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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 205, 6 October 1888, Page 2

A GRAND OPPORTUNITY. In our last issue we made reference to the alarming proportions to which our imports of produce have grown in comparison with our exports. However, no mention was made of 40 tons of malt that had arrived to the order of Mr W. F. Crawford. On communicating with that gentleman with regart! to the matter, he informs us that he ie compelled to make these large importations, as he cannot get a supply in the district. He fully agreed with the tenor of our article, that the district should be able to grow enough produce at least f r its own consumption, and so far as ha was concerned ha would be only too glad if he could keep circulating in- the district the money he pays away for malt instead of having to make regular importations. He believes that barley of first class quality could be grown in this district, and he would be only too glad to encourage its growth. His annual requirement of barley was about 15U tons which might well be grown in the district, and possibly lead to an export trade. If this is the case, we hope things will be changed in the future—times are not so bright that we can afford to send ail this ready money out of the place when it might well be disbursed among our own settlers. To us it is astonishing that our farmers do not with avidity seize on such opportunities and turn them to the best advantage. When these certain sources of revenue are so lamentably neglected, all such gigantic proposals as establishing meat-freezing works may be regarded as so much wasted talk. Let our farmers show a little more energy 'and self-reliance and this district will in spite of other drawbacks bound along in the van of progress. For malting barley £l5OO is sent out of the district, per annum, and we feel sure that Mr Crawford would not allow this if it could be helped. And whose fault is it that it cannot be helped 1 Mr Crawford has decided to totally dispense with the use of glucose in the manufacture of his beer, and in future to use the malt only. Many good people, we know, would urge that no one should drink beer; we are not going to enter into a controversy on that point, but we say that while there is the demand, let our local producers take advantage of the opportunity, and consumers also should discard any pres Judice against local manufactures, provided the article is good. We may have something more to say, at a future period, about the hop industry.