THE COUNTRY

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15746, 13 November 1916, Page 4

THE COUNTRY

—: * NOTES AND NEWS, STATE AS CATTLE-FARMER. QUEENSLAND EXPERIMENT. (rr.oM orn own- coßnisroNDENx.) SYDNEY. November '3. A We>t. Australian Labour Government established a line of Stato steamers: New South Wales has State brickworks and quarries, joinery factories, and bakeries. Out- it has bo-.'n left for Queensland to "go tho whole hop;'' in the nationalisation of important industries. Queensland has entered into the business of manufacturing and trading, just as other States I have done; l):it it is involving it- I self deeply in some of the primary in- J dustries. " It has recently purchased mines and tmeltiiig-vvorks, and it is considering the growing of sugar. But its most interesting experiment- is its cattle-stations. The Queensland Government already nwite about 27.0(H) head of cattle, and it is always ready to buy more. It has purchased several stations, and the general manager of this State enterprise is even now away in the 'Gulf country inspecting properties which he thinks may bo utilised as breeding stations. The government declares that its cattle so far have been fully justified, and it intends to extend the enterprise greatly. Critics have only one reply: "See how tlioy get on in the next bad drought,'' they say. There has been some trouble recently on soire of the stations owing to lack of rain, but it is not serious, but real embarrassment has been caused by lack of men retarding mustering operations. On one station recently there was not one man except the manager left: they had all enlisted.

A recent official announcement said: The State station'; are being run as business propositions. Stock is to be bred and fattened on tlicni and sold for proiit. in tiie same way as is done by private owners. The cattle bought for State purposes have not, been drawn on to supply the State butcher-shops, but. if this is found necessary, it will be done.

Sr> far the State lias made its purchases very carefully. Its policy has been to buy (stations with cattlc already on them, so that the animals aro already inured to the clanger of tropical diseases. So far, the purchase of cattle runs been on the basis of so much per head for the cattle, with everything else thrown in. [t. is said that private owners who have sold out to tho' Government show no inclination to complain about the transaction. JOTTINGS FOU FARMERS. Authority has beon given for the Department of Agriculture to make an exhibit at tho Kirwee Show next week, and aleo at the Banks Peninsula Association's Show at Little River. An error wag made in our show report on Saturday in respoct of Class 8, light-weight Jmnters. The correct awards were: —Miss,A. J£. Ithodes's Major Webb 1, Mr J. H. Selby's Clarence 2, Miss I. lluthcrford's Hard Snag 3. At the Addington Show Grounds on iSaturday the sheep entered for the Ctarriedale and halfbred wool and mutton com petition, and those entered for the merino wool competition, were shorn. The result of these competitions will not be available for somo time. The scarcity of labour in the conntry -was referred to by the Chief Justice at the "Wellington Supremo Court on Saturday. Ho .said that lie had had a, letter from a friend engaged in the farming industry, who said that it was impossible, to got men even to cut scrub, although ho was prepared to pay them Is per hour and find them board and lodging. From the evidence given in a ease heard at the l'oxton Magistrate's Court, it appears that there is money to be made at share-milking. The sharemilker in the ease, in question, according to a statement made by the employer, received last season for his share £600 (is 2d. Out of this he had to pay for labour, after allowing for which the contractor's net earning averaged £0 12s lid for the whole year. As shewing the demand for labour in tho Stratford district, the local paper mentions that a lad just turned sixteen years of age lately started work in one of the uairy factories at 10s a day. Tho work in question does not call f<> r particular educational qualification, and the lad's grammatical and geographical knowledge is never likely to l>e questioned, so that the sum of £;* per week under the circumstances must be voted n really good remuneration even in war time. The manner in which women are taking the places of men was demonstrated at o butter factory not many from Palmers ton North. A recruiting sergeant called on the. manager and enquired how many first reserve men were employed in the factory. "See for yourself,'' said the manager, "hut whatever you do, don't take any of them away.'' The sergeant entered the factory, and, to his surprise, found three young women at work. The manager -,vas the only man on the premises. lie explained that his men had gone to camp, and no others being available at the time, he had engaged the women, with the very best- results. Some notes regarding an experiment made with lucerne on very poor land at Port Molyneux, Otago, have been received by Mr A. Macpheison, Fields Supervisor. The farm referred to in the )iote& is situated on the ridges south of Port Molyneux, and its owner; in 191-1, sought the advice of an officer of the Department of Agiiculture, who recommended lucerne. Though the farmer'.? neighbours expressed the opinion that he would be wasting time in sowing luccrne on such poor soil, she decided to try it, and on November, 1914. bowed, in drill?,, an area 30yds by 10yds. It was cut twico the first season and last veer it was cut three times, having developed a splendid healthy growth of from 30 to 30 inches. At latest part of the plot had been cut and the siecond growth is about. 18 inches high. The opinion is expressed by Mr Macpherson's r-o:respondent that tiio experiment has demonstrated that lucerne can be successfully grown on tho class of land referred to if farmers wiil only exercise, patience and keep the areas that arc sown clean. HORNBY. Mr Krnest Manhiro. who has been in charge of the local Post and Telegraph Office for a numlier of yeare, and who is practically a native of the district, goes into camp on Wednesday. Mr Manhire has always taken a very keen interest in everything pertaining to the social life of the place, and will be missed particularly by the football, cricket, and tennis "clubs. This is the third and last son of 31r W. H. Manhire to join the colours. The youngest son. "Willie, has been doing his '"bit" in France for a considerable time, and from last accounts was quite well. The other son. Clifton, has again taken up his duties at Canterbury College, after being invalided home from Gallipoli. RAKAIA. The conditions for the shoot- for tho silver cup presented by the Hon. C. A. C". Hardy for competition among the Senior Cauets are ten rounds, with a

