CONCLUSION 293 



rural produce on the lines of the State Market Com- 

 missions in many States of America.* But it should 

 be free from political control. 



The transportation problem presents some formidable 

 questions, especially for those producers who are situated 

 at a distance from the railway. It is unfortunate that 

 our main line in the South Island should run so close 

 to the seashore, throughout the length of the wheat 

 producing area. It is also unfortunate that the railway 

 claims of many districts, only very sparsely populated, 

 should have received consideration from politicians in 

 preference to those of the more densely peopled districts 

 in the wheat area. Railway communication has been 

 pushed to extremes in the former districts, notably in 

 Central Otago and Southland, while little development 

 has taken place in Canterbury during the last three 

 decades. 



A further important suggestion refers to the means 

 for improving farm management. The principles of 

 scientific management, in so far as they can be applied 

 to agriculture in New Zealand, would improve the 

 general efficiency of the rural producer. Our farmers 

 must develop foresight and ingenuity, qualities which 

 are necessary for good management in any sphere. A 

 skilful rotation of crops; an eye to the net advantages 

 to be gained in pursuing any one method of cultivation ; 

 the ability to discern the point when the margin of 

 profitable cultivation has been reached in any process; 

 a careful balancing of the two main pursuits agri- 

 cultural and pastoral ; tactful handling of his men 

 so that he may secure their individual initiative and 

 their goodwill and esteem; a knowledge of commercial 

 functions or sufficient discernment to select sound 

 commercial specialists as agents to transact his trading 



*See Article by Prof. Plehn in the " American Economic 

 Keview," March, 1918. Vol. VIII., No. 1, pages 1-27. 



K2 



