"ON THE COW'S BACK."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 124, 27 May 1936, Page 6

"ON THE COW'S BACK."

Emphasis was laid by the Prime Minister at Hamilton yesterday on the increase in the Dominion's exports for the past season. Although the figures quoted were totals, and gave no indication of how the varying branches of production had shared in the improvement, the general point made by Mr. Savage, that prosperity is returning for the farmer, holds good for Waikato dairying. Prices for butter and cheese have been above those of 1934-o5 throughout the past season, and to-day are at a level which assures most farmers of some margin of profit. When the final returns for butter are known, the average for 1935-36 should approach twopence a pound above the previous season. In the Auckland province, which means chiefly the Waikato, this should represent a gain in butter values little short of £2,000,000. Not without reason has it been said that Auckland lives on the cow's back. Last year more than two-thirds of the butter shipped from New Zealand was the output of this province, and this had been the proportion over a series of years. The Waikato is . justifiably proud of its great irfdustry, and it is fortunate for Auckland that dairying has emerged from the depression with its efficiency unimpaired.