TARANAKI LAND VALUES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 10 June 1912, Page 5

TARANAKI LAND VALUES

PUBLICLY DISCUSSED

A meeting under the auspices of the Hawera branch of the Farmers' Union was held on Saturday afternoon at-the Borough Council Chambers. The cliai--was occupied by Mr D. J. Willis, president of the Hawera branch, and between 60 and 70 others were ateo x i esent.

Mr Treweek, secretary of the Hawern, branch of the Farmers' Union, read a, letter from the Central Unemployed Body, London, in reference to ♦■•nr.gration of suitable-families and single men. The lerter enquired whether the branch could furnish information or particulars as to openings and vacancies for immigrants to New Zealand, and whether it could afford any assistance in placing suitable youths and young men at farm work. The body would also be glad iF the branch could co-ooerate in Placing; industrious, reliable families of gaod character in suitable ereoloyment.

The secretary asked that anyone vhr> desired would communicate with him after the meeting in reference to this, matter.

The Chairman said that the correspondence lately appearing; in the Star in reference to land values had led up to this meeting, at which' it was hoped the question would be fully discussed. High land values and top-dressing were inseparable to his (the speaker's) mind, as ton-dressing was the best means of bringing the land up to the carrying capacity, which was becoming necessary in view of the rise in the price of land, and he hoped that the question of topdressing would also be discussed at this or a subsequent meeting. Looking at the present gathering, he could not but feel that similar gatherings all -over the country, united for one obiect, would provide a motive force sufficient to ensure farmers being able to demand instead of merely asking ,for alterations to existing cnndi+^ns' affecting agricultural interests. T^ougb fk o Union did not orient to criticism, it did not want neople to sit at home and criticise it. but won Id rather they would come along and take pai-t in its affairs and discussions. Unless farmers combined to resist aggression, they would certainly go down, and unless they formed a similar defence organisation to those of other industrial concerns, sooner or later they would have to pay the piper. As Mr Powdrell was the prime moveF in the recent discussion on land values, he (the chairman) would ask him $o ,give his views on the question. Mr Powdrell said he would try to trace the causes of the rise in the price of land during the past years. In the earlier days, without refrigerators, settlers were not able to dispose profitably of their sheep. an«l before dakying got properly on its feet there was much waste. Co-oneration in dairying had been the chief factor leading to the increase in land values, as now the farmer got the whole value of his buttprfat less the cost of manufacturing the product. Improved methods of manufacture and the greater proportion of moisture now allowed in butter were other factors —the last-mentioned alone enabling him to take 7s 6d per acre more off the land than was the case when a dry butter was being made. A corresponding result folowecTtbe introduction of more moisture into cheese. *to the extent of 3s per acre. Casein manufacture was another additional source of revenue now available, which had formerly been wasted, amounting to about 12s 6d per acre. Whey butter and starter butter, as regarded theKaupokonui factory, enabled another Id per lb. on butter-fat supplied to be paid out. and this had also been wasted previously. Sugar of milk was another matter that was being enquired into, and if its results turned out as stated, it would be a great thing for Taranaki farmers. vGreat savings had also been effected through the coolcaring of cheese, which saved an amount of evaporation, representing about 9d per acre. A saving in depreciation and painting was also possible by erecting factories in concrete instead of wood, and suppliers to such factories would be able to pay a higher rent than others in a less favored locality. The erection of their own freezing works had also saved factories in this district much money, as had also the Box Factory, and though some local men were not vet fully awake to these advantages, men from outside were recognising them, and were buying into the district. The cry that markets would fall had been heard for years, but though much more produce was made now, there were many more to consume it, and if one section of dairy produce fell in price, the farmers of the district had now nlenty of other strings to their bow. Cow-testing was another important factor, enabling farmers to weed out unprofitable animals, and the consequent increased production of their herds made it possible to give higher prices for land.. The value of land depended largely upon the man upon it, but in the speaker's opinion most of the poorer land in Taranaki was now Quite high enough. Some farmers' would do no good on the best land, and some would go ahead on poorer land, but an average of a number of farms should be taken and it tvould then be fair to assume that most farmers conld obtain the same average result. The sweating of the family sometimes talked of was not so bad as made o^t. as in many cases the family was better off than when the father was, say, working on the roads at a da:ly wage, Mr Powdrell then quoted some returns off land sold by him (as already unblished-in the Star). On small areas with assured labor, the speaker continued. land values must rise, and he quoted the case of a farm (45 acres) on the Lake road, from which 1831^ •ratter-fat per acre had been taken this year (with three months yet to go) which at Is 4d for butter-fat, would hk £12 4s per acre for milk alone, and had also sold 30 nig* at £2 los an«l ei*ht calves at £2 17s 6d, a total of £604. or £14 30s per acre. The sneakei then «,v e figures which be considered should be ample to provide for oV nreciation, laW etc.. and conclude* by claiming that tMs Droved the owner W? -f ? lven l1 £}52 per acre for t*» land mud for all labor, allowed suffii cient for depreciation, and got 5 ocr cent, interest on capital. This, he considered, proved that £100 per acV« could *p paid for much of the land fv Taranaki. He was, hoover, not adviV land if they could get it for £60. as tfc* greater the price paid the greater *4 the risk. A matter to which a pnreW er sometimes gave too little attention was to see that second or third mo-*! wojs on land he purchased were for fairly long terms, as if they were vk the purchaser miaht be colled on to d£ eWe these mortis before he hM S + ime To ™ke »™u?h out of the land to nny them off, wficfc might re ! !SJU- n *s 7aviTlG t0 £°off "-j^n-t. land tlme he had wotM tfl«

