EARTHQUAKE HAVOC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 30 March 1931, Page 7

EARTHQUAKE HAVOC

THE FARMER’S FUTURE PROBLEMS TO BE FACED I realise that practically every reader, however sympathetic he may be, must by now be tired of reading about the havoc and desolation wrought by the recent earthquake in Hawkes Bay (writes 11.8. T. in the “N.Z. Herald”). Nevertheless for those who, like myself, have experienced the shake and have since lived in daily contact with the results, it is extremely hard to ignore the destruction which is to be seen on all sidos and write on farming topics which are likely to interest farmer-readers who are fortunately able to pursue the oven tenor of their way. The average sheep farmer in Hawkes Bay is indeed in a bad way—worse, indeed, than that of the tradesmen of the towns where the appalling devastation is more in the public eye. For the past year Central Hawkes Bay has been suffering from one of the driest spells tilt district has even known. During the past winter thousands of sheep and cattle perished from starvation. Added to this the lambing, on account of the weak condition of the breeding ewes, was tho worst on record, many good farmers not getting more than 30 to 50 per cent, from their breeding flocks.

LACK OF FODDER Those lambs. <md even older sheep, have not had sufficient grass to put them in condition for the freezing works, and only where the farmer, by diligent cultivation. lias managed to get some sort of a rape crop to grow, lias he been able to get any of his stock fat off the farm. To cap this accumulation of misfortune comes tlie most severe earthquake [ which New Zealand has experienced, its effects on the farmer being to wreck his homestead, or at best cause costly damage to chimneys, crockery, furniture, fences and plants, put his freezing works out of order and disorganise completely the banks and financial concerns on which he is forced to lean in these times of stress As a result of these accumulated misfortunes live stock has touched record low levels. Its value is estimated at a few pence per head. Having seen the devastation in tho chief towns of Hawkes Bay I would be the last to minimise the extent of the tragedy there, but at the same time. I haye nothing but sympathy and praise for those Hawkes’ Bay farmers who, in face of earthquake and lack of rain, low prices for produce, and exhausted financial resources are carrying on bravely in the hope that 1 better days may be in store.

PERIOD OF RECONSTRUCTION In this and other farming districts throughout the Dominion, reconstruction of farming methods must take jolace to meet the new market and financial conditions if the country is to remain prosperous. Serious consideration should be given now to the problems which face us. The primary producer will, in the immediate future, be unable to bear the burdens of taxation, duties on imports and high labour costs which he has earned in the past .hence we must look Unless''Government expenditure in developnntc roads, railway lines, public buildings and experimental ventures of one sort and another which, even where desirable, have been costly and unprofit able. Our Government, as well as ouv DCopie, must live within its means, and to do this we must return to a simpler standard of living than that to. which we have grown accustomed during the last twenty or thirty years. The probability is that one and all of us will be happier in the rebuilding than we have been in the enjoyment of our luxuries, but in any case vfe have little choice, and the sooner we commence to establish our new standards, tho sooner we can hope to arrive at stability again. While it is obvious that every economy must be practised on t-lio farm, this should not mean that- steady improvement of the prosperity and stock should not be continued. Indeed, in face of the difficult times which every farmer in New Zealand now lias to face, improvement with the object of securing greater returns at less cost should be his chief object. After studying every phase of the question the writer is convinced that the greatest prospects for success in farming at the present time lie.in tho direction of making more intensive use of tho land at our disposal. Whore dairy or sheep farming is concerned this can undoubtedly be accomplished best by subdividing the present paddocks into smaller areas and instituting a system of rotational grazing. Wonderful results in increased carrying capacity, improved health of stock and increased returns can be achieved by this method alone, and when it is combined with intelligent top dressing the results will convince the most sceptical that it will pay a hundred per cent, dividend. Tho subject, of rotatibnal grazing is one, however, which deserves detailed discussion, and will therefore be reserved for later consideration.