DOMINION’S PROGRESS

Southland Times, Issue 19720, 28 November 1925, Page 4

DOMINION’S PROGRESS

REVIEW BY DR GILRUTH. FACILITIES FOR COUNTRY. PRICE OF LAND TOO HIGH. SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS. Interesting impressions of the development of New Zealand, chiefly in the rural j areas, during the last 20 years were given ; by Dr J. A. Gilruth, who has just concluded a tour of the Dominion. Dr Gilruth was formerly chief Government veterinarian in New Zealand, afterwards of veterinary science at Melbourne University, and Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia from 1912 until 1920. Dr Gilruth said it was 17 years since he had been in New Zealand, except for a flying call when he was a through passenger to or from America. The present visit, extending over nearly two months, had afforded him an opportunity of visiting places in both Islands with which he had been familiar between 20 and 30 years ago. The line of development that was most strikingly manifested, Dr Gilruth considered, was the tendency toward increased comfort and provision of modern facilities in the rural areas. He referred particularly to the supply of electricity to country districts which had revolutionised both working and , living conditions in many localities. Realising that this service was being progressively developed, one could imagine what the future held for a country so well endowed naturally for providing power of this description. Additional comfort in working and living conditions meant much to country people and should help to solve the difficulty of the drift to the cities. SOLVING ROADING PROBLEM. Reading facilities also had been improved almost beyond conception. He understood the roading problem was still a burning question in New Zealand, but he had been greatly struck with the improvements that had been carried out in the country districts. A journey in the Wanganui district that had taken him a day and a-half to make 30 years ago he had accomplished recently in a few hours. This trip was made by motor, but in the old days the roads were impassable for motor traffic. Whether the fact was realised or not by New Zealanders, the roading problem was being solved, and this was contributing a further degree of comfort to country people. The facilities afforded to farmers in the Dominion in the directions he had mentioned were far in excess of those provided for farmers in Australia. The opinion was expressed by Dr Gilruth unequivocally that land in New Zealand was too high in price. Inquiry in both North and South Islands had led him to this conclusion. In Australia investment in pastoral property had more of the gambling element in it than was the case in New Zealand, but the margin of difference was not so great after all. The investor in rural properties in the Commonwealth expected a return of 15 per cent, to 20 per cent, on his invested capital. In New Zealand, from what he could gather, the most that could be looked for considering the price of land was a return of 7 per cent. That was not sufficient margin, and until prices were stabilised at a somewhat lower level the development and expansion so necessary to prosperity could not take place in satisfactory measure. IMPROVEMENT OF STOCK. As far as the stock of the country was concerned Dr Gilruth said he was pleased with the development that had taken place. New Zealand was blessed with breeders possessing both ability and foresight. Progressive improvement had been made in flocks and herds and with expanding opportunity he had no doubt that the excellent work already accomplished in this direction would be continuedSurprise and concern were expressed by Dr Gilruth at the spread of noxious weeds in some of the fertile districts he had visited. The difficult period of the Great War no doubt accounted in part for the increase of these pests. On the other hand, too much land in the possession of one owner, or unpardonable carelessness on the part of certain farmers, had led to the spread of a pest that was a dire threat to the farmers. The worst of these pests were not indigenous, he said, but they appeared to thrive more in New Zealand than in the country of origin. To combat them was a matter or urgent necessity. He advocated research in the country of origin with the object of ascertaining what natural enemies or conditions kept the pests in restraint in their natural surroundings.