RURAL ENTERPRISES AND MANUFACTURING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18013, 4 March 1924, Page 8

RURAL ENTERPRISES AND MANUFACTURING.

(TSOil A SPECIAL COEEESPOHDI'.ITr.) ■WELLINGTON, March 3. It may be feasible to develop both manufacturing ana a rural enterprise simultaneously, such for instance as wool-growing, but so far tho experience of the world has been against that. It has not been found possible to encourage both activities at the one time. In the last fourteen years the clip of the Lnited States has dropped from 323,000,00)] b to 2ol,(/00,OOl>;b, and yet, last year the country consumed more wool than ever he tore in its historv, the estimated consumption being "20,000,0001b. Of that total, GO per cent., or cover 40J,000,0001b, warJ in,ported. In 1909 American mills purchased abroad only 260,(X)J,000'1b., and that period was one of the Heaviest American purchasing years of foreign wool in pre-war times. The American Government is endeavouring to stimulate the sheep pasturing industry, by a high Customs duty, and it remains to be seen whether the scheme will yield tho results anticipated. The fall of wool production in the United States, while the woollen industry -was expanding may possibly convey a lesson to other countries. In the hist 20 years manufacturing of all types has grown amazingly in the United States; it has done so in all the older countries of the world, and in practically every country a decrease in sheep flocks has been recorded. This Keoms to establish thie theory that rural industries and manufacturing industries cannot expand simultaneously in the same country.

BUD SELECTION. (SPKUIAL TO "THI I>It«8B.") DUN3DIN, March 3. The various phases of tho practical work of the Institute of Horticulture continue quietly to penetrate into so mo important classes of horticultural development. Last week the Teviot (Roxburgh) branch of the Institute. working in conjunction with the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, tut, packed and forwarded to the leading fruit tree nurseries of the Dominion 25,000 selected certificated apricot buds of the best type. The six sorts recommended by Otago Central experts for extensive planting are Roxburgh Red, Orillens, Early Jtolton, Moorpark, Newcastle and Royal. This is the third year in sucoession that the selection has been made at Roxburgh, and the Imds distributed to the fruit tree nurseries. It is .estimated that 80 per cent, of all the apricots grown and sold last year from Jhe nurseries were from selected buds, and that this (1924) season the proportion will rise to at least 90' per cent. RUSSIA WANTS A LOAN. (AUSTRALIAN AND M.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.) MOSCOW, March 1. M. Kakovsky announces that Russia Is endeavouring to obtain a credit of 8,000,000 gold roubles from Great Britain. NEW ZEALAND RABBITSKINS. IMPROVED PRICES. (itbom oua owsr correspondent.) LONDON, January 26. (This week 927 bales of Now Zealand rab-bit-skins were included in a two-days' sale, with 1663 bales from Australia and Tasmania. The offerings were mostly of good quality, with only a small proportion of inferior grades.

The Notional Mortgage and Agency Company report that since the November auctions there has been a steady revival of interest in the market, especially from America, where the stocks of certain grades, notably stout pelted furriers, have been considerably diminished, whilst hatters have beon keen buyers of English skins, which have repined the deoline registered between the previous two sales. There had not been, however, a great deal done in Australian and New Zealand skins in the intorval, so the prospects, whilst favourable were regarded as somewhat uncertain. ' The sales opened with a good all round demand, and prices quickly showed an average improvement of fully 10 per cent., which ■was well maintained througiont, values having a hardening tendency. Furriers' demand was very much better than in November especially from New York, but the Continent also purchased a good deal freely, though there is still room for improvement in this demand for thin pelted sorts, which show the least change. Several parcels are still limited at September priceß, or even higher. New Zealands recovered the decline at 10d per lb on prime and first winter doeß, sustained at tho last sales, whilst prime and first winter bucks advanced 6d to 8d per lb. Seconds bucks roso fully 6d per lb, also early winters and incomings, and autumns and racks were 3d to 4d per lb higher. Late winter does show the least change and were still rather neglected. Milky does, damaged, and low quality were also 2d to id per lb dearer. Australians were unaltered for prime and first winters, but second winters advanced on an average 4d, incomings, autumns and good oatgings 3d to sd, light racks 3d, and milky does 2d to 4d per lb. Smalls were unchanged, and damaged Id to 2d per lb higher. Stout pelted winters advanced 4d. to 6d per lb. Black and silver grey brought full prices, and fawns also show little change. Hare-skins attracted more attention, the offering being- tho largest for some. time. prices advancing nearly 20 per cent. Gf 2690 bales offered, 1860 bales so'.d, against 21G6 bales .offered and 1260 bales sold at tho corresponding series in 1923. Quotations for New Zealand skins per lb are:—Full winters, thin pelts (prime), 95d to 1016; ditto (slightly spotty), 74d to 87d; full winter medium and stout pelts, 74d to B2d; full winters and fairly seasoned (butchers), — ■„ early winters and incoming, 62d to 72d; late winters, 44d to 56d; autumn, 43Jd to 47Jd; early autumns, 88d to 45d; outgoing and spring racks, 33d to 43Jd; autumn racks, 85d to 36d; light 34Jd to 35d; spring and summer racks, SOd to 64d; inferior and damaged (fair to good), 43d to 50d; Jitto (medium to poor), 27d to 40d; milky flair to good), 3GJd to" 45Jd; milky (medium to poor), 27d to 38d; kittens and suckers, ; blade and silver grey (furriers), 62d to 80d; ditto (ordif.ary), 30d to 41d; fawns, 64d to 78d. Hare-skins 2s to lis per dozen. '

• The following rabbit-skin sales have been arranged for this year:—March. 29th, May 28th, July 23rd, September 24th, November 13th.

CHILLED MEAT FROM NEW

ZEALAND.

(reOM OUB OWH COBBXSPONDBNT.) LONDON, January 26. "Ice and Cold Storage" remarks: - proposed experimental shipment of'-nie*. beef from New Zealand marks an attempt by the Dominions to break into the Argentine monopoly of the chilled beef trade. Hitherto Australasian beef x in order that it may stand the longer journey, has had to be frozen hard and kept at a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, whereaa the bulk of the Argentine beef, carried at 2a to 30 degrees Fah., arrives in a soft condition, is more readily saleable, and commands higher prices. The experiment is creating a great deal of interest in Dominion political circles, where it is clearly realised that if Australasian beef can be brought here successfully in a chilled state, its value to the producers will be enhanced by Id to 2d per pound, or £3 to £6 per Lead of cattle, making all the difference between profit and loss in the cattle-raising industry."