PRIMARY PRODUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3818, 17 May 1927, Page 12

PRIMARY PRODUCTION.

PAST SEASON REVIEWED.

SPEECH BY THE HON. R. F. BOL. LARD.

GISBORNE, May 11. In a speech at the opening of the jubilee winter show this evening, the Hon. R. F, Bollard dealt with the primary products of the Dominion.

The season of 1926-27 is now drawing to a close, he said. The operations in the earlier part of the season were consider, ably hampered by unsettled weather, but conditions much improved about New Year, and a good summer and autumn were experienced in the North Island and generally in the South Island. Canterbury suffered somewhat from insufficient rain, fall, while the saving of the grain crops in Southland and South Otago was hampered by to frequent rains. The sheep wintered well generally, and a. good, well-grown cliu> was taken. Taking everything into con. sideration, the realisation of the clip may be regarded as decidedly satisfactory. In fact, the. woolgrowers have occupied the best position among our primary pro. ducers this season. The sheep returns as at April 30 showed a further substantial increase in number. The Dominion’s flock has now practically regained the 25,000,001) mark. A feature of the returns was the record number of breeding ewes. The esti« mates of the current season’s lambing gave an appreciably higher Dominion percentage than for the preceding year. The fozen meat industry has had a good productive season as regards lamb and mutton. Taking the Dominion a s a whole at April 12 the aggregate number of lamb# put through the works exceeded by some 350,000 carcases the output for the corresponding period of last year. Mutton shows an increase of about 120,000 carcases to the same date. Beef, however, has again declined. The output, from the works

(apart from the boned article, which has held its own) being less than half that of. last year. The prices for freezer sheep and lambs have been lower this season, but are still at a fairly satisfactory level. Another good increase in pigs was recorded on last year’s enumeration, the Dominion’s total now approaching half a million head. A satisfactory feature of the freezing works’ operations this season is the largely increased quantity of pork put through for export, amounting to nearly double last season’s figures. Advance in this braqch is still comparatively slow, however, despite the fact that a market of immense capacity for pig products exists in Britain. The total of cattle and dairy cows both showed some decrease in 1926. An enumeration of the dairy industry has made a good showing this season. As regards butter-fat production, taking the Dominion as a whole, the production is appreciablj’ larger than last season, amounting to an increase of over 8 cent, at the end of March. The quality; of both butter and cheese, as supported by the official grading figures, has shown a marked improvement. The institution of compulsory cream grading and “finest” grade of butter and cheese, together with" differential payments on quality by the Dairy Control Board, have undoubtedly promoted this very satisfactory movement. With regard to the fruit industry the exports of apples this year are not expected to total more than 500,000 ot 600,000 cases for the Dominion, compared with 750,000 eases in 1925. A further reduction in ocean freight was secured for this year, and every effort is being made to reduce the marketing costs at other points. This year the Government has guaranteed a return to the shippergrower of Ils 6d per case. The Fruit Control Board has again taken steps to improve the distribution in Britain, and with last season’s experience should be able to do effective work in this directon. The estimated areas under wheat and oats this season for the Dominion are substantially greater than last year. Good yields of these grain crops have been harvested. The latest threshing returns for wheat indicate a record per acre yield for the Dominion. Scientific research in various branches of agriculture is being actively developed by the new Research Department in co-ordination with the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural College Council, and other bodies, whilst the progress of our export trade is giving general cause for satisfaction. ■’ It is also satisfactory to record the progress made in our semi-primary and secondary industries. _' The semi-primary and secondary industries of the Dominion are marching hand- in . hand with the primary industries, and now employ nearly 80,000 bands annually, paying wages approximately £16,000,000 and producing goods to the value of approximately £8,500,000. These are impressive figures when one bears in mind the fact that New Zealand has the comparatively small population of 1,500,000 persons. Impressive as the figures are, they give promise of even ; greater expansion. The Government, by its policy of harnessing the rivers for hydro-electric power, is going to provide light, heat, and power for farms, and we have such valuable assets in hydro-electric power that we will be able to supply the industrial areas with all requirements for many years to come. With our wealth of rivers and regular rainfall

we have advantages not possessed by other great. fanning and industrial countries, and it is not too much for me to claim that with the resources in raw materials and minerals we will be able fully to deserve the name of - “The Britain of the South Pacific.” In the fullness of time there is no reason why this country should not support a population 30 times greater than it does to-day. New Zealand’s potential future is full of promise, and the duty devolves upon us all to progress upon the right lines. We should ever keep in the forefront the fact that our destiny lies in marketing the products of our farms, but at the same time we should not forget to give every possible encouragement to the industries which convert farm production into nlanu factured goods. These industries, if they keep in step with the progress made in primary production, and ifa proper balance is preserved between tb e two, will undoubtedly speli prosperity and success for all citizens. J