SOUTHERN JOTTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 16, 9 April 1927, Page 18

SOUTHERN JOTTINGS

EARLY WINTER INDICATIONS (From Our Resident Correspondent .) WELLINGTON, To-day. A couple of frosts, followed by rain, have served to impress upon farmers the near approach of winter, and that there is just the possibility of an earlier season than usual. There has been so much rain spread over a period, that the growth of feed has been phenomenal. It is unreasonable, therefore, to expect the same results later on, as, for instance, when rains follow a long, dry period, and it is quite on the cards of authorities that late crops will not progress at the rate desired. However, in the meantime, there is abundance of feed to commence the winter season on, and pastoralists are, on the whole, quite easy about the position. At the same time, they are all agreed that everything points to an early winter season. STOCK MARKETS—NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT Stock sales held during the past week have been, on the whole, successful, fair entries haying come forward. Practically all good lines of cattle and sheep offered changed hands. At the same time there has not been a great deal of movement in the cattle market, farmers’ cows coming forward being absorbed by the freezing works. There appears to be a very good demand for breeding ewes, but wethers are being neglected. The condition of the stock market, however, will have to materially improve to give farmers a living wage. Many of them are on their “beam ends,"’ and they find it absolutely impossible to meet obligations. They cannot possibly buy fertilisers, and because of the want of top-dressing, their land is going back. They are struggling on, though they are aware that their respective cases are hopeless under present conditions. But they simply loathe the idea of “giving up.” What will be the eventual result it is hard to say, but it would seem that some will have, ere long, to abandon their holdings, as others have already been obliged to do. EAST COAST WHEAT It was recently mentioned that New Zealand wheat was inferior to that grown in Australia, but the East Coast producers think otherwise. In the early sixties Wairoa natives grew large quantities of wheat and, it is stated, so high was its quality that it brought 12s a bushel in {Sydney. New Zealand can grow just as good wheat as any other country provided, of course, seasonable conditions prevail. NATIONAL EFFORT Once again the slogan “produce more and still more,” has been taken up by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, g.nd a circular has been distributed pointing out the urgent need of a national attempt to increase production, cut costs and meet the everincreasing competition from New Zealand’s rivals in the markets of the world. Of course it is one thing to instruct farmers from head office to materially reduce the cost of production, and another thing to carry out the behest. Farmers generally want to know how they can cut costs. It does not rest with them. The cost of labour is such a serious item that numerous farmers are obliged to dispose with help and carry on the best way they can. This, obviously, means that less is done on the farm, which in turn reflects on the output of the holding, If the price of land were reduced considerably and labour cheapened producei’s might be able to give effect to the wishes, not only of the Farmers’ Union, but of all who have the welfare of the Dominion at heart. The circular says: “The dependence of New Zealand for about 95 per cent, of her exports upon her agricultural and pastoral industries, makes those industries absolutely vital in the progress of the Dominion. The following figures show the fluctuations in value in round figures of our exports of primary produce since the cessation of hostilities:

“The following table shows the export fluctuations of our main pastoral products: — 1923. 1924. 1925. Wool . . 10,904,t15S 15,207,544 17,739,730 Butter . 10,089,200 11,041,088 10,240,132 Cheese . 0,870,397 7,023,297 5,800,808 Froz’n m’t 9,012,627 9,499,877 11,174,507 “ A glance at these figures shows that the 54,605 dairy farmers of New Zealand have had much less to divide up than the 25,045 sheep farmers, who have had fairly good prices for wool and lamb in recent years. With the rdling low rates for dairy produce the dairy farmer of the Dominion is having a hard time. During the above period from 1921-25 there is a marked increase in the export of dairy produce, a slight decrease in the output of frozen meat, while the export of wool has fluctuated, 1921 and 1922 being the- greatest export years. “The main agricultural exports are: (a) Seeds (grass and clover), the value of which fluctuated from £156,114 in 1921 to £151,164 in 1925; and (b) beans and peas, with an export value of slightly over £IOO,OOO. “The balance of trade in favour of New Zealand, i.e., the excess of the recorded value of exports over imports, was in 1924 £4,085,108 and in 1925 £2,805.865. As interest payments in the United Kingdom and elsewhere outside the Dominion now approach an annual sum of 6-L millions, the economic position cannot be regarded as satisfactory. “The main factors contributing towards increased production appear to be: “(1) Better farming. This means that the land now under cultivation should be made to grow two blades of grass in lieu of one by more intensive farming on scientific lines. “(2) Better breeding. A systematic attempt should be made to increas the production of our herds by using better bulls and by culling out useless cows. It is perhaps worthy of note that there was a reduction of 14,126 dairy cows in milk last year, compared with the preceding season. “(3) A vigorous national endeavour to place our pork industry on a better footing. The scientific and businesslike cultivation of this industry should certainly engage the attention of the Department of Agriculture and all our farmers. “(4) A marked reduction in the cost of production, and in the cost of living, and in a minor degree: “(5) A more vigorous land policy on the part of the Government. Between 1922-26 there was an increase of only 535 holdings involving an area of 78,492 acres, but as a set off, land depreciation since the war, due to high costs of labour, is reckoned at ten millions. During the period 1921-26 there was a decrease of farm workers (owners and employees) from 146,380 to 137,451.” The above figures are illuminating and interesting, and if they produce the effect desired, it wil be a good thing for the Dominion. The late Prime Minister, Mr. Massey, never failed to stress the point of making one blade of grass grow in lieu of one, but the economic position has altered a good deal since those days. However, if the Government can assist to bring down working costs, there will be no doubt about increased production.

Total Pastoral Agricultural exports. exports. exports. Year £ £ £ 1914 26,2111,000 22,529,000 448,000 1919 53,970,000 48,611,000 7S8.000 1920 .. 46,441,000 41,560,000 530,000 1921 .. 44,828,000 40,698,000 490,000 1922 .. 42,726,000 38,182,000 968,000 1923 45.967,000 42,128,000 568,000 1924 52,612,000 4S,944,000 431,000 1925 .. 55,262,000 51,370,000 467,000 1926 45,275,000 — —