A Year of Progress

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 27

A Year of Progress

DOMINION’S PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

An Optimistic Review

THERE is almost untold wealth in the pastoral and agricultural industries of this Dominion.” I'lnis. Mr. W. Perry, president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, at the recent annual meeting of the association. Mr. Perry made some interesting comparisons in support of his contention.

the wool industry fell the honour this year of saving many a farmer from ruin, stated Mr. Perry. Had prices been easier it would be safe to assume that many would not weather this winter’s storm. The following table gives an indication of what the industry means to the country:

The export of wool from this Dominion for the 12 months which ended on March 31 last amounted to 723.717 bales valued at £16,691,385, as compared with 628,355 bales valued at £11,915,781 for the previous 12 months. There was thus an increase of 95,362 bales, and an extra sum of no less than £4,775,604 found its \yay into the pockets of our sheep farmers. The quantity of wool sold in the Dominion during the November to March roster of sales amounted to 514,135 bales valued at £12,468,097. This works out at an average of 16.89 d a lb over the whole Dominion, or £24 5s a bale. Last year the average Dominion price was 12.66 d, or £lB

3s Id a bale, so that the increase this season amounted to 4Jd a lb, or £6 Is lid a bale. lu reference to the dairy industry, Mr. Perry said that the following export figures showed how dairy farmers managed to make a living:—

“The dairying: season.,” he said, "promised during the spring and up to the end of the calendar year to eclipse the production of any of its predecessors. The figures at the ned of December appeared to warrant a forecast to the effect that the season’s total production would be many thousands of tons in excess of the 1926-27 season. Dry weather was, however, general during January and February in the majority of the dairying districts. As a consequence production was very much lessened and the butter and cheese graded for export is, it would appear just about equal on a butter-fat basis to the gradings of these commodities during the preceding season.

It is interesting to note from the last annual sheep returns at April 30, 1927, that our flocks of sheep are steadily increasing. As compared with the figures for 1926, the returns Cat April 30. 1927), show a;n increase of 744.023 sheep, and it is particularly interesting to note the marked increase in the number of breeding ewes—Bß3,47B over the preceding year. On April 30, 1927. there were in the Dominion 14,831.730 breeding ewes, which probably constitutes a record, and is quite consistent with the marked increases of our lamb production, as is shown in the larger numbers shipped from the Dominion. The Dominion lambing figures for 1927

show an estimated increase over the actual number of lambs tailed in 1926 of just 300,000, the increase being well distributed in both islands as follows: —440,086 in the North Island: 359,073 in the South Island. Total, 799,159; It may be noted that the last two lambing returns (for last year and the previous year) showed a considerable increase, and there is no doubt that with the increasing of phosphatic manures for top-dressing our flocks of sheep and herds of cattle will be further increased. In contradistinction to the wool and dairying industries,” Mr. Pery said, “our beef-rearing farmers have netted the following amounts from the world’s markets: £1,043,871 in 1925; £511,985 in 1926; and £583,871 in 1927. To these should be added the receipts from the sale of calf and cattle hides overseas, viz., £940,140 in 1925; £756,537 in 1926; and £992,825 in 1927. During the past two seasons there has been a marked increase in the export of “bobby” veal. In 1925 our export of veal was worth £38,501; in 1926, £94,092; while last year it totalled £58,394.

“It is very pleasing to review suc.h a satisfactory season as we have experienced this year. Not only have

there been substantial advances in the prices of our primary products, but climatic conditions in most parts of the Dominion have been fairly favourable, with the result that when this season finally closes our export figures will show a considerable advance over the preceding year. “During the last few months there have been good inquiries for our frozen beef from New York, and also from Montreal, and considerable quantities have been shipped to these and other ports, and it is satisfactory to note that the markets for our frozen meat are being extended. There has also been a good demand for our beef for army orders in Great Britain, which, combined with the demand from New York, Montreal, etc., has raised the value for fat cattle throughout the Dominion. The Meat Board has on several occasions made trial shipments of beef, mutton, and lamb to both New York and Canada, and with a view to fully testing out the possibilities of these markets for our lamb, the board has this season made several shipments of lamb to New York It Is to be trusted that as a result of these shipments a new market will be opened up for our lambs. “It was also extremely gratifying to note that our exports of pork were gradually increasing,” concluded Mr. Perry. In view of the many statements heard at intervals throughout the country regarding the alleged unhealthy state of our primary industries, and the talk of men being forced to leave their holdings, reviews such as that given by Mr. Perry are, to say the least, refreshing. New Zealand has a great future, and everything depends on the proper development of her farm lands. Little, however, is to be gained by talk of poverty and declining productivity.

1925. 1926. 1927. ‘J <£ £ Wool « • . , 17,739,736 11,830,190 12,961.744 Lamb . . « , 6.761,890 5,593.463 6.011.936 Mutton . , 3,069.763 2.122,009 2,035.558 Sheepsk'.ns . 1,:)89,289 1,544,273 1,550, S09

1925 1926 1927 £ £ £ Butter .. 10,240,132 8,695,188 10,915,233 Cheese 5,800,808 5,939,359 5,582,546 Dried Milk 390,045 309,794 308,101 Cond. Milk 36,693 35.278 38.170