The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1920. FARMING PROSPECTS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14264, 15 January 1920, Page 4

The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1920. FARMING PROSPECTS

"The man on the land," a term which embraces all those directly connected with primary production, is no doubt more concerned with the prospects of the future thai the achievements otf the immediate past, and a glance at the outlook may therefore be interesting. Government control has disturbed the ordinary course of marketing our produce. This (says a Southern contemporary) was unavoidable under the conditions prevailing, and there is still uncertainty as to the duration of that control. The evidences point to the commandeer ceasing in regard to all branches of produce except, perhaps, frozen meat. The position of the meat trade at Home, as a result of the necessarily huge commitments of the Imperial Government during the war period, and the probability of assistance having to be rendered to the semi-starving populations of Europe, make it quite possible that control may be extended. The Argentine and American, and also Home-grown meat, was purchased at higher prices than the colonial article, and with the wellequipped private machinery that exists in England for marketing imported meat the Government might possibly find itself compelled to sell its dearly-bought foreign meat at a losing price to compete with it. To avoid that possibility, control may be continued, enabling the equalising of selling prices. The drought in Australia and the fact that in Queensland, the premier beef-pro-ducing State of the Commonwealth, tha Government has commandeered the beef output of the State for five years, make it pnobable that there will be a very considerable diminution of exportable meat from the Commonwealth, which would enable the Imperial Government to .extend the commandeer with very largely reduced financial requirements. However, the meat export of this season is provided for, and it is probable Eiaat the subsequent demand will be strong enough to keep our prices firm, «v,ith, in the open market, an upward teadency. The fact that buying companies in the North are operating freely aad paying increased prices—lid per lb for lamb and l£d for mutton in certain -listricts—may be taken as indicating that they do not anticipate extended coistrol. The feeling undoubtedly is against further disturbance of ordinary commercial routine. It may be taken for granted that the quantity frozen this season will be less than last season. The recent lambing shows a reduction for the Dominion of 1,129,411 on the figures of 1918, and 2,130,678 on those of 1917, representing, respectively, declines of approximately 10 and 20 per cent. This must naturally be reflected in a reduced output, particularly when the additional factor of many pastoral properties being cut up for closer settlement is considered.

Before the commandeer, our annual wool export brought as high as twelve millions sterling. What that figure would jump to under open sale now would be difficult to suggest, and it is practically certain that the market will be free after June. Circumstances that might necessitate the Imperial Government controlling such an important food as meat do not apply to wool. Although huge quantities are in store and in transit to the United' Kingdom there is an insatiable demand for it: With an open field America would impart great activity to the wool market, as the quantity that the United Kingdom has allowed her is only a fraction of her requirements. Canada wants wool, and already Continental countries are eagerly competing for supplies. As Europe progresses towards normality, and the purchasing power expands, so will the demand for wool. Generally, therefore, the pasloralists, particularly the wool-grower, need have no apprehension about the immediate future. It might be suggested that there is no branch of farming activity with the same bright possibilities as dairying In 1909 our export of butter was valued at £1,639,380; in 1918 the value was £3,-i02,223; in 1909 cheese exported was worth £1,105,390; in 1918 £i,087278. This rapid rate of progress, it is claimed, is not comparable with what the next decado will show. With the extension of the dried milk, casein, milk powder, and condensed milk industries, enabling the payment for the raw material on a JO lo 60 per cent, higher

basis, there certainly! -seems almost limitless scope for dairying expansion. These prices will bring in their wake better dairy farming in respect to the use of high-grade cows, which again will increase the output, increased carrying capacity of the land through the incentive to provide better pasture, and a recognition of the. necessity of the use of concentrated foods in winter. High-priced land can be made payable only by dairying, and it would not be a visionary estimate to suggest that our export figures may double during the next decade. An industry that will return £2O per. acre per annum—which a very considerable area of dairying country isi doing to-day—on land the surface of which need not be broken, except at lengthy intervals, must, to use a colloquial term, "come into its own." The bright prospects of our pastoral and dairymg industries are not at the moment visible in connection with the future of cereal growing, particularly of wheat. The return of an increased number of farmers to the House of Represeni.atives may result in a better considered decision regarding the development of wheat growing. Figures have been recently published showing the reduced area devoted to wheat this season, and it is certain that the relation will continue unless different treatment is meted out in regard to the cultivation of the crop. As the profitableness of dairying and general pastoral activities 'increases so will wheat production under "fixed prices," unless properly encouraged, decrease. The political necessity that made the wheat grower the scapegoat of the "high cosi of living" cry disappeared on December 17th, and there is no reason from that viewpoint, as there certainly is not from any other, why he should have to produce an essential food at a price which, compared with others, is low. Generally, the future of our primary industries is bright. Internal troubles in other countries may affect the marketing of our produce under the most favourable conditions, and shipping disabilities may be another 'disturbing factor, but no kind of check can be anticipated that will seriously affect the wealth-producing power of the Dominion.