limit of points in the handicap, and an entry fee of sixpence. A second prize will be awarded —a silver medal valued at 10s <3d« All disputes will be settled by tho sergeant-major-Competitors are to fall in at Mr Hardy's store on tho morning of December Oth. The following handicaps have boon declared-:— Sergeants v> • Wilkinson, Brown, and Ford, Corporal G. Shannon. Sapper O'Connor, and Private Simmers, scr; Sergeant V. McPhail, Sapper D. Cornelius, and r '" rates E. Adam. G. Adam, "Watts, and P. Smith, 1 point; Privates W . Hooper and T. Hooper. 2 points: Corporal "VV. McPhail and Privates R-. Taster son and Fagan, and Sapper J. Stewart. 3 points: Privates J''. Galligan. J. BlackIcy, and V. Ford, 4 points; Privates G. Lucas, W. Mead, Whiting, Magson. Culloty, and Wilson, o points. METIIVEN. Mr S. Meyenscough. Mus. Bac., Oxon., visiting examiner for Trinity College of Music. L-ondop. held the practical music examinations at the Convent of Mercy, Mothven, last- week. Following are the names and grades of the successful candidates: —Professional examination—Teachers' diploma of A.T.C.L., Kathleen McKehdrv. Intermediate division —Bertha Clark, Lorna Moore, Winnie McKendryJunior Division —Doris Hicks, Rita Alice Lee, Louisa May Burrmvs. Four pupils presented by the Sisters of Mercy. Rakaia, for examination at the Methven centre were also successful, all gaining honour-; certificates in their respective grades, viz.:—Upper Grade —Monica. McNamara. Mavis Johnston. Jx>wer Grade—Alex. Marshall, Dorothy Johnston. TEMUKA. A meeting of anglers and residents was held on Friday to make arrangements for <i Red Cross "eel drive." Mr H. Bell was voted to the cbair, and there was a good attendance. Tho subject was discussed and all present oxpressed themselves as willing to act as delegates, each undertaking to raise a party to take part in the "eel drive" in the. Temuka river next Friday night, weather permitting. It was agreed that all delegates meet on Wednesday evening to complete the necessary arrangement's. r lhe Maoris were represented. and promised to do all they could to assist. On Friday afternoon, Mrs E. Larson received a telegram stating that her son, Private Yenville, had been wounded in the arm and shoulder, and was admitted to the Belfast Hospital. Private Venville left with the Bth Reinforcements. IN SOUTH CANTERBURY. Considerable speculation is going on in lambs, and fat stock buyers have increased their limits since the announcement of increased prices by tho Imperial Government for New Zealand meat. In some cases Jambs not yet •weaned have been sold and re-sold out the original buyer taking delivery. Sales have been made at 15s, los 6d, 15s 9d, and 16s for ewe and wether lamb 3, delivery to be taken at weaning time, with alO per cent, rejection. For the pick of 500 of the ewe lambs out of a line, 20s was offered last week, and in the alternative, 18s 6d for tho ewe and wether lambs. What is probably a record pricc for Jambs in the Mackenzie Country was offered on Saturday, when a stationhojder far beyond Fairlie v.'as offered IBs 6d for all his lambs, delivery to be given off the mothers. He had previously refused ]Gs. Feed is abundant, there is not sufficient stock to keep it oaten down. Cattle, as well as sheep, are in short supply, and in. view of the shortage of stock and the over-suppiy of feed, it is thought that high prices must continue to rule for some considerable time. Whilo the winter-sown crops arc still looking well, those sown in the spring arc in need of a good rain, which would also be of great benefit to root crops. There is such a flush of grass that there is a danger of animal" becoming too fat; but if more rain does not come at an early date to carry on the iced after tho reserve of moisture from tho winter rains i* exhausted, it will soon go off. As giving an idea of how plentiful the feed is this year, a farmer who lias been forty years in South Canterbury says ho cannot recall a year when there was so much of it at this season. As indicated before, autumn-sown oats are coming on rapidly, and some promise to be ready for harvesting in January. Barley ..is not extensively grown "in Soutli Canterbury, but a particularly good crop of Capo barley is to be seen in tho Orari-Rangitata district. It is fully shot, and should be ready for reaping in less than a month.