Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1926. PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 28, 31 December 1926, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1926. PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

The year which closes to-day has been marked by many vicissitudes, yet it closes with brighter prospects, and a more cheerful outlook for the New Year than appeared at all likely or possible a few months ago. It has been a year marked by mapy changes and one of considerable difficulty to those engaged in the primary producing interests, as a result of which there have been many misgivings on the part of the farming community concerning the future. The closing months of 1925 were marked by the troubles arising out of the British seamen’s strike and the hold-up of shipments of produce, which resulted in glutted' Home produce markets. Then came the general strike, called by the Trades TTnibn Congress in support of the British miners, and the continuance of the coal strike over a period of some thirty weeks affecting almost every industrial concern in the Mother Country, with consequent heavy losses in wages and a big increase in the expenditure on behalf of the great mass of unemployed by the British Government.. With the diminished earning power of the British workers the demand for imported produce naturally fell away, and heavy stocks of New Zealand butter and cheese, etc., accumulated, which were not easily disposed of at remunerative prices. The position was made more difficult by the changed marketing conditions, following the Dairy Board assuming control of the dairy exports, and the fuss that was made over the latter by the merchants, and others who had formerly acted as agents and salesmen of the New Zealand producers on the London market. The sale of New Zealand dairy produce was further restricted by the Board’s price-fixing policy, which appears to have been both misunderstood and strongly resented by the British retailers. Sales have naturally been affected by each of these happenings and prices slumped badly. V&th the collapse of the coal strike u d a clearer understanding of the cqc trol policy, the position has eased considerably, a(nd a better tone is observable in tffie Home markets, which' appears mkely to continue, so that the outlpok for the dairy farmer grows better. too, is selling mojjc jHK ali ' v|| Zealand^^^B^pr ifjl#' tapp

alike improving-, and < the wool markets have resumed their old buoyancy, sales having been made at decidedly better rates with the clearance of stocks in most cases. Taken all round, the primary producers’ position is therefore, considerably better than it was twelve months ago, as, despite the fall in prices, and the extraordinarily difficult marketing conditions, 1926 closes with a better margin qf exports over imports than was the case last year. With increased production, which should be possible next year, there is no reason why the tide of prosperity should not again return to the farmer. Certainly the outlook is brighter, although, in the case of those who. have purchased land at peak prices, heavy toll is still taken by way of interest, and something should be done to ease their burdens, particularly in the way of land taxation and rating. That can only be brought about by re-valuation of all rural holdings and, while it may entail loss in the first instance, it would result in benefit in the long run.