PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 15

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

WEALTH IN LIVESTOCK.

noteworthy features

HOCKS AND HERDS EXPANDING

judged on a basis of livestock popula lion as n. corollary of increasing levels r f production, New Zealand's principal primary industries can fairly be said to be expanding in an eminently satisfactory manner Interim returns for 1930 indicate { i record number of slice]) in the Dominion, vitii uew high levels in respect of both dairv and other cattle, and while depression in f' lo overseas markets has robbed Hie producer of much of his expected retarn, tho increased output, resulting from more stock and improved methods has reaped for liiin a total remuneration in excess of that received in previous sca-

This fact must be regarded as the most happy feature of primary endeavour in Xcw Zealand Tho actual level of production and the quality of tho produce rather than the state of tho ultimate market, provido the only truo indication of progress, and although low prices aro to ba deplored as greatly as any other circumstance which affects the immediate monetary result, tho essential soundness of industry need not necessarily bo prejudiced by them. Rising Production. Obviously this aspect was overlooked recently when an attempt was rnado in authoritative circles to chastise tho .press for its " propaganda " in applauding the fact that increased output had offset the results for low returns. Admittedly, the lot of the producer —and incidentally of tho country at large—would havo been happier had he received a more adequate reward for his labours during the season. On tho other hand, how much more unenviable would tho position havo been had unsatisfactory market conditions been accompanied by falling production 1 As it is there at least remains tho comforting thought that if production can bo increased in spito of discouraging returns, it can certainly be maintained when conditions improve.

With regard to tho livestock statistics as a whole there are. one or two aspects

which striko a discordant note in an otherwise harmonious chord. One is the decreaso in tho number of dairy cows in tho South Island —fortunately more than compensated for by tho increase in the North—and the diastio reduction in the number of swino in the Dominion.

Tho first is possibly attributable to the greater suitability of southern lands and climato for sheep-raising, and if this point is admitted, concern at the decrcaso in dairy stock can be more or less allayed by the increase in flocks, which, according to the interim returns, amounts to about 800,000 sheep. Evtn in this respect, •however, the North Island compares more than , favourably, for not only has its cattle mcreaso more than counterbalanced the South Island deficiency, but also it Las made a major contribution toward tho achievement of a Dominion record in sheep. ' Increase in Sheep. A. most significant feature is, that the greatest increase in sheep has occurred in tho , two Auckland land districts, a point worthy of especial emphasis in that the advance has taken place in a dairying stronghold coincidentally with an equally satisfactory increase there in the number of dairy cattlo. It is a fact that dairying has become a dominant industry in the Auckland province in spite of old-time contentions that the district was not adapted to tho business, as was, for instance, Taranaki. Butter-tat, production in recent years has shown, of course, how false these ideas were, and it now seems additionally obvious that tho province can confidently anticipate an equally prosperous experience with sheep. lo that confidence actually, can be attributed the very favourable increase in Hocks,, for there is indicated a growing recognition that the North presents great opportunities to the grazier, especially where his operations concern the production of fat lambs.

Already there lias boon clear proof in 'actual /results, of Auckland's ability to raise lambs of a typo which can command the best prices available on the London market, and a fuller exploitation of the opportunity thus offered could be under taken with much profit lo the individual and with wide advantages to the community in the way of the stimulation of settlement and the creation of additional avenues' ol emplovment.

Pig-raising Industry. A drop ot neaily 73 000 in the number cf pips in the Dominion, represents the continuation oj a irend which lias been an unioi'tunato feature of primary en deavour in New Zealand over the last two years ot so. It, is widely recognised that pig-raising offers immense possibilities m the Dominion. The climate, the products ot the soil, and the by-products of other primary industries are all appropriate, and are capable ol very profitable utilisation were a possible to induce a definite foriWmcl movement in swine husbandry. It has been niton emphasised that we 5n New Zealand can produce pig products which .feint the Knglish market; pork exported from here lias been highly com merited upon by Home experts who have fcaid, also, that when properly cured in England, it can barely be distinguished from Jb>me bacon itself; and returns have mvariably indicated that a profitable export trade is possible under reasonable production cost-- Vet a national industry • —for tilth pig-raising should be—languishes. Tli,' rea-, '>n, apparently, must be fought ::i New Zealand itself. The costs of production, especially as they relate to Hie grain foods essential to successful top ping-off, rndoubtedlv exert a restrictive mliueuco on expansion, but, whatever the cause, tho Dominion definitely loses a Considerable annual profit by the effect.