H.—34

Under the heading of " Co-operating control, supervision, special and general advice," there are a number of farms where very definite partial control is exercised by arrangement with the farmer, stock and station agent, and/or mortgagee. These may be listed as follows : —

Total number of farms, 11. Results: — (a) complete control farms. Of the ten farms under complete control, four have been under supervision for longer than one year. On these, improved financial results alone prove the value of the work. Two others have almost completed a financial year and the indications are that improved net returns over those of the previous year will be secured, and this despite the low prices and unfavourable autumn weather. Of the remaining four farms, two were taken over a short while ago and two are being given up. The two latter being discontinued because the owner has adopted an attitude of passive resistance and consequently is unlikely to derive any benefit from the assistance of the Advisory Service. (b) co-operative farms. (1) Partial Control. As already stated, there are eleven farms that might be listed under this sub-heading. With the exception of two, excellent results are being secured. Of these two, one varied the policy with unfortunate results, and the other did not put part of the policy into operation owing to shortage of available finance. (2) Special and General Advice. This section of the work takes up a great deal of time and might be considered to include complete farm report preparation (management and financial analysis, constructive policy, and financial outcome). During the year, apart from the twenty-one farms already mentioned, over seventy farms have been visited and advice given on some special branch of farming and/or on the management of the farm as a financial unit. The advice given has been taken in full in fifty-seven instances, results and progress at present unknown for nine, portion of advice taken in five, and on one farm no attempt was made to improve the position. Information and advice given to farmers covers a very wide field, and in Canterbury many types of farms are visited. These include small dairy-farms, mixed cropping and sheep enterprises, light land sheep properties, Peninsula farms, and foot-hill sheep propositions. It must be admitted that much care, time, and thought has been given to a study of the problems of each individual class of farm in the various districts. In many instances it is not possible to so arrange the farm-production that the required interest is made even in part, with the farm in its present state. The required interest, of course, usually has no relationship to Government valuation. A perusal of copies of farm reports will show that although on many farms little improvement can be made in the first year, yet by good management and a suitable policy, even at to-day's prices, considerable improvement in the interest earned, and, therefore, in the real value of the property, can be made over a period of years. On many farms where bad management and heavy indebtedness have gone hand in hand for a number of years it is estimated that at to-day's prices, even after several years of good management, interest at 5 per cent, cannot be earned on the present valuation (mortgage or Government).

45

Locality. Area. Class of Farming. Acres. I Waipara .. .. .. .. .. 218 Mixed cropping and sheep. Waipara .. .. .. .. .. 2,270 Sheep, fat and store lambs. Waikari .. .. .. .. .. 120 Mixed cropping. Weka Pass .. .. .. .. .. 5,000 Sheep, fat and store lambs. Horarata .. .. .. .. .. 450 Mixed cropping and sheep. Windwhistle, Hororata .. .. .. .. 800 Sheep, fat and store lambs, and fat cattle. Rakaia .. .. .. .. .. 650 Mixed cropping and sheep. Port Levy .. .. .. .. .. 1,200 Sheep, fat and store lambs, and fat cattle. Port Levy .. .. .. .. .. 1,400 Sheep, fat and store lambs, and fat cattle. Coalgate .. .. .. .. .. 1,800 Mixed cropping; sheep, fat and store lambs. Hororata .. .. .. .. .. 1,714 Sheep and some cropping.