THE PELORUS GUARDIAN AND MINERS' ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, 23RD JANUARY, 1903. Neglecting Their Opportunity.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 6, 23 January 1903, Page 4

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN AND MINERS' ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, 23RD JANUARY, 1903. Neglecting Their Opportunity.

Farmers have the reputation (whether deservedly or not we are not prepared to say) of being intensely conservative in their business methods, and judging from recent experience there seems some grounds for the belief that in their stolid adherence to customary—and often obsolete —ideas they are standing very much in their own light and somewhat retarding the progress of the colony. Prior to the recent elections the Farmers’ Union executive evolved a complaint that the legislation of the present Government subordinated the interests of the farmers. While the charge was of course absolutely devoid of any foundation in fact, it goes to prove that men other than those who may be-drowning will cling to a straw. Ninety per cent, of the present prosperity of farmers in this colony is directly attributable to the favourable measures introduced by the Seddon administration; we could give many instances in this district of farmers who previous to the passing of the Advances to Settlers Act were living from hand-to-mouth, but who are now, thanks solely to that. Act, prosperous and with well-stocked farms, And yet many of these same men—we are referring now to absolute facts—are to be found in active opposition to the Government. But this is merely illustrative of our contention that the average farmer is not to be moved easily from a certain defined line of reasoning. The Government were recently appealed to to endeavour to open up markets for the colony’s produce, and a line of steamers to South Africa was arranged for in'the hope that the farmers would rise to the occasion offered for a continual and highly profitable outlet. The result will be seen in the following extract from the New Zealand Times of Tuesday“ There was an insistent outcry in New Zealand last year for a direct South" African service from this colony, and in response to the demand a monthly line of commodious vessels w r as installed. When the agitation had been thus rewarded, the founders of the service naturally thought there would be a sufficient and increasing offer of cargo, but the result to date has been very disappointing. One boat per month has been run according to contract, but so far not one thoroughly satisfactory lading has been effected. As a matter of fact, had it not been for purchases made by local agents on account of South African buyers who have placed orders in advance for meat, etc., some of the vessels would have had to be sent away almost empty. There is now in this port a fine vessel, due to leave Wellington to-morrow night. She has been in this colony since the end of December, and during the past three weeks she has travelled from Napier to Lyttelton, to Wanganui, to Wellington,, and yet she will leave this port, her final port of departure, with only fifty tons of cargo in her general hold. It will, in fact, be necessary to ballast the vessel in this part with coals. The few shipments of general cargo that have been made are for the most part samples of goods, such as a few bales of leather and manufactured products of different kinds. Credit is due to the pioneers who are thus exploiting a new market, but the beggarly result of fifty tons of general cargo bespeaks a supineness on the part of New Zealanders generally that is lamentable. Here is a fine service plying to a country in which for years l to come there will be a practically inexhaustive market for a hundred commodities that New Zealand can produce, and yet the opportunities afforded are being in a large measure ignored. The Sussex leaves on Wednesday or Thursday with her refrigerating holds practically filled withmieat, butter and other products, but this desirable state of lading is due to the cause before set out, and not to any initiative on the part of New Zealand graziers or dairymen.”