AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43349, 14 July 1908, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS

Tub position of our agricultural industries in recent years gives rise to the question whether our Dominion is likely to become an importing instead of a producing country, at least in as far as it refers to breadstuffs. Figures and statistics would indicate that the yield of wheat in the past season in the Dominion will

not be sufficient to provide for all requirements until next harvest be available.

The large importations of flour from Australia during the past month or two would seem to confirm the reports arid figures in respect to the expected shortage of foodstuffs. These importations of Australian flour Have been delivered at Wellington, and South Island porf s ; and last week two barques arrived in 1 Auckland from Melbourne with 2000 tons of flour. It is not a pleasing feature to note that fully £20,000 bad to be paid away out of the Dominion to cover these two shipments alone, to say nothing of the big sums already BeDt out for shipments to. other parts of New Zealand. We understand that considerable quantities have been contracted for still to come forward from Victoria, and hard cash will have to be paid away for what should have been provided within our own territory. This seems to be a paradoxical state of things in a land blessed with such wonderful producing powers. Yet it is to be recorded that since 1901 5 the area under wheat has decreased by 65,331 acres, until last season the total area under crap for wheat had fallen to 192,634 acres. It is positively absurd that we should have to send out of the country for any supplies of foodstuffs that can so easily and abundantly be produced from our own soil. Last year, probably owing to a continuance of dry weather, and in some parts to floods, in our country, and on the other hand the abundance of crops in the Commonwealth, we imported large quantities of flour, grain, potatoes, chaff, etc.' But we cannot forget that all this had to be paid for in “ cold cash,” which really meant that we became that much poorer in consequence. It is a good basis to work on, that a country can be valued according to what its soil produces, and if the value of its exports exceeds that of its imports it must of a necessity be correspondingly richer. There can be no disputing the fact that in New Zealand we are not producing to the fullest extent of our capabilities by any means. It is not sufficient to give tbe country over to a sheep-walk, nor even to limit it to dairy-farming. Our lands require more diligent cultivation in every possible way. , The cry of over-production is a false one. We cannot over-produce whilst an outlet is to be found in the world’s markets for our surplus, and we become the richer for our exports. Coming to our own immediate surroundings, we may ask the question is the best use being made of the farming lands in this district? Flour millers acquainted with the properties of wheat grown on limestone country know that it is the best class of grain for yielding strong flour, and is always in demand. What need prevent such wheat being grown in this district, and findipg a /ready market with the Auckland millers ? Potatoes, too, can be grown with eminently satisfactory results, and realize the highest market rates. The Auckland demand for potatoes is gradually but surely growing, and the weekly requirements total.fully 4000 sacks, which are. brought from the South or other places. There can be no doubt about the encouraging ,prospects for our district, and it only requires our own people to realise the possibilities within, their reach.