Studies in rural credit

Abstract

This thesis considers aspects relating to rural credit available to New Zealand farmers during the late 1960’s. The operations and lending policies of the main institutions advancing funds to the agricultural sector of the New Zealand economy is outlined, with consideration given to seasonal and short term, short to medium term and long term finance. A brief discussion is given to the Australian situation, with the creation of the Commonwealth Development Bank of Australia in 1960. The first two chapters, rural credit has been considered from an institutional viewpoint. The discussion then moves to the farmer’s perspective and more specifically with establishing the credit needs of a particular group of hill country farmers in the North Canterbury Province of Cheviot County, for the seasons between 1965-66 to 1972-73.