THE FARMERS' CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 12

THE FARMERS' CASE.

Sir, —The increase of "cultivated" land shown last year is unreasonable, because it is not only a record, but many times a record: Previous increases of "cultivated" land in the years since 1922 were 64, 35, 38 and 72 thousands of acres, while 1927 is shown as 247 thousand acres. Add to this that the 100 thousand acres in grain above the previous year's total were not all from the rough, and had to be replaced in grass. Fallow decreased only 11,000 acres. Such extraordinary activity could not have escaped notice, especially in connection with farming businesses, nor is it compatible with the drop in farm employees. Exports are tempted when prices rise, hence stocks are liable to reduction. What applies to meat, applies also to skins, tallow, etc. Pastoral exports account for over 90 per cent, of our exports. I have to admit that accurate figures for wool are not obtainable and that this greatest increase of exports has not been dealt with. But I submit that it i 3 only arithmetical to assume a big carry-over from 1927 when, apart from freezing works wool, farmers' shore 12 million pounds more wool than in 1926, while only 2' s million pounds extra were exported or consumed locally. A. E. Robinson. Provincial Secretary. [Mr. Robinson has not examined the statistics with sufficient care. The increases in the four years he cites were 36, 35, 58 and 72 thousand acres. The increase of 247,000 acres in 1926-27 was not a record; in 1921-22, the increase was nearly as great, 221.534 acres, while in 1919-20. it was 391,439 acres, so that there is no need to go far back to find a "record." The "extraordinary activity" has not escaped notice: it was reflected in a great increase in cereal production, as the companion statistics show. He makes a similarly hasty deduction in regard to wool. The inflation of exports by depletion of stored stocks occurred in 1925-26, for the quantity exported and locally consumed in that year shows an increase of over 23 million pounds, although the farmots' shearing returns showed a decline of 12 millions. Compared with the average of Ihe four preceding years, the total for 1926-27 shows an increase of 10 million pounds.—Ed., Herald.]