NEW ZEALAND LAND VALUES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13605, 26 November 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND LAND VALUES.

DANGEROUS SPECULATION.

SIDELIGHTS ON FARMING.

[tit TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

CimtSTcittJßCif, Monday. In the Farm Labourers' Union case, before the Conciliation Board to-day, some interesting evidence was given by Mr. Loivrie, principal of the Lincoln Agricultural College. He stated that ho did not regard New Zealand as the most profitable country in the world for the investment of money, as far as agricultural and pastoral industries were concerned. " I can go home to the Old Country, or even to Australia, and invest money to better advantage than I can in New Zealand," ho said. " Even on. the malice of South Australia I could make a better profit than I could make on £30-nn-acre laud at Lincoln. My opinion is that there is more money in land in Australia than there is in Now Zealand ; that is, there is very nearly double the percentage for the fanner.

" I would not put n penny in the industry," he emphatically declared when he was asked what he thought of the position of the farming industry. He argued that the high price of land, stock, and labour mado the position an extremely dangerous one. As to the speculation which was going on, he applied the old adage,, " Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." "1 cannot think that land values in New Zealand are in a stable condition," and to disturb things more would only accelerate the day of distress. The demands of the union, if acceded to, would undoubtedly act to the detriment of the farmer, who had taken up land under existing economic conditions.

"I think I can go Home," said Mr. Lowrie, "and get 10,000 farm labourers to come, out to New Zealand. If I went amongst them, and told them what the conditions in New Zealand are, I am quite sure I could get shiploads. Outdoor farm labour is infinitely better and healthier for a girl than domestic service." he added. " I would recommend a girl to go to ft farm rather than to domestic service."