“A WONDERFUL COUNTRY”

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 6

“A WONDERFUL COUNTRY”

VISITOR’S OPINION OF AUSTRALIA RAPID PROGRESS MADE IN DAIRYING (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, November 1. “To my mind Australia is a wonderful country, expanding in every way, and full of opportunity, particularly for a young man of ambition and ability," said Mr E. Runnerstrum, formerly governing-director of the Waikato Valley Co-operative Dairy Company, Frankton. Mr Runnerstrum returned to Auckland by the Niagara after a six weeks’ tour of Australia. During his travels in the Commonwealth he covered over 10,000 miles. There was abundant evidence that dairying was going ahead by leaps and bounds in the Commonwealth, added Mr Runnerstrum, and several territories were equal to or better than anything we had in New Zealand. While a further improvement must be made in butterfat production a cow and an acre Australian farmer were now assured of a fairly high production for the season. After the recent rains Queensland still required more rain and if they did not get it farmers there would be seriously affected. “If they have even a normal season Australians are bound to increase production at a greater rate than we can ever hope to do,” said Mr Runnerstrum. “I have found in some of the territories that farmers are exceedingly keen on improving herds and farms. The trouble in the past seems to be that too many farmers held areas far too large to be given the necessary attention along the lines modern methods demand. This has been realized and there is now a strong tendency towards improvements along the lines of methods followed in New Zealand.