WEALTH FROM LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20098, 8 November 1928, Page 10

WEALTH FROM LAND.

SPLENDID SEASON DEVELOPS.

INCREASE IN PRODUCTION.

GROWTH OF FARM HERDS

PRIME MINISTER'S CONFIDENCE

[nv tei.kc.iui;h.— own cnmuwroNnr.vr.] WANGANUI. Wcdncsdny.

An optimistic note regarding the prospects of the present season for the, primary industries was sounded by the. Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, in a speech here to-day. " I have travelled extensively during the last few weeks, and everywhere I havo heard comment, on the excellence of the present season, while everything points to a further substantial increase in production," said Mr. Coates. I lie development of more, intensive grass land farming by means of top-dressing, and the increase of female, stock on existing land holdings is the leading principle in this direction. Tho actual stock increase is most marked in breeding ewes." Mr. Coates said tho dairy industry year which ended on July 31 created a new peak in production, in spite, of the dry spell in the, summer. Butter graded for export showed a 4.2 per cent, increase, and although cheese showed a very slight decrease (.73 per cent.), the year's figures for butter-fat, equivalent represented a net, increase of 2.59 per cent., compared with tho 1926-27 season. " Still more remarkable are the statistics for tho present season," continued Mr. Coates. "The increase in butter graded for the three months, August to October, compared with the previous year, was lOj per cent., and the increase in cheese no less than 28; per cent., giving a net increase in butter-fat production of per cent."

Mr. Coates made brief reference to herd testing. 'J"lie number of cows tested in (ho Dominion last year was a record, the figures being 224.130, compared with 170,450 the year before. This showed conclusively that the farmers of New Zealand were realising more fully the advantages accruing from the application of scientific principles to their work. 'J he sheep returns showed that that section of the farming community was also thriving, thcro being 1,484,794 more sheep in th<i Dominion than a year ago. Perhaps the most satisfactory feature was the continued increase in breeding ewes, now numbering 15,328.331 (excluding stud sheep), compared with 14,632,511 a year ago.

Reference was also made to the wonderful wool season last year. The exports totalled £16,548.869, a large increase over tho value of the previous season, £12,883.971. Mr. Coates also mentioned the expansion of the growing of wheat and oats, and the development of the fruit export industry. The l'rime Minister concluded by expressing confidence in the, continued prosperity of the industry, and, through it, tho Dominion as a whole.