OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 156

OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

THE PROSPECTS BRIGHT. GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS OUT- , LINED. States the Financial Statement: The agricultural and pastoral' industries o£ the Dominion have been tveJl maintained during the year, having again had the stable support of ; tho system of Imperial Government purchase of our main primary staples. Good cereal crops were harvested, 'out .the acreage for wheat showed a marked decrease compared with the previous year. In 1918-19, 210,775 acres ware shown, as against an estimated total of 142,960 acres for the 1919-20 season. It is worthy of note that in the earlier days of New Zealand there was a large exportation of wheat (in 1885 nearly five million bushels were sent away). The development of sheep farming and dairying has affected the industry, and other causes have also contributed to the steady decline in the production of the cereal during the past few years. Tho difficulties experienced by the Government in transporting to the Dominion the wheat purchased in Australia, as well as the present outlook of the world's markets, prove conclusively that every encouragement should and will he 5 given to farmers to increase the production of this very important cereal. Cattle have substantially increased, owing to the continued expansion of the dairy industry. It is, however, to be regretted that in many districts dairy farmers are killing off practically all calves. If this slaughter of young stock continues, dairy cows are going to become very dear, and many fanners might find themselves, with the combination of unfavorable circumstances, in a veryunenviable position. A note of warning to dftiry-farmers is therefore sounded in •tliis connection.

The output of cheese shows a substantial increase, while butter lias correspondingly decreased. This is no doubt due to tho increased ' manufacture of dried milk, the latest development being that of combined skim-milk powder and butter making. This business has excellent prospects, within limits, but care should be taken not.'to overload the market before its capacity is fully tested. Sugar of milk has been depressed, but casein is in demand, and condensed milk manufacture is also in a good position. The stock slaughtered for freezing for export showed substantial increases over the previous year in cattle, sheep, and lafhbs. With ithe heavy stocks left in store from the previous season, these killings Have severely taxed the storage capacity of the freezing works, notwithstanding the additions made thereto.

Among the important by-products' of the mtat industry, tallow sold at exceptionally good prices during the greater part of the year. Owing to unfavorable climatic conditions in certain parts of the Dominion, the wool clip was markedly lighter than in .the previous year, and the aggregate returns to growers will be lower in consequence.

The fruit industry lias continued to expand in spite of the protracted closing of export outlets owing to the shipping shortage. The area in commercial orchards is about 37,000 acres. The Government is interesting itself in a scheme for improving the marketing conditions in connection with New Zealand-grown fruit which will ensure a more adequate return to the grower, and at the same time enable the consumer to obtain regular supplies at reasonable prices. The approaching termination of the Imperial Government agreements for the purchase of our wool, meat, sheepskins, And possibly dairy produce will bring about a position requiring careful handling, in order that the resumption of open trading may be effected to the best advantage. Especially does this apply to frozen meat and wool, owing the congestion which at present exists. Given a sufficient supply of tonnage ajul reasonable ocean freight rates the prospects of our staple products in the world markets appear bright. The whole position in connection with these products will be carefully watched by the Government.

Special efforts are being made to stimulate and aid primary production, and assistance to farmers to open up lime deposits will be provided. During the year itlie instructional activities of the Department have been considerably increased, especially as regards arable farming, swine-husbandry, and woolliandling, capable and well-trained instructors in these subjects having been added to the staff. It is proposed to introduce legislation during the coming session dealing with the sale of weeds. A Noxious Weeds Bill will also be introduced. More stringent measures are to be adopted regarding the sale of fertilisers, and for this purpose it is proposed to bring down an amendment to the present Act.

A vigorous policy of agricultural instruction is being followed; and proposals involving the establishment of an agricultural college in the North Island, boys' agricultural clubs, nnd at least one State farm in tho South Island are now under consideration. NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS. Great Britain having, in accordance with the Peace Treaty, received the mandate over Nauru and Ocean Islands, an agreement was arrived at by "which tke interests of the Pacific Phosphate .jJoßjwpjr ia Kftwu ehould b»

Ed by Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. New Zealand's share (10 per cent.), amounting to £560,000, was duly paid on the Ist July last, and under the agreement this Dominion is entitled tin that proportion of the phosphate dftposits on both and Ocean Islands, As the total quantity available is esti« mated at between 80,000,000 and 100,000,000 tons, this Dominion is assured of a supply of phosphates so essential to th 6 fertility of our soils at a reasonable price many years to come. CHEESE AND BUTTER. The requisition of the exportable surplus of oheese was continued during the 1919-20 season at prices similar to those paid for tho , 1918-19 season—namely, 10i[d per pound f.o.b. for first-grade cheese and 10Jd per pound f.o.b. for sec-ond-grade cheese. In addition; the cost of storage was jmid by the Imperial Government fot- chwse 'remaining in etofe over an average pariod of two months. The shipments of cheese to date under the requisition which commenced on the 4th November, 1915, total .2,623,883 crates, including 370,362 crates of the current season's manufacture,

The contract for the'purchase of the exportable surplus of butter for the 1919-20 getaon w«s alsd parried on hom the previous season, tWprice being 181s per hundredweight for'' -first-grade' creamery butter, with relatively reduced prices for second-grade, whey, dairy, and milled butter. Storage was also paid under .terms similar to those obtaining jn respect of cheese. i The total shipments of butter since the commencement of the requisition on the 20th November, 1917, amount to 1,797,430 boxes, including 405,617 Of the current season's manufacture,: ; The Department has continued to make advances <3fi the basis of approximately 90 pei' cent, of the purchase price in respect of butter and "cheese remaining in grading-store over a period of fourteen days. The contracts with the Imperial 'Government for the purchase of the exportable surplus of butter and cheese: tenninate in respect of produce manufactured during the periods ending 31st July and Ist July, 1920, respectively. Equalisation payments have been made from the sum of £340,000 authored by section' 16, Appropriation Act, 1919, in respect of the 1918-19 and 19li)20 seasons' butter, for the purpose of equalising tlio profits of those manufacturers who supply creamery butter for local ponaumption and those who supply butter for export under the scheme of requisition. TOTAL PAYMENTS. The total payments made from the 3rd March, 1913, to the 31st March, 1920, amounted to £133,091,249, made up as under:— . '£ Frozen meat ../... 44,344,503 Cheese 19,100,866 Butter ..I. 8,143,100 Scheelite ......... 175,970 Wool 55,481,257 Sheep-skins 2.573,155 Hides 735,063 Other business .... 2,530,720