EXCELLENT PROSPECTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 506, 8 November 1928, Page 16

EXCELLENT PROSPECTS

WEALTH FROM THE LAND MR. COATES OPTIMISTIC Press Association WANGANUI. Wednesday, j “I have travelled extensively during the last few weeks, and everywhere I have heard comment on the excellence of the present season, while everything points to a further substantial increase in production.” said the Prime Minister to-day. ‘‘The development of more intensive grass-land farming by means of topdressing, and the increase of female stock on existing land holdings, is the leading principle in this direction. The actual stock increase is most marked in breeding ewes.” Mr. Coates said the dairy industry year ended on July 31 created a new record in production, in spite of the dry spell in the summer. Butter graded for export showed a 4.2 per cent, increase, and although cheese showed a very slight decrease, .73 per cent., the year’s figures for butter-fat equivalent represented a net increase of 2.59 per cent., compared with the 1926-27 season. ‘‘Still more remarkable are the statistics for the present season,” said Mr. Coates. “The increase in butter graded for the three months, August to October, compared with the previous year, was 10£ per cent., and the increase in cheese no less than 28J per cent., giving a net increase in butter-fat production of 14J per cent.” Mr. Coates said the number of cows tested in the Dominion last year was a record, the figures being 224,130, compared with 170,450 the year before. The sheep returns showed that there were 1,484,794 more sheep in the Dominion than a year ago. Perhaps the most satisfactory feature was the continued increase in breeding ewes, now numbering 15,328,331 (excluding stud sheep), compared with 14,632,511 a year ago. Wool exports totalled £16,548,869, a large increase over the value of the previous season, £12,883,971. Mr. Coates also mentioned the expansion of the growing of wheat and oats, and the development of the fruit export industry.