The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1927. MORE PRODUCTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1927, Page 8

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1927. MORE PRODUCTION.

“The dependence of New Zealand •for about 95 pel" cent, of her exports upon the agricultural and pastoral industries make those industries 1 absolutely vital in the progress of -the Dominion, states the memorandum issued by the New Zealand banners Onion, in surveying - the economic position of the country; mainly in respect of the fluctuations of the value of primary products exported during recent years. The memorandum stresses the urgent need of a national attempt to° increase production, cut costs, and meet the ever-increas-ing - competition from New Zealand’si rivals in the world's markets. The memorandum shows in the following _ figures, the fluctuations in value in round figures of our exports of primary produce since the cessation of hostilities:

fu the year' 1914. the Dominions exploits yielded a total value ol £55,261,1)00, and although there were some fluctuations within recent years 1 , the highest point, was reached in 1926, when the year’s exports were valued at £55,260,000. It is intereesting to note, however, the fluctuations in the value of the Dominion’s main ' pastoral products : Wool. ■f £ £ 1923. 1924. _1925._ 10,904,658 15.267,544 17,739,736 .Butter. 10,689,200 11,641,60 S 10,240,132 Cheese. 6,870,397 7,023,297 5,800,808 Frozen Meat. 9,012,627 9,499,877 11,174,567 “A glance at these figures,” says tiiei memorandum, “shows that 54,695 dairy • farmers of New Zealand have- had much less to divide up than the 25,045 sheep fanners, who have had fairly good pi rices for wool and lamb in recent years. Willi the ruling low rates for dairy produce the dairy farmer of the Dominion is having a hard time. Duiing the above period from 1921-25 there is a marked increase iu the export of dairy produce-, a- slight decrease in the output of frozen meat, whilst the exploit of wool has fluctuated, 1921 and 1922 being the greatest export years:. It is pointed out in the memorandum that between 1916 and 1924, the following countries have increased their production :

Per cent. South Africa XiO Canada XLJapan New Zealand 124 Argentine 109 Australia 100 Denmark 93 It is not made plain in the mem : orandum _ if" tlie percentage _ of increase is in value or quantity; nevertheless, the memorandum claims that a srirvey of the -whole economic position clearly points to the Dominion’s national progress being saved by a national attempt (1) To concentrate upon a higher level of production owing to more effective mobilisation of our resources. (2) To materially reduce the cost oi production; and (3) to meet the markets at all times. The ‘good old days’ when prices for our produce were fairly remunerative are fast disappearing, owing to ever-increasing competition from rivals, and every primary producing country is tackling the same problem of increased production. Theoretically, the policy propounded by the New Zealand farmers’ Union is sound and acceptable. The late Mr Massey invariably appealed to the country to accept as its motto: “Production, more _ prodiioction, still more production.” It is interesting, too, to note that other countries have increaseu productions, hut we rather fancy that hundreds of the producers in New Zealand to-day will read the memorandum without much enthusiasm. For example, the wheat-grower found himself in a difficult position this year, not because the yield had been small, hut because there had beeu more production—a bounteous crop. The growers of potatoes and oats -will not enthuse over the memorandum, since both those classes of producers are finding it exceedingly difficult, not to produce bigger crops, but to find remunerative markets for the products of their lands. The flax-growers, too, are up against big difficulties, while the timber milling- industry could provide regular employment for hundreds of men, if a payable market could be found for bigger outputs for mills that are now idle. As far as, New Zealand is concerned, we think it can be shown that this year the lands of the Dominion have yielded remarkahlei crops—there has been more production all round. Notwithstanding the response of the men on the land to produce more, it is doubtful if there was ever a time generally speaking, when the farming and other industries had ever such handsome yields to sell in such uncertain markets'.

Pastoral Agricultural exports. exports. £ 1914 ... .... 22,529,000 448,000 1919 ... 19ao .... 48,611,000 788,000 41.560,000 550,000 1921. ... 40,698,000 490,000 1922 ... 58,182,000 968,000 1924 ... ... 42,128,000 568,000 1924 ... 48,944,000 451,000 1925 .. . 51,570,000 467,000