THE FARMERS’ OUTLOOK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160813, 22 November 1920, Page 4

THE FARMERS’ OUTLOOK.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie has returned from his strenuous seven or eight years’ hard work in Londoh as much of an optimist, as ever he was in regard to the future of New Zealand, but he is not attempting to disguise the fact that " the Dominion must bear its share of the world's war burden. He has been talking frankly to, the head of the Government, and much-of what he has had to say is of vital Interest to the farmers. He arrived just 'as the community was beginning to realise the gravity of the wool slump, and without waiting for the assurance of other authorities the opinion that the position would not prove so ‘serious as it might appear at firs£ sight. Already his prediction is being realised to some extent and his cheery words stand to his credit. But it may he inferred from what the late High Commissioner left unsaid in regard to the Government’s proposals for “carrying over” this season’s wool clip, rather than from what he said, that he does not view this scheme with any enthusiasm. He described it as a new undertaking, upon which he was not-fully informed, and he preferred to-witholdO his opinion meanwhile. ‘This, practically, is the attitude of the bankers and other business men, who, if not altogether disinterested authorities, are scarcely less concerned for the welfare of the primary producers than they are for the special interests they represent. It still has to be ascertained whether other wool-growing countries will “hold off” and whether the Imperial Government will join in the‘scheme for feeding the London market according to its power of absorption. With regard to frozen meat Sir Thomas speaks with no reservation. The producers and ttye shippers have to face the extremely' unpleasant fact that owing to the conditions prevailing during and after the war the reputation of Now Zealand meat iil the English market ,has • suffered very severely. There would- be no profit now, as Sir Thomas says, in casting the blame for what has happened upon the Imperial authorities, who held mutton in'store till hadsadly deteriorated arid then put it on the market in a most unattractive condition. The business of the producers, the shippers and, the people who handle the meat at the other end is to re-establish the reputation New Zealand mutton previously enjoyed, and towards this end nothing could be more efficacious than the appointment of a Trade Commissioner in London, with power to supervise and regulate supplies. Of the»general Outlook, while recognising that much depends upon the efforts of the producers themselves and upon the efforts of the business , men who serve them, Sir Thomas takes the rosiest view. Dairy products, he will command good, prices for years to come, ' wool will recover when anything like normal conditions. are restore 4 in Europe, and meat will always be in demand. America is eager ,to become one of the Dominion’s hfg customers'and its markets already have been successfully tested.' The farmers, Sir Thomas says, have every reason for going forward in good Thdy have the finest country, in the world, they have a sympathetic public ,and whatever Government’ may be in office during the next twenty years its first duty must he to encourage and stimulate production.