nrrV ep-. ly fo Mr J Sraith (Otakeho> ££?"?"" S3is that «nee whey but ter had been made at his factory he hU not been able to see any difference 14 "th; 6 w*iev. butter'ha* Js^ c ]^4r ahsolntely tWK Mr Smith clawed that Mr Powdroil Jad made no allowance in his calculations for brain power expended by the farmer in working his farm. Mr T. W Owen was of opinion that the rise in the value of the land was due to the rise in the price of dairy products, which was an abnormal one >

- and farmers could not safely base their -calculations of the value of land on the present value of dairy produce. To get the true value of land they must base their calculations on a lower basis. An interjector remarked that an offer of 13d per lb had been made to a factory for its output for 10 years. Mr J. W. Harding was also of opinion that farmers should not lose their heads because of the present high prices for dairy produce, as they might fall j^gain. The present Jprice had been' largely brought about through dry seasons in other butter producing countries and large losses of cows by Siberian dairymen. Mr Smith after paying a compliment to Mr Powdrell's abilitly, again urged -that he (Mr Powdrell) had not allowed anything for the farmer's brain work, though the speaker was prepared to •guarantee that Mr Powdrell had not worked for less than £1000 a year for a long time past. ()Laughter). Mr Owen expressed pleasure at having been present that afternoon, and thought it would be a good thing if farmers would gather more frequently to discuss such matters. The speaker further said that the matter of the inferior bulls many farmers used at present required discussion as a movement in the direction of improving the young stock would be of inestimable benefit to Taranaki, and could be discussed at such, meetings with great advantage. The chairman cordially agreed with. Mr Owen's remarks, and expressed his feeling that if farmers took the interest they should in their own concerns the Hawera branch of the Union would be one of the strongest in the dominion. Mr Walker referred to the practice of cull cows, disposed of by a farmer at the end of the season, being again foisted on to dairy farmers at the beginning of next season, and he thought the practice should be stopped by some system of branding. Mr Powdrell agreed that if a system of branding such as suggested was put into operation it would result in improved supplies at the factories. Farmers might, with advantage, meet periodically to discuss such propositions. The chairman proposed a vote ofthanks to Mr Powdrell for his address, and after this had been heartily carried the gathering dispersed. Subsequently a number of subscriptions to the Farmers' Union were handed in to Mr F. G. Treweek, secretary of the local branch.