The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1922. DAIRYING ON BUSINESS LINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1922. DAIRYING ON BUSINESS LINES.

“Dependent as we are on the export of our primary products, values (of land) must be based on what land ean produce in competition with other countries in the markets of the world. . . The natural advantages of our country are very great indeed, and if our people will accommodate themselves to the altered conditions, and be of good cheer, we may confidently look forward to a steadily, though perhaps slowly, improving position.” These words, taken from the recent address of the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, constitute a homily which the producers may, to their advantage, take to heart and profit thereby if the precept ) set forth are put into p eetice, That Mr. Elliot should have accurately gauged the crux of the situation as regards the part the producers must undertake if they are to be in a position to meet all emergencies, testifies to the faet that he has noted the efforts of the Press, at least in Taranaki, to arouse the farming community to a full sense of the only manner in which dairying can become impregnable against adverse conditions that may occasionally prevail. There is but one way in which this ean be accomplished, namely, by adopting business and scientific methods that will pot only secure the utmost possible production, but will raise the quality and eliminate wasted time, njonev and energy. It is only just to give the pioneer farmers in Taranaki full credit for their great work in bringing the land to its present state of production. Those who saw this part of the country when it was a dense virgin forest, and have watched the process of felling, burning, grassing, with the subsequent. stumping and clearing, are fully aware of the enormous amount of labor and capital involved in making the fine pastures and cultivated land as they appear to-day. It must also be remembered that in its rough state the land was only fit for heavy and hardy cattle, whereas at the present time the highest class of butter-fat producers are found enjoying congenial conditions on many farms where shelter and ample stored feed exists to stimulate large yields. It is not. unhappily, all the dairy farmers who have'“accommodated themselves to the altered conditions.” Much has happened since butter realised only a few pence per pound and was bartered for the necessaries of life. The industry has become the main support of the Dominion, yet it is only on thethreshold of its rightful greatness. Much as the recent depression is to be deplored, it may prove a blessing in disguise by stimulating every dairy farmer to that intensive cultivation of his land and culling of his herd that, modern science and business methods will enable the dominant principle of political and productive economy to even more than double the present output and thus ensure for the farmers the certainty of being able to so improve their financial position that they ean meet adverse seasons with equanimity. To many of those who are fully aware of the benefits to be obtained by working on approved practical and scientific methods, the bugbear of finance hinders their efforts. It is for that and equally cogent reasons that an Agricultural Bank is much needed, in spite-of all that Mr. Elliot may urge to the contrary. Although conditions may be different in New Zealand to those in the countries where agricultural banks have been, and are, of the first importance, the one great need of finance is common to all, and it is unreasonable to expect that the best interests of the farmers, as well as the necessary progress and prosperity of the Do- ! minion, ean be attained without j money, so that the farming community should never relax in their insistence on the provision of such an aid to their efforts as e'en be provided in no other way. Greater production has been the slogan ever since the war demon-

strated so emphatically the absolute necessity therefor. To attain this increase there must be scientific farming on order to produce at least double the amount of natural feed for the stock, and that feed must be supplemented by the best artificial foods that research and experience can provide, for only by these means will it be possible to obtain the highest yields from the most profitable butterfat producers that can be bred. The climate and soil of 'Taranaki are both ideal for dairying, but if the most payable results are to be achieved there must be added other factors for increasing yields of the highest grade. Food of the right kinds and in the right quantities, shelter in the paddocks, absolute cleanliness of the milking sheds, yards and utensils, will do much in the desired direction, but the elimination of “waster” cows, and their replacement by those of proved butter-fat strains, will do more to swell the banking account than is generally realised. Possibly the A. and P. Societies might do more than is the case at present to advance the interests of the dairy farmers, but in the main thev must work out their own salvation. Thftv have had a hard experience of depressed prices, and it is to be hoped that, little by little, they will strengthen their position and outlook bv adopting business and scientific lines in their future operations.