improvement in the breed aud condition of their live stock. IMPROVEMENT NECESSARY. ‘ It is essential that tho quality of dairy herds particularly should bo improved, so that each cow iu tho herd shall yield a larger percentage of butter fat. Tho quality of our mutton aud lamb also must be main-' tained at the highest standard by the free importation of tho best strains of rams aud ewes. Ohr competitors quite recognise those necessities, as recently it was reported that a representative from Uruguay paid one thousand guineas for- a ram aud a relatively high price for ewes In Australia. For years past the Argentine has been a consistent importer of pedigree stock, and it is common knowledge that in Canada there are very striugent regulations having for their object the improvement of the Dominion herds kept for dairying purposes. Much may also he done by perfecting ns far as possible our modes of working—by being constantly on tho look-out for improved methods of production' whereby the value of our output may bo increased either iu quality or quantity—by utilising the latest appliances as soon as tho practicability of their profitable utilisation has been established —by, iu short, def termiuing to be iu the van and not iu the rear of industrial progress, so' far, at auy rate, as our own particular industries are concerned. Our sheep -farmers, dairymen, and others cauuot longer afford to overlook these matters unless they desire to court disaster in the near future. LAND AVAILABLE.

There is, as 1 have said, a strong and genuine d aand for farm lands. Indeed, it might very safely be said that a veritable earth hunger exists, but settlement is not progressing as

rapidly as it ought for many reasons. The latest official returns available cover the period to the 31st March, 1906, and the registration at the Laud Transfer aild Deeds Registration Department shows the following transactions in country lands in the several districts of the colony:— Auckland ‘598,835 acres. Taranaki 59,136 acres. Wellington 855,316 acres. Hawke’s Bay 112,272 acres. Poverty Bay 186,909 acres. Nelson 37,343.acre5. Marlborough 39, f? 9 acres, Otago 183,359 acres. Southland 138,708-acres. Westland 6,090 acres. 3,050,481 acres. ABOUT PRICES. Of this area 1,261,908 acres arc in the North Island and only 794,513 acres in the South Island, indicating very clearly that settlement is progressing much more rapidly in the North than in the South Island. Moreover, the march of settlement is most noticeable in the Auckland province, where there happens to ho the greatest scope for expansion, and where land is comparatively cheapest. The values set out in the return from which I am quoting show that the land transferred in the Wellington district averaged £lO nor acre; in Canterbury, £8 per acre"; Otago, a little less than £5 per acre; and in Auckland slightly more than £3 per acre. These averages include the values of town and country land sold.

THE GROWTH OP THE NORTH “ It'is, as I have remarked, the extent" of land available and the low prices that are attracting settlers to the Auckland district, and it is significant that shrewd farmers are selling their improved properties _in other parts of the colony and moving northwards, “where they are .apparently finding a more profitable field for their enterprise and industry. This desire to acquire unimproved lands deserves to be fostered and encouraged; and while one may freely admit that Government is doing its best in that direction, much more remains to be done. Perhaps when the commission now enir qniring into the position of Native Lands has finished its labours, a great deal more new country may be available to the eager pioneer settlers ; country which now is absolm tely unproductive, and in many cases, owing to the growth of noxious weeds, is a source of danger and expense to adjoining European owners, The permanent prosperity of the colony depends unquestionably upon the aids and facilities afforded to men to make productive its virgin lands, and the fundamental need of the pioneer is roads—roads that ho can use freely and safely in tire winter as as in the summer, which he cannot do at present. What wo need is a policy of vigorous road-making in the back blocks, and any money so spent would be a wise and profitable expenditure, and could, I amsure, bo heartily endorsed by the people of the colony.