THE PROSPERITY OF HAWKE’S BAY.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 6 April 1906, Page 2

THE PROSPERITY OF HAWKE’S BAY.

—o — The special correspondent of the New Zealand Times who visited the H. B. Show at Hastings on Wednesday says : — Time brings many changes, and the cycle of changes here has brought with it development in the direction of closer settlement. This progress was not sought voluntarily. It had its initiation in the Government’s lands for settlements policy, which, though strenuously resisted at first, has done much to put people on country where formerly there were only sheep. The advent of the small farmer has meant a fresh outlet for the energies of the ,Agriclutural and Pastoral Society, which now finds the field of its operations extended in a desirable direction. 'The visitor tv Hawke’s Bay cannot fail to observe the air of buoyancy that prevails throughout the district. The pastoral industry is, of course, its mainstay. It will never be a dairying centre, as dairying is known in Taranaki and Auckland, but the cutting up of the soil has tended to a better distribution of the wealth of the community. In Wellington at the present time the complaint is that money is very “ tight.” There is no note of despondency in this direction up here. If there is then at any rate it is not heard in any marked degree. The sheepfarmers have had a splendid year with the very nigh price of wool, and their spending power has largely increased. Taranaki, with its dairying industry, was at one time pointed out as au example of prosperity, and Hawke’s Bay, with its large pastor 1 runs, as tne very opposite ; yet to-day the position on the West and East Coasts appears to be reversed. Taranaki, notwithstanding the high prices ruling for butter at Home early in the season —most of which went to the middleman—-is not prosperous, while Hawke’s Bay, benefiting from its wool and froze., meat exports, is enjoying a wave of prosperity that is certainly cheering. Taranaki has about eighty dairy factories and some three hundred private dairies exporting butter on their own account. Hawke’s Bay has only about fourteen dairy factories and skimming stations, but it has not all its eggs in one basket, and while the dairying industry is in its infancy, these staple products, wool and frozen meat, as in years gone by, bring wealth into the district and keep three large freezing works busy.