The Hawera Star FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1924. INCREASING EXPORTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 June 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1924. INCREASING EXPORTS.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Elthain, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutabi, Alton, Barleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Wbakamara, Obangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararota.

The very satisfactory records of the Dominion’s exports of dairy produce justify one taking an optimistic view of the future. When meat and wool prices slumped so heavily the country had to rely upon the dairying industry to save it from what was undoubtedly a serious situation. Fortunately prices for dairy -produce remained satisfactory, and by a great effort on the part of the farmers production was rapidly increased, and careful attention was paid to the quality of the butter and cheese to be sent abroad, the result being that New Zealand to-day occupies a foremost position on the London markets for its butter and cheese. Of the imports of butter into Great, Britain for the twelve months ended December SI last New Zealand supplied 1,130,765 cwt, or 22 per cent, of the total. During the same period New Zealand cheese imported into Great Britain totalled 1,368,654 crates, or 48 per cent, of the total. The demand in the Old Country for New Zealand dairy produce has increased, and efforts are being made to stimulate the demand still further. The Empire Exhibition will no.! doubt help, while propaganda which has been issued and the- screening in various parts of the Old Country of moving pictures of the industry in New Zealand should also have a beneficial effect. 'The individual farmer at this end cannot do very much to improve matters at the consuming end, hut every farmer can concentrate upon his work at this end. Production has increased in the last few years in spite of the difficulties which have been experienced through the tightness of money, heavy mortgage burdens, and high prices of land, but these difficulties will, in time, pass away and the lot of the farmer .should become much easier than it has been. The lifting

of the moratorium at the erul of this year is causing some anxiety, but the Prime Minister, who is in a position to know the position well, does not think ‘that it will lead to so much trouble as some people anticipate. In any case, we may be sure that whatever can be done to bring relief will be done by the Government. Much depends upon the attitude of mortgagees towards mortgagors, and we believe that in a great many cases the mortgagees will do what they can to lighten the burden. After such a difficult period as the country has passed through it would be remarkable! if there were not some to whom the raising of the moratorium will mean anxiety, but every effort to see that fair and reasonable action is taken will be made. We believe that after the moratorium has been lifted and the position cleared up the Dominion will make very rapid progress, especially in its primary industries. We hope that the farmers in this district will be able to come through their trials, and that in the future they will find it possible to spend more money upon increasing production than they have been able to spend in the direction recently. Producers have had a high standard set before them, and they are keen to reach it. Everywhere the gospel of increased production and the highest quality of product is being preached, and farmers are, we know, eager to translate into practical form the good advice which has been given by those who realise that in increased production and the maintaining of the best quality is to be found the key to New Zealand’s future progress and prosperity.