The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1924. NEW ZEALAND’S OUTLOOK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 November 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1924. NEW ZEALAND’S OUTLOOK.

Delivered every evening by B o'clock m Hawera Manaia, . Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltharn. Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake. Otakeko, Manutahi, Alton, Hurley ville, Pateu, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road,' and Ararata.

With the remarkable prices realised at tlie opening wool sale of the season' in Wellington the prospects for the country look particularly bright. As compared with the sale in NovemLer last crossbred fleece showed an advance of ninepence to elevenpence per pound. “Never in the history of the trade have such wonderful solid average prices- been recorded/’ states one company s report. I/ater in their report the brokers say: “We see no reason why any serious fall in values should take place, but it would be a brave person who would speculate in wool at to-day’s prices.” The heavy demands made upon the world’s wool supplies and sheep during the war mad© great inroads, and it was estimated that the world -was about a hundred million sheep short of requirements at a time when wool was urgently needed. In 1920 a very heavy slump in values was experienced, and with wool at fourpenee per pound for some eighteen months or two years the • outlook for the woolgrowers was most disheartening and many of them lost very heavily. We remember that Mr. Massey at the time advised wool-growers to take heart, for he thought that in a couple of years prices must rise and the sheep farmers enjoy a prosperous time. Mr. Massey’s prediction has proved to be correct, land !to-da,y - the wool-grower has his great hope realised. The prices are abnormal, and, as our Wellington correspondent’s message on Tuesday indicated, a breaking’ point may soon he reached, but the prospects are that they \yill not recede to any extent and the future sales should result in great benefit to the whole Dominion. The outlook for the dairying industry appears on the whole to- be satisfactory, and the season has so far proved very productive. Prices are keeping up fairly well, and if the quality of our better and cheese is maintained at a high level New Zealand’® produce should he able to resist the increasing competition which is to he expected on

the Old World markets. The Dairy Control Board will /no doubt do its best in the interests of the industry, and by better organisation it should be possible' to maintain a regular flow of produce to the markets and prevent a recurrence of gluts which in the past caused sudden falls in prices. By consistent effort on the part of the producers the economic position is being steadily strengthened, and though there are still many problems awaiting solution, we believe that as time passes they will largely disappear. When a great war uses up a nation’s wealth, depletes its manpower, and works havoc with many of its peacetime organisations, it is unreasonable to expect/th’at there will be a sudden reeovery'and return to normal conditions. During the last three years New Zealand has rooyed steadily along the hard road to. sound prosperity and has i surmounted many of the difficulties and problems, unwelcome legacies from the boom period, but the knowledge that the wool-growers are receiving such. exceptionally good prices should encourage the people as a whole to take heart and look forward and work hard to help the country to return to that full prosperity wihioh every patriotic New Zealander desires to see.