INDUSTRIES OF THE PROVINCE

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 8

INDUSTRIES OF THE PROVINCE

GREAT POTENTIAL WEALTHTIMBER LANDS GIVE WAY TO FERTILE FARMS.

SURIXG its 58 years' history the "Auckland Star" has assisted in the wonderful commercial development of the most favoured province in the Dominion. With a soil and climate that, extend-

ing over a wide area of country, could grow tropical fruits in the northern extremity and everything else in the southern, coupled with an amplitude of raw matei-ial such as coal, timber, lime and cement, the opportunities for production were almost limitless.

This fact, however, was not always recognised, and it was the mission of the "Star" to make known day by day, month by month, and year by year, the vast potentialities of the district. Capital was needed, and badly needed, to assist production and make available for commerce the result of men's labour. So in those early days the energies of the pioneers were directed to clearing the forest, selling stocks of timber when they could arrange for the transport, and digging the kauri gum which was scattered freely over large areas. That incomparable timber tree, the handsome kauri, was worth a lot to the early settlers, and so was the gum, which commanded a high price in those days because of its exceptional quality.

Fruit grew in abundance on every hand, stock of all kinds thrived, so that the immediate wants of the moment were readily satisfied, but the development of that export trade which is a necessary complement to the existence of New Zealanders as a civilised community was of necessity a slow process. Gold at the Thames. Then at a timely period came the discoveries of gold in the Thames valleys, which helped materially to tide over the period while the export trade, as we use the term to-day, was developing. Yet in the early 'nineties the exports from the port of Auckland had only passed the million pounds mark, a standard that looks very small in comparison with the position to-day, when more than eight million is received for dairy produce.

Following the main trend of Dominion overseas trade, the province developed the pastoral industry on satisfactory lines, but it was not long before farmers realised that the salubrious climate of the North offered unrivalled opportunities for the development of' the dairy industry, and this has progressed actually by leaps and bounds.

To-day more than a third of the Dominion's exported butter comes from the Auckland Province. The largest butter factory and the largest dairy company are both situated within its boundaries, and in the quality of their product Auckland producers can face contidently the competition of any other country. Remarkable as these achievements are, our dairy farmers are not disposed to rest on their laurels, but with increased used of fertilisers for their pastures, and strict adherence to herd testing, expect to retain and to emphasise the lead they hold in this industry. Commercial Industries. While the farmers, then, were exploiting more and more the productive possibilities of the land, the dwellers in the cities and towns, with equal zeal, established distributing agencies and various manufactures as increasing population rendered these economically practicable. Starting necessarily in a small way, what are known as the secondary industries became in the aggregate of the utmost importance. In this field, also, the energies of Aucklanders resulted in their taking a leading place amongst the various provinces of the Dominion. Many instances could b? given where, from the most humble beginnings and unpromising surround ings, insignificant "one man shows" have developed through the grit, the vision, and the determination of their founders, into vast enterprises which are now the pride of the City of Auckland and the admiration of all visitors. Amongst industries that may be par ticularised are those associated with timber, such as sawmills, sash and door works, furniture, meat freezing works, lime and cement, printing, clothing, boots and shoes, engineering, tinware, tanneries, coachbuilding, bricks and tiles, ship and boat works. Harnessing the Rivers. Natural assets which were not utilised until more recent years were the fastflowing rivers and high lakes, with their abundance of potential energy. Since this, converted into electrical current, became available, the benefits both to the primary and secondary industries have been so marked that progress has been wonderfully accelerated. Not only has hydro-electricity made possible a great advancement in all kinds of manu facturing, but it is rapidly opening up « new vista for the country folk, bringing their standards of comfort and con venience into much closer relationship with those of the town dwellers.

It is now recognised that when the full possibilities of hvdro-clectrical power are fully utilised the productive capacity of the province will receive a startling impetus, and that the imposing achievements already attained will b° surpassed and left far behind.