NEW ZEALAND FOR BRITISH FARMERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 2244, 30 November 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FOR BRITISH FARMERS.

j The) following- latter appears m the j Mark Lane Express : — 1 " Sir, — F.>r some time paßt considers able attention has been directed to the advantages of New Zealand as a country m which the British farmer can found a homo »nd obtain a good return for his capital and labor. Several authorities have at one time or another written of it extravagantly m the full summer of satisfaction, to which others have replied m the cold winter of discontent. Where emigration agents are the authors we wisely discredit one-half the statements and cast a .doubt upon the remainder. " Mr Claydsn and Mr Bathgate, who cannot be looked upon as interested persons, have written m ulowing terms of the * England of the Pacific ' at a time when the prosperity of ths colony justified their enthusiasm. Mr Clayi'.en, whose letter m the Mark Lane Express I read at Naples, has very properly raised « warning voice under the altered conditions i hat have come over the scene. A five months' tour of inspection through the two islands of New Zaaland for the purpose of ascertaining for myself aud brother farmers m Yorkshire the truth as between the glowing and dis|iara»ing statements we constantly hear, leaves m my mind no surprise at ".he lavish praise Oeutowed on the one hand, or the dumagintf remarks of the disappointed on the other. Both sets of writers give the truth, but not the whole truth. Three and four years ago, when the colony was m the mid-day <>': prosperity, an examination into the cause of that feverish excitement ought to liave raised a warning voice at the time that a relapse was inevitable. The public works policy of Sir Julius Yogel was then being carried out by an expenditure of many millions sterling ; moreover, the high rate of interest obtained by British capitalists flooded the market with money. The banks and loan associations encouraged speculation m land, the principal commodity ; townships sprang up like mushrooms; railways, wharves, business premises aud houses all demanded labor which obtained high roniuneration. The prices of food and all other articles were consequently at fictitious values so long as the stream of gold continued to flow so abundantly. Member* of Parliament, pressed by their constituents, each urged tho necessities of their own localities, and had recourse to the well-known expedient of ' log rolling' — 'you help me and I'll help yon.' Some mombera and officials did not forget the advantages their own property would derive from a railway or a wharf, a fact which will help to explain to a traveller why a railway is taken over a mountain when a better route could havo been had. Other lines, again, make mysterious curveß and develop estates which on the map appear quite out of the way. Nothing m New Zealand puzzled mo so much as the railway routes. "The nature of the country, the many broad shingly rivers, and difficulties m making available for large ships the numerous harbors, have necessitated a large expenditure, so that there is a great deal of good permanent work to show for it ; moreover, Englishmen at Home are as much given to looking after number one as Englishmen abroad, their chances boing less because of an ever-watchful opposition.- When we consider that a population of under half a million has contrived to spend upwards of 30 millions of money, besides vaat sums accruing from the sale of land and from other revenue, no wonder that prosperity reigned, and writers could speak of fabulous fortunes made and an unprecedented rise m the price of land. But Sic transit gloria muwii— the loans are Bpent, the settling day has arrived, economy that had. no voice m the distribution is now held m high esteem, stock has been taken, with the reßult that a quarter of a million per annum has been saved without loss of efficiency m tho public service. That, fact alone shows to what a state the country had dtifted during the scramble for the spoil. England on the conclusion of the Franco-Gtrmau war had its day of prosperity and the attendant extravagance of its people. We have°Binee had to study economy for many years, and still feel the pinch severely, so that weourselveaareinno position to cast the first stone at our younger and more exuberant brothers m New Zealand, for m no whit are we better than they. This, then, may to some extent serve to explain why Mr Claydeu and myself — the author of the letter m the Leeds Mercury, from which you quoted, have but a limited encouragement to offer our farmers. When owners of property m New Zealand have learnt the leaaon which our landlords are slowly realismg — that the natural value of land is the return it can give as compared with other investments, and that the prices realised m the putt under stimulating and exceptional influences are unsuitable to a normal condition of trade ; when they shall have realised that and will offer their property at such a price that a farmer can make a commercial return on his capital and labor, then will a more abiding prosperity be the lot of all. lam assuming that agricultural prosperity is the first essential to good trade all round — an axiom which has only been slowly acknowledged since the decline of trade m Great Britain. Notwithstanding that the swing of the pendulum has brought both countries into the period of reactfon, which is known to be equal and contrary i to tho action which caused it, neither country need throw up the sponge, I ' though times seem most adverse and means unfit.' Of our own country I neednot, of New Zealand I may bo permitted, to speak to my brother farmers, who are anxiously looking for a new home in ' a better climate, where they can be free from the legislative trammels which stifle enterprise. New Zealand is one of the fairest, if not the fairest, of countries on our earth ; its soils are fertile, its mountains grand m a scenic sense and valuable for pastoral pursuits ; its rivers and streams numerous, but mostly wide and shingly — few rivers being navigable ; timber plentiful and suitable for every requirement ; coal, iron, stone, and every mineral eaiy of accesi ; and, lastly, a climate such as we farmers for many years have fondly imagined and looked for m vain. Nature scarcely could have done more. British enterprise has m the short space of forty years worked wonders m developing the latent wealth of the South Island especially. But the haste to get rich has brought about the depression which Sir W. Fox, the ex- Premier, describes as more severe probably than m any other country. Could it have been gradually developed by practical men of high moral principle, the many millions spent would havo been a good investment. Yot undor the active and judicious legislation of the Hall Ministry the difficulties of the Government, that at one time appeared insurmountable, are being slowly and surely oTorcome. Should, however, the working class, feeling tho pinoh, determine, like i, I tho Victoriauß, to bring m ' Protection, 1

