LAND VALUES.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1916, Page 6

LAND VALUES.

To the Editor. I Kir, —I lately heard a well-known farmer pay that the beat North Taranaki dairying land was not worth more' than £4O an acre, aiul as a good few farms known to me have changed hands at more than tlmt figure, it set me . thinking. On my way to some of the j clearing sales I had a good look round, j and as I do not go by motor-car, which prevents such a tiling', my summing up is this: That there are very few farms that will carry a cow to two acres, and if not up to tiiis standard are not worth the money. Some may dispute this, but I base my calculations on what was reckon?d a fair rental in the Old Country, which was that the owner got onethird, the tenant got one-third for his outlay in stock and management of 'the farm, and one-third went for labor. To be worth £4O, besides the carrying capacity, there ought to be a good house and outbuildings, good fences and gates. Very few when buying consider cost of manure needed to keep the land in good heart. At present prices it would be about 5s per acre per year. Then there are rates, upkeep of fences aiul gates, and painting of buildings, and a certain amount for contingencies, such as the death of a few cows, or a valuable horse, also insurance. I am sure if these things were thcyght out well the prices being paid would cease, as 1 notice that the farms that are changing hands are generally not in good order, but, so to speak, have got out of hand and require a good .deal of capital and labor to put them right. JloiWever, that does not trouble the agent, as he will gladly sell them again next week for his commission. The land is going to ruin in the meantime. Verb sap!—l am, etc-., AGRICOLA.