FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1917, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

Commenting on agricultural census returns, the Lyttelton Times says: We find that since 1010-11 the total area in occupation in holdings of one acre and more has increased by just over one million acres. The number of grow from 73,57G to 77,229, or by 3353. At first sight this may appear satisfactory, and we are bound tb say that the latest return makes a better showing of progress than had been the case for some years. But an increase of 4J per cent, in five years is nevertheless deplorably small in a young, undeveloped country, which has 24,300,000 acres of land entirely For [while the. number of holdings increased by 3300 the population grew by over 110,000, so that the landless'proportion of the people lias substantially increased. The good share of the increase in the holdings, the number having risen from 11,57fi to 12,804, but Otago and Southland both suffered a decrease. The number of holdings exceeding 50,000 acres in Canterbury was reduced in the five years from 20 to 22, but holdings of 20,000 to 50,000 acres advanced from 27 to 30. Excessive holdings, indeed, are, still the bane of the South Island, and largely account for its slow progress in comparison with the North. Of estates of 15,000 acres and more, there are in this province 82, compared with Auckland's 10. There are in New Zealand 90 holdings exceeding 40,000 acres, and of these 7«' ? are in the South Island. These matters will have to be adjusted, these evils corrected, if the South Island is to enjoy its fair share of progress and prosperity. Referring to the butter-fat tax, at the opening of a cheese factory at Matamata, the Hon. W. H'. Herries, Minister of Railways, said lie thought that the bitterness at first exhibited was now becoming appeased. The Government was faced with a very big problem, but it would endeavor to find the best way nut. The Government was pledged to endeavor to reduce the cost- of living for the benefit of the whole Dominion, and when a scheme favorable to this end was presented at a time when butter threatened to rise to prohibitive prices, members of the Cabinet considered it. would be utterly unworthy of them if they did not adopt it. Farmers might declare it a "class tax," but he disagreed with (hem in this, as the people who paid it received it back again. The Government got nothing of it, and therefore it was not a tax at all. Whether the Government had acted rightly or wrongly, he-'continued, they were determined to carry out their pledge to the people, or an export tax on all produce shipped away would be suggested. But it was not within the province of the. Government to impose this, though such could, of course, be authorised by Parliament. The whole matter, therefore, was in the hands of the people's representatives. If Parliamnt desired that an export tax should'be levied lie, personally, had no objection to make. Mr. Herries added that lie was quite prepared, when the time came, to give an account to his constituents of all his actions while a member of the National Government.