The Hawera Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1924. THE NEW SEASON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 September 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1924. THE NEW SEASON.

Delivered e-err evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera. Manaia. N'Miuanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, PateK, Waverley, Mokoia, Wbakamara, .Oiiangai, Meresaera, ' Fraser Road, and Otakeurt Manutahi, Alton, Horteyville, MangaV.ki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

As usual at this time of year, Nature has again clothed the district with a. beautiful mantle of green grass, and in travelling over the roads during the past few days one has noticed the splendid condition of much of the land. There is an excellent growth of grass and the stock are looking well, giving promise of another good season for butter-fat production. The recent mild 1 weather, and warm rains have given the pastures an excellent start, and we think that the optimistic attitude of farmers is .‘justified. Some sales of butter for September have been effected at a price which, if it is maintained, should enable the majority of farmers to secure a fair return for their labour. It is to be hoped that farmers will have a good season, for they are not through the difficulties caused the slump following the period of inflation. The price of land is still too high, and the burden of interest and taxation is proving very heavy. A revaluation of the counties which were valued at the time of the boom has been urged, but the Government is not favourably inclined towards the request.. This is to be regretted, for if the' Government valuation i s too high, as we understand it. , is in many cases, the effect is to keep the selling price of farms too high. It was difficult no doubt to arrive at a reasonable valuation during the boom period, but with financial conditions for farmers being unfavourable, the sooner the various factors tending to keep land above its proper value are removed the better for the country. Meantime the farmer lias only one course giving promise of success, and that is to keep production up to its highest, point and to see that, the quality of the produce for export is of the best. The outlook for the sheep farmer is very bright, and though the high prices for wool may not last indefinitely we do not think that a great fall is likely in the near future. The world demand for wool is not decreasing, and it will be some time before the number of sheep will be sufficient, to meet requirements. Reports of lambing this spring encouraging, and with a good market for mutton and lamb, as well as wool, those engaged in sheep-breeding should experience a very good season. The market for beef is not as attractive as farmers would like it to be, but there has been some improvement, and the Board of Control will no doubt do all it can to make the position better. -Viewing the primary industries as a whole, we think that the outlook is bright, but in places where high prices of land rule and there are burdens in the way of unreasonably heavy mortgage commitments, it will probably be found that even a very productive season will not make available anything in the way of an abundance of money for circulation. The difficulty is that such commitments mean the sending away from the sources of production money received in payment for exports, and we have no doubt that the comparatively prosperous state of the cities is due largely to the fact that much money for mortgages in the boom

period came from the cities, and it is now being paid back, enabling the owners to reinvest in the cities while the country districts experience a shortage. A change will probably take place when values for farm lands have been reduced and the lender is satisfied with the security offering in rural areas. Each good season should bring farmers nearer the time . when the financial stringency will end. Let us hope that during the present season these difficulties will be overcome.