The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1890. FARMING IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2587, 1 December 1890, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1890. FARMING IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Farming, whether pastoral or agricultural, is carried on under great d ifficu lties i n New South Wales. Last year the crops were a total failure owing to drought, and the pastures were burnt up by a scorching sun. This year fine rains have fallen, and an unusually good season was predicted for the pastoralist and agriculturist; but these hopes are,in grave danger of non-fulfilment. Millions', of rabbits are now swarming along the Lachland, Darling, and Murrumbigee rivers, eating up everything before them; while m the Riverina districts a grasshopper plague is assuming alarming proportions, millions of tliese insects spreading themselves over the country and ako devouring everything before them. Thus, what is spared from the scorching rays of the sun, is falling before rabbits and grasshoppers. The outlook is certainly nob a reassuring one for thepastoraiisfcand agriculturist, who, nevertheless seem to" be able, to make both ends meet. How itjis done is a puzzle to New Zealand farmers. Good seasons are the rule m New Zealand, not the exception; but our farmers do not appear to make a rapid fortune notwithstanding. Perhaps this may be explained by the fact that the great proportion of New Zealand produce is exported abroad, instead of being consumed at home; and the profits that should go to the farmer are swallowed up m middlemen's charges, freight, storage, and customs duties. In addition to this the farmers, like everyone else; m New Zealand, are heavily taxed—both directly through the Property Tax, and indirectly through the Customs. But, even with all this heavy handicap— springing from the want of a larger population to consume produce on the spot arid bear a share of taxation— the lot of the New Zealand farmer is immeasurably superior to that of his New South Wales or Victorian neighbour. Droughts, and rabbits, and grasshoppers, and similar evils, are not entirely unknown m New Zealand, but their inflnence on agricultural and pastoral pursuits 's, not ; serious. Drought m the sense m which it is recognised m the neighbouring colonies, is scarcely known ;'while the rabbit pest has been so well kept down by wise legislation and protective measures that its effects are yearly becoming less. As to the depredations of insects sucK as the grasshopper, this is an evil totally unknown. The keen frosts and snows of our vigorous winters keep the colony free from these pests, or reduce their numbers to such an extent that the farmers do not suffer. The only thing that the New Zealand fanner has to complain of is the heavy burden of taxation which he has to bear, owing to the gross mtegovernment and mismanagement of the colony's affairs by incompetent administrators, and for this he has himself largely to blame because he has nbt paid the requisite attention to political affairs he should have done. But there is an apparent change taking plage m this direction, and one which promise* well for the future. The farmer has bestirred himself politically, and the upshot will no doubt be that the burden uncbir which he labors will be lightened, and that he will be able to reap to the full 1 the advantages of farming m 3. countjry specia'.V deigned by native for the purpose ,_