The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1911. OUR STAPLE INDUSTRY.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 17, 13 June 1911, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1911. OUR STAPLE INDUSTRY.

New Zealand is in the happy position of having several great lines of expoit. The mutton and wool industries are great, not only at the present moment, but for what thev promise for the future. Both these lines of export will develop considerably in the near future, and will continue to benefit the Dominion, but in our opinion the staple industry of New Zealand for the future will be the produce of the cow. Especially does this apply to the North Island. The climate, the quality of the soil, the configuration of the land, the opportunity the industry gives to the struggling settler, all go to prove the truth of this statement, and for many years a great number of our people will have to depend upon the cow for a living. Undoubtedly dairying has its drawbacks, imposing as it does so many restrictions on the liberty of action, proving a tie that is irksome to many people, and requiring close attention during the greater part of the year. But on the other hand we believe that it returns a far higher percentage of profit than any other industry, and it certainly has a great advantage in the returns coming in so quickly and so regularly. The labour question is the chief difficulty, but by the help of milking machines, which assuredly have come to stay, this obstacle is gradually being overcome. The outlook of the butter market is decidedly hopeful, and with our high standard of grading, and with better methods of handling at the Home ports, there is no reason why the price should not improve. The main reason why Danish butter holds premier place is, we honestly believe, not because of its superior quality, but simply on account of the position it lias reached on the London market and the usual prejudice against a new brand. Time is gradually working in favour of New Zealand in this respect, and we are persuaded that there will not be in the future that great disparity between the price of the New Zealand article and the Danish. The Government has spent money wisely in endeavouring to educate the dairy farmer" and can still further help him to turn out the best possible article, and by wisely-directed efforts in advertising, etc., can materially assist in raising the price at the other end of the world. The Government might also greatly increase the output of dairy produce. We understand that there are four million acres of native land which are unoccupied and unimproved, the greater paG of which is rich fertile country, just as good as the best. If, instead of this enormous area lying idle, it was brought into cultivation and made to bear its just share of the cost of roads, etc., how the returns of exports would rise by leaps and bounds, and instead of us losing our population —young men leaving the country because

they cannot get land —• we should keep them and gain others. The Government has been guilty of many follies, but this is its sin of sins, its crime of crimes, to allow all this land to lie unused, unoccupied, unrated, and men are leaving every week because they cannot get land. We have no hesitation in saying that our export of butter and cheese might be more than doubled in a very short time if this land was opened up. We say that this question calls for immediate settlement, and the electors should insist upon a satisfactory method of dealing with these lands being adopted. No Government should be allowed to carry on any policy that is against the best interests of all the people, and we are fully satisfied that to allow such areas of land to lie unused is the worst possible thing both for Maori and Pakeha. Let every voter insist upon this matter being dealt with, and the Government will soon find a way.