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1925. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1924-25.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Sir, — Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 25th June, 1925. I have the honour to forward herewith, for your Excellency's information, the report of the Department of Agriculture of the Dominion for the financial year ended 31st March last. I have, &c., W. Nosworthy, His Excellency the Governor-General. Minister of Agriculture.

MINISTER S REPORT. It is with satisfaction that another good-all-round year may be recorded for the land industries of the Dominion. Production of our primary staples was well maintained, and producers obtained remunerative average returns. Weather conditions, on the whole, were favourable, a mild open winter being followed by a main season which fairly upheld the good reputation of the New Zealand climate in relation to agriculture. The group of products conveniently summarized by the term " meat and wool " have maintained a leading position in the rural wealth production of the Dominion. A feature of the season was the remarkably steady market at excellent values which ruled for freezer sheep and lambs. Killings at the meat-works were well maintained in point of numbers. As regards wool, a start at abnormally high values, followed by steadily falling prices, brought the market more or less under a cloud. However, the average price per bale realized by the clip for the whole season showed a substantial advance over that of the preceding wool year. The world statistical position of wool is still sound on the producer's side, and, given a fairly normal consumptive demand, it is hoped that the position will now stabilize. It is pleasing to observe that increasing attention, where required, is being given to quality by our wool-growers.

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