and subvert economic principles, the present sad fate of Victoria will surely be intensified m New Zealand. I have full faith m the present Government and its supporters. Whatever have been the errors and misdeeds of the past, the futurn will he fraught with equal justice to all, and a watchful care exercised over the disbars, mtnt of its revenue. " Farming m New Zealand is paying owners and lessees who bought prior to the rapid rise m the price of land, and where leases are held under old rents. Th« cries of distress which have been brought under our notice as a counterblast to the extravagxnt utterances of others who have spoken of rare results as though they were the rule, have invariably proceeded from the unfortunates who purchased, often with money borrowed at a high rate of interest, or rented land during tho excitement known as the 1 land mania.' Similarly situated are we who rented our farms at hiuh rates from 1870 to 1875, are now reaping the result of n'ur own folly. On some estatei ijood land can now be purchased to pay 8 per cent by a good management that tonds more to stock-carrying than grain-grow-ing. The agricultural companies are offering their extensive estates on easy terms of payment ; but as the prices are pri-tty nearly as much as the land is worth, I don't see whero the advantage to a settler comeß m. The Boils of New Zealand are far more easy to work than our own, hut cannot, m lasting fertility, compare with the well-nigh exhaustless prairie soils of N. W. America and Canada, with which all must compete m this age of steam and telegraphy. But as I have said elsewhere, where live stock thrive so well and are remarkably free from disease, there is no t xcuse for removing the capital valuo of the estate— a limited quantity — m grain crops, although big yields are occasionally recorded. What I advise young enterprising farmers to do is to either take up a leasehold or deferred payment cheep run m Otago. Many thousand acres of pastoral properties belonging to the Government are about to be cut up into smaller sections, suitable for men of moderate capital ; or they may go to the North IsUnd, purchase bush, fern, or swamp land at fair prices, clear it, and sow it down. This may be done by contractors, who understand the work, for much lesa than the settler could do it. Of course that menna hard work, incon venit-nces, and a small return for some time, but it also means an increase m the capital value of the estate, whereas m buying a much smaller extent with the money m the South Inland at high ratea the vendor alone gets the advantage. " WithMr Clayden I do not think much good is being dona by farmers holding 100 or 200 acres. Such have done fairly well m the past when the consumption of produce kept ahead of production and prices were very different to what they are now, and likely to be m the keen competition with the rest of the world m the English market. " Mr O.s strictures on our farmers are not applicable to the greater portion ; a few, uo doubt, f-»rra' m kid gloves. - He ought to consider that the condition of the British farmer is very different to that of the colonist. The former is obliged frequently to attend markets m order to keep well plated m the prices of produce, or he may soon lose more than he would gain by working at home j there are also more and frequently less intelligent workmen to overlook. The colonist sends his produce to an agent m town, who disposes of it at current rates, leaving him to do as much work as the fine bracing climate disposes him. In the evening, seated under the verandah, he enjoys his pipe and book and newspaper, concluding a well-spent day with his family and a dropt-in neighbor, with music and singing. In my extensive experience among fanners' at home I do not find them nearly bo extravagant m living as their relatives with like capital m town. Still they might learn from the colonial farmer many useful lessons In economy of working, and like them take a wider and more liberal view of things around ; then should we no longer hear the expression so frequently uttered at home and abroad, ' Farmers are the biggest fools on earth.' Certainly when we consider that we have had for many years an overwhelming political power that could have abolished tbe obnoxious features of the Game Laws, the Laws of Distress, the power of confiscation of tenants' improvements by a landlord, and the other impediments to economic production, there is some cause for such a disparaging remark. "I found m my tour through the colonies great surprise expressed that our farmers, if their sufferings were real, did not, through the medium of the Fanners' Alliance, combine to have their alleged grievances redressed instead of supporting the enemies of reform. The colonists have not the least sympathy with tho Irish Land League, and wonder why our landlords do not support the moderate aud legitimate demands of the Alliance, but for what the tenets of the League must assuredly have been propagated m England and Scotland. " The laws affecting tho agriculturist m the colonies are all that can be desired ; and his ability to borrow money on his estate and produce, protect his property, or transfer it at the expense of but L 2 to L 5, need no improvement. Notwithstanding the necessities of the Government, ' rates and taxes are but a fleabite compared with those at home,' said a Yorkshire farmer who has just purchased a farm of 800 acres m the North Island. When land shall have reached its intrinsic value and agents and other middlemen have a little more competition m trade to reduce their charges upon farmers' wool and grain, I see no reason why thousands of British farmers Bhould not go to that better land and prosper there. I intend to try and do so next spring, and have given notice to quit my farm, and with it go my valuable improvements. I cannot obtain any reduction m a high rental, nor security for outlay m improvements ; moreover I can see my way clearly to make a good living by the growth of wool and tallow m a better climate, and away from tho hereditary prejudices of my class at home. — Edward Herring, Birkwood House, Norman toil, Yorks."