PROSPERITY OF FARMERS

Southland Times, Issue 24757, 30 May 1942, Page 4

PROSPERITY OF FARMERS

LESS INDEBTEDNESS TO FIRMS A remarkable state of farming prosperity in Southland is revealed by the statements of several Invercargill mercantile firm managers that the indebtedness of the farmers of the province to the firms is at the lowest level within memory. The extremely sound position of primary producers is attributed to the firm markets for all classes of produce. For the last two or three years, it is stated, farmers’ accounts have been steadily reduced until the amount remaining on the books is below previous records. The manager of one firm stated that the previous lowest amount owed by farmers to his firm in this district was in 1917, when war-time prices for produce were very high. However, there ■was considerably less money out in advances at the present time, and during a long association with the business he could not recall any other occasion when the present position was approached. RECORD PRODUCTION VALUE The value of primary production in Southland during the last season is believed to have been a record, and has been estimated at not less than £6,000,000. In spite of the serious difficulties of farmers in securing labour, production has been maintained at a high level. The lamb and sheep killings for the season will probably be slightly below the record figures for last year, but against that must be placed a greater cheese output and the enormous production of crops. Great quantities of wheat, oats, linen flax and seeds have been produced during the season, the cropping returns being excellent for most varieties except linen flax and ryegrass. Such seeds as white clover, fescue and browntop have been sold on an extremely firm market. Much more land was put under the plough last winter, and the amount of cropping was the highest for many years. • The prices secured by farmers for some forms of primary produce during the present war do not equal those available during the last war, but the efficiency of farming has been raised to a tremendous extent. The output of fat lambs is many times greater than it was 25 years ago, and the carrying capacity of land throughout the province has been lifted sharply. The evidence of farmers before the Armed Forces Appeal Board and the Southland Man-Power Committee has revealed that many farms in all parts of Southland have a carrying capacity equal to that in any other part of New Zealand.