FARM PRODUCE MARKETS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27059, 6 June 1953, Page 2

FARM PRODUCE MARKETS

Immediate Prospects “ Fairly Good ”

THREAT SEEN TO WOOL AND BUTTER

The immediate prospects for farm produce looked fairly good if costs could be kept within bounds, but what of the more distant view? said Mr D. W. Gray, president of the North Canterbury provincial district of Federated Farmers, in his address to the annual provincial conference yesterday. “The threat of synthetics to our wool industry is at present only a small cloud on the horizon, but new and improved fibres could conceivably develop into a storm that might wreck our economy completely,” said Mr Gray.

“The dairy industry is already uder threat, from margarine, a very powerful competitor with butter. It seems to me that while we should do our best to hold our own in these threatened lines we should be looking round for possible alternatives. Noone has yet found a substitute for good meat, and the production of beef can be increased, especially in Canterbury. without detriment to our wool and lambs. “No-one who has studied the matter at all doubts that the present farm production can be greatly increased in New Zealand. It is being increased now, but is the rate fast enough? There are several ways in which this can be done. First, there is the bringing in of land at present unproductive or nearly so, and the Government is tc be commended on the work that is being done in the centre and north of the North Island. We should urge the extension of this work wherever possible.

“Then there is assistance and encouragement that could be given to present landholders to increase their output. I think that more use can be made of the Marginal Lands Board. The favourable returns of the last few years have shown that farmers are prepared to put back large sums into improvements in their holdings when they have funds available, and although it can be said that farmers should not be more leniently taxed than other sections, the State would< benefit more in the end by encouraging capital expenditure on the land,” said Mr Gray.