OUR STAPLE INDUSTRIES.

Evening Star, Issue 14512, 2 November 1910, Page 10

OUR STAPLE INDUSTRIES.

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RURAL NEW ZEALAND UNDER REVIEW. By R. J. Bakes. No. 2. It should he noted that the writer’s intention is to deal with the various part? of Now Zealand according to their official grouping as land districts, bo that when the information is collated and the production is ultimately expressed in figures it will be understood to cover a land district. In the North Island there are four of such districts— Taranaki, Auckland. Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington—and they will bo reviewed in that order. Roughly, the Taranaki district embraces an area from xho mouth of the Mokan River, north-east +o the vicinity of Te Kuiti, south to Taumarunui, and south-west to tho mouth of the Patea River. The gross area of the district is 2,417,299 acres, and fully two-thirds of the whole is declared to ho good land, About Mount Egmont the configuration of the country furnishes a valuable watering system, and the numerous and never-fail-ing streams render possible the highest development of tho dairying industry. At the same time tho perfect drainage to the district which these streams give is not regarded as an unmixed blessing. It is said to be a singular fact that, unlike tho river in Canterbury, the stream slopes in Taranaki are much less fertile than the flat lands above—which means, it is argued, that every stream represents a largo amount of waste (or partially waste) land. If the streams did not exist there is artesian water in' abundance without any deep sinking. _ln tho whole of tho district tho cropping that is done is not considerable. The latest figures available give tho total area under crops as 12,199 acres. It is essentially a grazing and dairying province. There is no farming in the sense, say, that groin growers would understand the term. “All you do,” said one of them, “is to put up your fence—and there you are!” But dairy farmers know that there is as mnch

science required in the successful pursuit of their business as in any other department of rural life. —The Old Order Changeth.—

One has only to take a run through tho country to be struck with the great improvements in tho dairying conditions of South Taranaki which have been effected within the last decade. There was a time when life on a dairy farm was painful drudgery. In wet weather the cows often slopped into insanitary l.- ros through mud which slushed them t > the udders as they moved. When l ie weathbr was cold, to accomplish t!:o tedious tasks pf morning and night required much fortitude. Farmers and t’uir wives and families all worked

hard to help their united fortunes. And reward came. Co-operation enabled communities of men to turn out a uniformly high quality of produce and in such big quantities that it was well worth tho attention of London buyers. The demand for butter and chepse grew until these products came to be regarded by the masses not as luxuries, but as necessary articles of daily diet. And as soon as the industry became firmly established the lot of the dairy farmer began rapidly to improve. Those who bought in before prices reached their present: mgn level wore able in successive fat years to reduce and still further reduce their mortgages, until to-day the countryside is dotted with the homes of men of as-

sured standing. Co-operation made possible a system of finance which provided the milk cheque with unfailing

regularity, and the ready money thus made available builds up the Taranaki townships, which commercial travellers will tell, you are amongst the soundest in New Zealand to-day. On every hand the hammers and saws of the contracting carpenters have been busy. Tho whares which did pioneer service in housing the earlier settlers soon gave way to cottages, and were allotted a humbler service as shelter or trap sheds. In their turn the cottages have

been displaced by commodious dwellings with conveniences which adequately minister to the increasing requirements of modern life. Art lent its grace and refinement to the homo of the dairy .fanner, until to-day his domestic surroundings compare favorably with those of any other section of workers in the Dominion. At a function in connection with the winter show, held in Hawera last July, there was a quaint toast honored. It was “ Her Majesty, the Cow.” And when one sees the many beautiful homesteads that have materialised by way of tiie milk-bucket one feels inclined to follow the example of the lato Sir Thomas Bent, recently Premier of Victoria, who professed that ho raised his bat whenever he. mot “her majesty.” —Dairy Machinery.—

The writer has not yet acquired sufficient information to enable an estimate to be formed of the amount of money invested in dairying machinery in Taranaki—but it must bo enormous. If ever manufacturing firms were rewarded by the labor legislation which raised tho rates of wages, those engaged in producing milking machinery have been so blessed. Although no award existed to determine the farm hand’s rate of pay, the upward tendency throughout New Zealand reacted directly upon this district. Not only were the wages-sheets swollen, but tho milkers became more touchy, and upon very slight provocation were prepared to “ give the boss the sack.” At critical periods of tho milking season tho men were the masters, and tho employing farmers really had to do pretty much as they were told. In this state of affairs it is not surprising that the proffered aid of mechanical inventions was welcomed. Had it not boon for tho circumstances, the milking-machine —labor-saver that it is—would not have sprung into popularity so quickly. Its general adoption was largely due to necessity. This must not be taken as a disparagement of the milking machine, for having installed it, whether from preference or necessity, tho farmers are few and far between who would declare for a return of the old hand method. —Shed Improvements.—

The great improvements that have been made in the milking sheds of the district form not the least conspicuous

feature of the changes that aro taking place on the dairy farms. Sheds are no longer mere shelters through which the rain may tricklo abundantly upon tho long-suffering necks of the milkers bending to their work. Within the past six or seven years hundreds of new sheds have been built—sheds that are built to stay. Practically all of them are amply commodious, with nearly perfect lighting and ventilating arrangements, while the concrete floors easily enable tho whole place to be kept clean and fresh. These sheds aro now places of comfort for tho cattle as well as for tho men. Improved yard and race accommodation has resulted in the cows being able to reach tho byres in a cleanly state, and altogether the conditions contribute to the milk supply being sweet and sound and wholesome—without which qualities it is impossible to produce the highest grade butter and cheese. —A Great Dairying Year.— Reports from all parts of the North and South Islands indicate that the cur- . rent season will easily create a record , in the output of the Dominion’s dairy produce. Fortunately consumption keeps pace with production, and authorities who understand the position give the assurance that no matter how large this year’s increase may be Now Zealand’s increase of itself will not materially* if at all, affect the price on the

London markets! Certainly in Taranaki there is every promise of another year of abundance. The pastures are. in splendid heart, and the condition of the cattle, speaking generally, is thoroughly good. In another article I propose giving an indication of the probable increase in this year’s output from South Taranaki, and also some particulars of the factories situated in that fertile stretch of country whifli runs from the south of Hawera away through Manaia and past Kaupokonui. This area embraces a strip of country which people who live there declare to bo the most valuable stretchy of dairy land not only in the Dominion (that would bo too modest), but in tho world!