HIGHER OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23577, 10 February 1940, Page 12

HIGHER OUTPUT

THE DAIRYING SEASON BENEFIT FROM RAIN VALUE TO THE PROVINCE Rain during the past month has been beneficial to pastures in most parts of the Auckland Province, with the result that dairy production is reported to be higher. Tho prospects for the autumn aro considered to be excellent. Some factories in tho Waikato are now 10 to 12 per cent ahead of last year's production. But owing to the unfavourable spring, it is stated, factories will be satisfied if they come out on a par with output in 1938-39. Pastures at To Awamutu are in excellent condition. January production showed a slight increase on January, 1939, and the prospects for the autumn are exceptionally bright. More Money for Farmers

The output in the Morrinsville district last month was a slight increase on the figures for January, 1939. Recent rains have meant thousands of pounds to farmers there. Prospects at present are much better than at this time last year, when the countryside was suffering from a spell of dry weather. Rain has also improved the position on the Rangitaiki Plains, in the Bay of Plenty. Production is reported to be ahead of that in the good year 1937-38. The increase for the past seven months, compared with the corresponding period in 1938-39, is just over 189 tons in the case of the Eangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, while the increase last month was 49 tons on January, 1939. In the past few weeks there has been a marked improvement in the Galatea and Onepu pastures. The Northern Areas Jn spite of the dry weather in the first fortnight of last month, January was regarded as a fair month as a whole in the East Tamaki district. The rain of recent weeks, it is considered, will give the autumn a good start. Last autumn was one of the worst for many years. In the Whangarei district, on the other hand, it is considered that there has been too much rain. When it began, production fell off, but it is now increasing. Nevertheless, there was a slight increase in production last month compared with January, 1939. The prospects for the season as a whole are good, but sunny days are now needed.

Sufficient ruin has also fallen in the Bay of Islands district. Production in the autumn, it is thought, will be a considerable increase on last autumn.