BRIGHT PROSPECTS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 8

BRIGHT PROSPECTS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Speaking at a meeting of the Farmers' Union at T ; maru Mr John Talbot, the president, congratulated his fellow-farmers ,«mi fchi generally prosperous times they fcad had during the past season and the ftopeful outlook for the coming season. The one regrettable circumstance was the pdamage caused to grain crops, by the ifceavy and persistent rains which set in temst as harvest coirnmenced. The yield, Rtwhich would have been a poor one to commence with, wa* depreciated in value, !fo far as concerned wheat, by probably £an average of sixpence per bushel. It was tjtrae that the district south of Timaru and [also north along the coast-line escaped the flfall measure of the damage experienced , elsewhere. This unfortunate event, however, had its compensation. The slump that (Occurred in the IdUatib and mutton trade Jfast year did not seriously affect the flbulk of South Canterbury farmers, as they aol'i before the worst of the drop came. iTiben the' wool sales in Timaru resulted an excellent prices being obtained. The lambing was a good one —certainly above aei average; and the rain that damaged' She wheat induced an unusual growth of femb feed, and serviceable rains kept |ft growing, with iXie result that the exCnort of fat lambs from the district for fijbe current season must easily constitute a fSeoord, and the prices obtained left no %om for complaint. The favourable rSfeather conditions etill obtained, and gutuma grain was being got in rapidly wnder most favourable conditions, and live 'JtoocJc were doing well. A further matter {tending to confidence and prosperity in the |tatfu(re was the that thl@ financial frorlngency that came upon them iast year Wwhy be did not know—had now entirely relaxed, and money was again plentiful and (available at reasonably aheap rates for any (justifiable and sound enterprises. He also .(noticed in connection with this slight review of the causes of their oresent, and in all probabilitv continued. prosperity tho fact th«* a".' iugh the d ; «trict wa« primarily f.-. Jrain and fat fambf! tits- dairying mcanta-v

was making steady progress. It had experienced the usual initial struggles, ar.d unfortunately, he thought, had failed to continue under the co-operative system. Tie felt confident, however, that the industry was now firmly established, and was on the up-grade. There were consicleraole areas in the district specially suitable for dairying that were beir.g, and would no doubt continue to be, cut up into smaller holdings for the purpose.