VALUES TOO HIGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 23, 19 April 1927, Page 8

VALUES TOO HIGH

DOMINION’S PROBLEM YOUNG N.Z. PROFESSOR

Introducing Dr. Horace r, shaw, M.A. (N.Z.), Ph.D. (c “*" tab.), occupant oF the recent! created Chair of Economics, aZI land University College. Ck " In reality Dr. Belshaw needs n introduction to New Zealander? Though he was not actually tor in this Dominion, he owes h" education to the New ZealoJ! system. I Dr. Belshaw is one cf the tew v Zealand-trained sons of dtstianf* who has returned to serve her T::> And the reason why so many fEime beyond fc?. shores? ■Because then are so few saW jobs offering- /. dared Dr. shaw, who arrive* m Auckland terday by the cit maroa via Austrr ha. after thi*. years abroad. Another goes reason, Dr. Bel shaw confided

THE SUN, is that to leave the 0!« Country, with its many academi. traditions, is a definite wrench to th* research student. New Zealand, bt reason of its geographic isolation, s far from the centres of thought. jy a man who has specialised in a certain subject, he is removed from f e i low-investigators.

It is not possible, for instance, to attend lectures by men of world-wife eminence in their particular profe*. sion, or to attend meetings at whirt kindred spirits discuss the subject ij which he is particularly interested. On the other hand. New Zealand in common with other young coua. tries, has something to offer whi(+ the older civilisations have nql. h-' Belshaw is interested in agriculture' This is the subject he specialised it at Cambridge. Research there was prompted by conditions prevailing ii this country. NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE “I believe that in this subject New Zealand will have something really valuable to share with the world’s common fund of knowledge.’’ declares Dr. Belshaw, who has returned convinced that the real problem as far as the man on the land in this Dominion is concerned is the question of values. In New Zealand, as in other yonng lands, a period of prosperity—such as we experienced here up till 1920—• was usually reflected in an increase in land values. “Invariably this means over-valuation,” says Dr. Belshaw, “though many interested are the last to admit it.” MARKETING IMPORTANT Marketing is, of course, important, but the real problem facing New Zealand to-day unquestionably is high valuations. While concentrating on the technical side the farmer has been apt to forget the economic side. “People are inclined to be impatient, but I really believe we are slowly getting at the truth,” is Dr. Belshaw’s contention. Experience abroad has convinced him that the New Zealand farmer is technically efficient.