FACTORY AND FARM

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 354, 8 February 1937, Page 8

FACTORY AND FARM

Both Closely Linked Together COMMUNITY INTEREST Farming and industry were once entirely separate pursuits which could almost be divided into watertight compartments, but to-day they are mutually dependent and are closely linked together in a hundred ways. Modern industrial conditions and modern farming methods have joined the primary and secondary producer so that either can now succeed without the other. Although the interests of farmer and manufacturer often conflict, especially in a country like New Zealand with its tariff problems, they are more often identical. This community of interest has long been recognised and a fine Institution for reconciling the views of ihe two parties has grown up in Auckland in the Winter Exhibition,, where the interdependence of the two types of producers is strikingly shown each year, and where a solution to differing views is often pointed. Catering For Local Needs. The man on the land in New Zealand has his own peculiar wants, differing in material respects from those of overseas countries and from one district to another. Catering for these needs requires an intimate knowledge of local conditions, and it is natural that local industries have been, particularly successful in filling these requirements. Some of our largest and most firmly established industries deal with the needs of the man on the land. It will be possible to give only a few examples of how industry in the Auckland province assists the farmer, but they are typical of how primary and secondary producers throughout the country are uniting to -secure the best possible results. Benefits from Fertilisers. The manufacture and use of fertilis ers is a development which has reached an advanced stage in this country and some amazing results have been achieved by this means. For more than 50 years supplies of fertiliser manufactured at Westfield by Kempthorne, Prosper and Company’s New Zealand Drug Company, Ltd., have assisted farmers throughout the North Island to produce more rapidly increasing tonnages of dairy produce, meat and wool. By keeping thoroughly up-to-date in all matters pertaining to agriculture, the growing of crops, better grassland and health of livestock, it has been possible for the suppliers to render a service to the farming community Seldom associated with a commercial firm and an expert staff of agricultural chemists and a technical field adviser is available for consultation by farmers who still have fertiliser problems unsolved. With a general realisation of the value of superphosphate and other fertilisers, greater production has been demanded year by year and extensions ta existing works have been made necessary. To-day over 300,000 tons of fertiliser are used annually in the Dominion.

a large proportion being consumed in the Auckland province, particularly in the Waikato. Trouble-Saving Concrete. The maintenance problems of the farmer, so costly in money, time and labour, can be greatly reduced by con struction in permanent materials and this course has been made readily avail .able by the development of seientinc concrete manufacture by the Hume Pipe Company. Articles so made are free from defects often found in concrete constructed by the layman and have the advantage over many materials of be ing available in small sections to facili tate handling. Water and storage tanks, for in stance, can be built up to any desired size very simply and added to at will Ensilage silos are similarly available and it is claimed they not only produce a better article, but save the initial cost in three years through reducing wastage. Other concrete articles for the farmer manufactured in Auckland in elude water and .drainage pipe, trough® of all kinds, boilers, chimneys, wa.di tubs, septic tanks and cisterns, and u wide range of ether facilities. Inciden tally, the firm ">lu‘b many articles foi the city dweJe* and is a supplier ol terrazzo marbieware. Machinery on the Farm. The farm as much as the industrial svorld has been effected by the trend toward greater use of machines and more and more labour-saving devices are being used on the land each year. Machines at first regarded as freaks have one after another come into general use. Manufacturers have responded to the demand and large and efficient factories now supply much of the Dominion’s requirements. The making of farming machinery is itself an important industry. Obtaining High-Grade Milk. The introduction of guaranteed prices for dairy produce has made the production of milk and cream the highest possible quality of greater importance than ever to the dairy farmer, in order that he may obtain the maximum benefits from the premiums provided for the best quality. Similarly, the increased attention to milk for town supply has made the production of milk with low bacteria count essential. To assist the farmer in obtaining this result, sterilisers are now manufactured and amazing improvements in milk quality have, it is claimed, been effected. It is being increasingly recognised that to guard against a high bacteria count to complete sterilisation of all equipment with wet steam in the cowshed after each milking is necessary. To fill this need, simply-operated, trouble-free sterilisers have been evolved by which an adequate supply can be made available in a few minutes.