N.Z. TRANSFORMED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1926, Page 5

N.Z. TRANSFORMED.

HON. W. P. REEVES'S IMPRESSIONS. By Talegrsph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 16. The Hon. W. Peniber Reeves, speaking at a luncheon given by the Chamber of Commerce, said after travelling 4000 miles, from Bluff to Dargavillo and Whangarci, die lias concluded that there is no need for scarcmongcring. After 30 years’ absence New Zeiiland was not so much-changed as transformed. The New Zealander himself was a different man—taller and better, more intelligent and more useful. There were, of course, some weak points—too much dependence on loans and advance. More production was needed. The Government would have t-o scale down its expenditure, and municipal bodies would have to moderate their demands. The land could be made much more productive than now. He gave as an instance the middlo Waikato and Upper Thames and the country from Waitara and near Wellington. It had been said that the banks had not treated farmers liberally enough, but could the banks remedy the position if they tried? Ho had gone carefully into the matter, and found that farmers, grazers, etc,., owe ten times as much to outsiders as to banks, and uo action by the banks would vitally affect their position. He had seen farm after farm which was too big; and the owner could not afford to emnlov sufficient labour, so that lu« prp"ertv was standing still, or actually -ina tack. Noxious weeds were getting , hold, and becoming a. danger. Electrical schemes gave great promise, a™-the development of irrigation, especially in Central Otago, was wonderful.