AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18944, 15 May 1933, Page 4

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

REPORTS OF REOOVERY. POLITICAL PROPAGANDA ALLEGED. NOT OUT OF WOOD. Tile contention that the reports of Australia’s recovery are merely political propaganda, is contained In. a letter to the Waikato _Times from a Hamilton resident at present visiting Sydney. The writer states that he heard an entirely different story from men of all grades in agricultural and business life. Certainly there Is a feeling of greater security since Mr J. T. Lang, the late Premier of New South Wales, was defeated, but the actual ■condition of better times is non-exist-ent.

The wealthy sheep squatters have 1 been very badly hit, continued the 1 writer, and the only people on the I land who are holding their own are I the small men who go in for mixed 1 farming—wheat, corn, poultry, dairy- | lng, etc. In the towns food and clothing firms are the only ones in a good position. As an Illustration of what a poor return live stock raisors must get for their produce a Sydney newspapercutting was enclosed. . This shows that, retail prices arc extremely low. A butcher's advertisement offers a full half sheep for 2s 9d; one II) of chops or cutlets. 3d per 1!>; corned breast of mutton, Id per 11); sirloin roasts, 3£d g pep lb; corned brisket, 251 b, 3s, and | sausages -ilb for is. Other prices are 1 in keeping with these. Best bacon » ■rashers are quoted at BJd lb. As a week end special 251 b of corned brisket, half a sheep and two dozen saveloys arc offered for 7s 3d. On the oilier hand land appears to be reasonably priced. At Greenniounl, for instance, 5(11 acres, three miles from rail, about 250 acres under cultivation, togeJher with n good homeslcad of seven rooms, is on t I lie market at 510 us per acre. A j good house and 52 acres is quoted at £525.