THE FARMERS' OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 252, 30 November 1909, Page 2

THE FARMERS' OUTLOOK.

UNUSUALLY BRIGHT. A RECORD SEASOX PROBABLE. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. By Telcgmpn.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. During the course of his speech at Mackenzie on Saturday evening, the Minister of Agriculture, referring to the farmers' outlook, said: '"flic general prospects for the world's trade are good, and as thisi country is affected by tlie success or reverse of trade prospects as ' older countries, we may look forward with a reasonable degree of assurance to increased prosperity here. The position of the iron output, of gold and bountiful wheat harvests, with firm prices, assuredly indicate a period of trade prosperity, and the position "f iron, gold and wheat at the present moment is satisfactory. It is held by competent authorities that the increase in the WORLD'S OUTPUT' OF GOLD

indicates a continuance of trade stability, and it has been pointed out in indication of that opinion what has occurred in the past when thq output of gold did not increase. In 1877, the world's output of gold was £20,900,000, and last year it amounted to £811,000,000. South Africa since 1904 has more than doubled its output of gold, which now stands at £32,000.000 per annum. The United States in IS9O produ-iid 32,000.000 dollars worth of gold, and last year she reached £90,000,000 dollars worth. According to recent papers I read that the accumulation of gold in the banks was never greater. It has increased in the last six months from £450,000,000 fo £501,000,000. Now speaking more immediately of our own country we .promise to have

A MOST BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. If all goes well, it should be a record one. Prices for the majority of cur products arc satisfactory, prices for batter, cheese, wheat and wool especially so, whilst TTeinp is improving, and o'/r frozen meat still stands at a considerable advance over the prices obtained not so long ago. The increased price of wool and also the increase in the output, based on the price of May of lasi year, should equal fully £3,000,000 to the settlers of this country. There has been increases of 22,000,0001b for the year ending March 31st, 11109, over that of tile previous year, and this season promises to mark a still greater ncrcaoc. SpoaKing of increases, I might mention, parenthetically, that our exports for the first seven months of this year show an increase in value of more than £2,000,000 over the corresponding period of last year. The difference between imports and exports marks sound commercial and financial progress. WOOL PROSPECTS.

As regards wool, at any rate, everything points to a continuance oi' the present satisfactory conditions. . The total of the world's flocks at the end of 1008 was 482,884,528, as against 522,004,135 in 1303, and during the same period tile world's wool-using population had increased irom 522,83(1,225 in 1805 to 010,301,508 in 1008. Flocks are decreasing, while the users of wool are increasing. "H might be interesting to note where the decreases in flocks come In. Germany has decreased her flocks frJin 25,000,000 to 7.0(10.000 and France «froni 32,000,000 to 17,000,000. 1 might point out that the decreases in flocks liavc occurred in those countries to which wc have no access for our frozen meat, so that does not ease us in that respect. Another interesting thing to note is the change that has taken place in the populations of comparatively new countries, and the effects on production and consumption of their products. The linked States has not for a considerable period increased her output of wool, whilst her export of wheat and cattle have enormously diminished, due undoubtedly tothe fact of the great increase in her home consumption. 'With her population, numbering some 88,000,000 souls, she has now. reached a point of absorbing much of what she produces. On the other hand the Argentine, with her vast amount of undeveloped country, is more (ban taking the position formerly occupied fiy the United States in exporting products to the markets of the world."