N.Z.’S FARM POPULATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 884, 30 January 1930, Page 12

N.Z.’S FARM POPULATION

INCREASE IN RECENT YEARS SPEECH BY MR. COATES Speaking particularly to the slogan, “Go North, Young Man,” and generally in respect to the tendency toward closer settlement shown over tue years 1925 to 1928, the Hon. J. G. Coates, at the opening of the Helensvillo Sh©w yesterday, gave a definite denial to critics who argue that the number of men and women engaged in farming in New Zealand is decreasing. Using the latest available figures, Mr. Coates stated that in 1925 approximately 52,600 men and boys were engaged in dairying in New Zealand; by 1928 this number had increased to 56,925. In the sheep-raising and other pastoral industries 41,257 men and boys found employment in 1925, compared with the increased number of 43,000 in 1928. Speaking of tliq potential wealth of the North and the progress which hud been made during the past decade, Mr. Coates stated that the average size of the holdings there was smaller tliaji that of the farms of any other dfc§trict in New Zealand. The averu#t holding in North Auckland a man was 214 acres, compared with 260 acr'es a man in Taranaki, 331 acres in South Auckland, and 445 acres in Wellington, the next most closely settled district.