Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1895. THE FUTURE OF THE FARMER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4963, 28 February 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1895. THE FUTURE OF THE FARMER.

HmißiiTO fanning in New Zealand lias been confined to the production of wheat, wool, mutton, and beef, and a few minor products. Not many years ago the Canterbury agriculturalist relied upon wheat, and good wheat land was worth a deal of money, but now the cereal does not pay, and wheat land has in consequence lost its value. The frozen meat industry camo to the rescue, when the prospects of the farmer were gloomy, and by leaps aud bounds the industry assumed enermous proportions, and is now one of chief sources of income, but the prices for frozen meat are not encouraging. On the other hand, the strenuous efforts that are being made by th© other, ColotiicJß tiudthe Avroiij tiria for a share of this trade makes it extremely doubtful whether mut-1 ton will even again see prices which' made Ve'tEbrs". here worth 155.( each. After frozen meat, we turned our attention'to butter,, and there is no doubt that, since 1890, the dairy industry Jjus 'made rapid progress, We have increased .our exports of butter and cheese, hut not to the extent that wo'could and should have done. Indifference on the part of the Government, and the negligence rf our farmers, has prevented anything like a substantial output. Victoria and South Australia paid more attention to the matter, with happier results than we can show, The export of butter, from Victoria, . to the 30th June, 1894, amounted to 7064 tons, while for tho present season, the output is expected to reach 12,000 tons, which, at an average of 9d per )b, will bo worth : £1,000,000, South Australia, for the 1894 period, sent away 234 tons, and for tho present season, the shipments already despatched, amount to 535 tons, NowZoalant 1 will not be able to show the same advancement, f qr the reasons already stated, The outlook for butter is as cheer. , less as that of frozen meat; a glutted ; market and keen competition are not ' conducive tp higli prices. Milk sup- i pliers must expect to receiye less ' mipupy from tho factories in conse- i queues, fa Vjpfprja milk showing ' by tat. 3'6 is sold jo the factories at "Mp gnKandmiljcpfß'Sanflj n™r v M,)W Pllon, Similar prices | must rule m this <. ' '.,'j g T l industry in Victoria a. u l W& t Australia in aided by Government) t

bonuses, it is possible that the price per gallon of milk in New Zealand will have to be lower than the Colonies named to put our factories on an oven footing with the others. It is unnecessary to refer to wool, for every wool •grower, is well aware of the despondency of the market, We have these tangible facts before us that our staple products, those that the farmer has relied upon year after year, are at a point which does not give a return for the money expended in their production. The first step considered necessary to balance accounts is to reduce the cost of production, and to enable this to be done wages must go down, and in this connection one station in the South employing between 70 and 80 hands Ims notified a reduction in wages equal to 20 percent. Cutting down wages will no doubt help to adjust differences, but only to a small extent, but to effectually bring out a profitable balance-sheet our farmers must toss overboard the present system of working. They must no longer confine their attention wholly to wool and wheat, butter and frozen meat; but. must veuture into other lines of profitable produce. There are many kinds of products' which would be a source of profit to our settlers, which should receive attention. Pigs, poultry, and fruit, suggest themselves at once. During the nine months ending September, 1894, the United States sent to Great Britain 222,676,0001 bs of pork; there | is surely a chance for New Zealand in a trade so gigantic as this, Our farmers had an opportunity of expanding their pig products when Mr Vecht was here making overtures to them, but they preferred to let him go to Victoria. There is profit in pigs, but hog wising must becarried out in a systematic manner; the Victorians are paying attention to 1 tin's branch of farming and are cooperating fo prepare and market the produce with excellent results. In eggs, chickens, geese, ducks, and; turkeys there is good money to be made and the Victorian experimental shipments have proved thai poultry raising can be made profitable.! Fruit is receiving attention, but the growers desire an inordinate amount of protection and seek a profit out of customs duties. There are .other' products that can be raised profitably in this colony, but farmers have got into a groove and appear unable or unwilling to extricate themselves, What is to be tho future of the farmer who adheres to the fetish of wool and wheat and drooping prices 'i Such must starve or become bankrupt. To keep his head above water, to honestly pay his way and have a little in hand, it is abundantly evident that the farmer must increase the number of his products, The settlers of the other Colonies are doing so, and the New Zealander must keep pace with tho rest.