TARANAKI FORTUNATE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1931, Page 6

TARANAKI FORTUNATE

PRESENT SOUND POSITION ADJUSTMENT AFTER LAST SLUMP. GOOD INCREASE IN PRODUCTS “One is gratified to be able to record that this district has come through the stringent times with possibly less disturbance than any other part of New Zealand,” said Mr. L. M. Moss in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last night. “There are, I think, two reasons for this—firstly the fact that in the slump of 1922 widespread readjustment took place in this province, placing values on a sounder basis, which has not been disturbed by any intervening boom; _ secondly, the large increase in production due to imp oved farmino' methods and the increased use o? fertilisers has in the total result somewhat offset the heavy fall in prices. “We recognise our dependence upon the farming community who are deservino- of the highest praise for the results achieved, especially during the past ten years,” continued Mr. Moss. “Over that period the figures for North Taranaki show that the production of butter-fat has been doubled. Such a result leaves no doubt as to the future oi the province. The undue pessimism which was current six months ago has been replaced by a reasoned confidence that the district can adjust itself to carry through successfully on a lower basis of prices. The factory reports so far to hand show that for the past season returns will average about Is for butter-fat for butter factories and about 9d or lOd for cheese factories. In some cases large quantities of butter and cheese are still to be brought into account, and witl a finning tendency of the market the outlook for the next few months has improved.”