WEALTH FROM LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1920, Page 5

WEALTH FROM LAND.

PROBLEMS IN NEW ZEALAND. HJTORE PROSPECTS REVIEWED. By Telegraph.—Press .Association. 'I Wellington, Last Night. The seventh annual conference of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture opened to-day. 7? The Hon. W Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, who. reviewed the portion In the Dominion's premier industry;-said that with the close of the Imperial com,mandeer New Zealand was in a tiifficult position in regard to shipping, and a return to pre-war methods was necessary in order to cultivate with energy old markets, and to look with enterprise for new ones. The Minister referred to America, especially with reference to the release of a great deal of shipping from Australia on account of the drought, which forbade exp.ort, and therefore would allow of more shipping being available for New Zealand. He believed there would be more shipping available and offering than New Zealand could utilise, even with the large amount of frozen meat in store. There was every piuspect now of an adequate supply of phosphates from Nauru Island as soon as shipping was available. The department was making arrangements for the opening up of lime deposits and the importation of potash. The sheep position also required attention, a"s the number of breeding ewes in last year's return was less than in any year since 1912, and the slaughter of stock for export and local consumption was a record. Last year there was a satisfactory increase in dairy cattle, and the department was P avv "? attention to. the raising of pigs. With regard to wheat-growing he was hopeful that a much larger area had been sown last autumn, and would be sown before the seaso.n closed. It behoved them to be self-reliant, and not depend upon Australia for food. The wheat yield last season was very high per acre, but we must be prepared for bad eeasons, and it should not be necessary for us. to go outside New Zealand, which must be self-supporting for its food supplies. The attitude of Australia with regard to potatoes, and the embargo on New Zealand potatoes, showed that this country must look after itself. Ho believed that the settlement of soldiers on the land would prove a great blessing to the Dominion. Mr. John Turnbull, of Waikafca, was tleotad president,