THE MAN ON THE LAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19260, 26 August 1924, Page 8

THE MAN ON THE LAND.

COMING SEASON’S PKOSPECTS MR MASSEY OPTIMISTIC. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 25. “I want to make reference to the coming season,” remarked Mr Massey at Levin to-day. “You have strong indications of spring hero and right along the lino 1 was pleased to notice it. Of last season there is nothing to complain of respecting tho good prices for meat and wool. The cereal crop failed and we are sending out of tho country money in consequence to import very largo quantities of wheat from Australia. I do not wish to pose as a propiiet, but I predict that tho coming season will bo a real good one. If wo have to import next season it will be a very small quantity as compared with last season. I don’t think there is any posiblo getting away rom tho fact that we shall have another good season for wool. It may not bo quiio ns good as last season, because tho sheep of the world are increasing, but so also arc the people who uso the wool. “I am a bit anxious about tho dairy produce. Tho lamb season lias opened well and I think it will hold for some time. Reports have readied us that our dairy produce quality has slipped back. I hope there is not much in it. I have hoard it complained that the quantity of preservative put in the butter is having a bad effect. 1 hardly think that is entirely correct, but I would like to impress on the farmers tho need to keep up tlie quality. I know the hot dry summer of last year had a good deal to do with it, but if we get a normal season wo shall lie back to the old position.

“When I was in the Old Country various districts wore asking if they could depend on a regular supply. The position wants watching closely. “So tar as it was possible for mo to judge competition wiil be very much keener in the future than in the past. I don’t mean in tho coming season, but I can see other countries coming in. South Africa and America are coming in, though to use a common expression they are not in the same street as ourselves. Russia is coming in. and though its quality is not good it is improving. .In England they put our quality next to Danish, though, for that matter, I prefer ours. I believe it is wcil worthy of second place, but I see no reason why wo should not go on improving and take first place. I remember sitting next, to a man from Denmark, at a banquet in England, and ho said wo had beaten them in quantity and would beat them in quality. “There is one point wo have never made enough of, we have never seriously attempted to establish a good market for bacon or pork, and I have never seen a side of our bacon at Smithficld. Denmark sends out more bacon than butter, and America exports £27,000,000 worth of products of tho pig. There is an opening there ready waiting for ns There is a great deal to he done and we have to do it if we are to maintain the prosperity of this country, and especially wo have to look to the quality of our produce. Wo have still huge areas of land not under production. We have to prefare for more competition and for lower prices.”