The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 23, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 740, 23 October 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1867.

Sometime since we directed attention to the fact that agricultural operations in New Zealand Had so far advanced that more produce was in the market than required for home consumption. At that time we pointed out that unless a foreign market was found and cultivated, agricultural progress would be retarded, and the general prosperity of the Province diminished. To a certain extent our forebodings have become facts. The low prices obtained for last season's crops have damped the energies of the farmer, and instead of having to record a large expansion of agricultural, operations, we fear that next year's returns will compare unfavorably with those of the present year. We understand that many of the settlers, instead of extending their cultivation, are throwing their grain fields into grass paddocks, and suspending the breaking up of new ground. This is a state of things much to be regretted. The question comes — what is to be the remedy ? It has been proved that the land of this Province when skilfully tilled is unsurpassed in prolificness, and that farming is a most profitable occupation as long as a market for the produce can be found. Markets can be found if the proper means are taken to seek them, if the cultivator and the merchant united, put their shoulder to the wheel, by a little enterprise and perseverance, remunerative prices could be secured for tan times the quantity of grain now pro-

duced. The . question of the establishment of grain-exporting companies — a suggestion first thrown out by this journal— has been warmly discussed and acted upon in the provinces of Canterbury and Ofcago In Canteibury a large company has been formed, and arrangements made for it to be in active operation before next season's crop is in the market. At Oamaru a company is in course of formation, and a lively interest. in. its success generally displayed. Our Oamaru contemporary in an article upon this question says : — Such prices as have ruled for the last season in this province and in Canterbury, will: certainly leave the producer a serious loser ; it being impossible, with the high rate of labor in the Colonial market, to make \yheat pay at : 3s,,or even 4<b a bushel! There are, therefore, only two alternatives possible, in order to raise the value of this article to a paying rate, viz., to diminish the mpjity of to increase the demand. The.

former is a remedy almost worse than the disease, as it involves the; curtailment of agricultural enterprise, sion of the country at large ; -unless, indeed,, the land, nqw devoted :to the raising of wheati)e employed invthkpro-.

duction of other and more paying crops. # # # # Therewiliprobablybestilla large surplus quantity of wheat produced, beyond that which is required for our own consumption, ""and in order to ensure to the farmer a paying price for this commodity, ,the other alternative which we have named must be taken, viz., "to increase the demand," or, to write more correctly, to provide a further outlet for our surplus produce. Now this outlet cannot be looked for in Australia, as Australia is already exporting wheat very largely, and we must therefore look for a market for our produce iff the same quarter which affords a ready market for her's, viz., in England.

As we have, said before we again say..."that the prosperity of Southland depends upon "agricultural progress. Is such advancement being made as might be? The low prices that have been obtained during the last two years, and the absence .■ of a market wheve sales could at any time be made, has disheartened the cultivator, and in many instances led to the limitation of his farming operations. If these retrogressive tendencies are permitted to increase the depression we • have so long felt will become more intense year by year. Neither railways or, any thing else will lift us to a position of prosperity, unless more attention is given to find profitable outlets for agricultural produce. This cannot be done at present by individual enterprise, but "" union" is strength ;" it could be accomplished by co-operative action. Is it not possible that an Export Company, with a capital of say £10,000,'" or even £5000 in shares of £10 each, could be formed ? We believe that if a few of our leading business men would take the matter up it could be. in work in less than three months. <<We have conversed with many of the farmers, and the universal opinion has been that - such a company would receive the warmest) support from the settlers if the project' was initiated in town. When we think of the importance that such a movement would have on the future, it seems that the business men are blind to their own interests and the progress of the Province by the stolid indifference with -which they have treated this sub- ■ ject<. Whatis ,ue use of " Prize Essays,"-*? or newspaper writings as to the wpnderfui fertility of Southland's soil, the facilities it offers for settlement, if we are compelled to add as a postcript that commercial enterprisers so dead,' that no market can be found for produce in the Province, and no aid obtained to export beyond its bounds. There is nothing that coul<£ be done better calculated to increase settlement and bring prosperity tothis country than an organisation for" the purpose of purchasing or advancing on produce of every description for ex- ; portation. It would give stability to trade, encourage the farmer to experimentalise in growing very - many articles of v; exportable value— mustard, flax, tobacco, &c— that have not yet been tried. It is generally conceded that -at; is very desirable that ! an Agricultural Export Company should be formed. It is therefore to be hoped that the initiative steps will be taken without delay. The opportunity of bringing a scheme before the public in a workable shape at the date of the forthcoming Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show should not be lost.

Wednesday, 23 ... 9.43 a.m. ... 10.24 p.m. •Thursday," 24.... 11.3 „ ... 11.37' „ -