LIFE ON THE LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 11

LIFE ON THE LAND

OUTLOOK FOR BOYS REVIEW BY COMMITTEE Prospects for boys who take up farm life under present conditions are yiewed in a hopeful light by the educational subcommittee of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee in a report that has just been issued. The committee considers that if recovery from the present depression is rapid, town and country industries will revive together; if it is slow, town industries will lag behind. In the present state of knowledge, parents can only, be left to judge for themselves which course events are likely to take. However, the committee inclines to the view that, as in the past, improvement, will be gradual and the succeeding prosperous period will endure for a long time. It points out, .that New Zealand farmers whose land was acquired in the depression period of the 'eighties and early 'nineties are in a favourable position to-day and can probably work their farms at a profit. Boys who adopt a farming career now and set themselves to gain the required knowledge and experience will be in a good position to take advantage of rising prices and consequent prosperity in years to come. Prices for dairy cattle, the committee considers, are reasonable and dairy farms can be purchased at rates which Rive the buyer good prospects. While the breaking-in of unoccupied and undeveloped lands in the Auckland Province requires, in general, large capital expenditure and probably also a measure of subsidy from the public funds, there are many dairy farms of 200 to 250 acres, carrying 70 to 80 cows, which could profitably bo subdivided into single-family farms of 70 to 80 acres by sale, lease or share-milking arrangements. By the use of intensive methods of herd and pasture management upon these small farms, the total production could be greatly increased.