WHEAT-GROWING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19058, 21 July 1927, Page 10

WHEAT-GROWING.

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. The North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday received a cogy of a resolution from the Mid-Canterbury executive (Ashburton) stating that it was dissatisfied with the sliding scale of duties on wheat and flour as proposed by the Government,, and suggesting that the matter should be the subject of a conference at Ashburton.

■'" Reporting-on behalf of the Agricultural .Committee, -Mr ■ W. W. Mulholland said' that the committee had the question before it at a recent meeting, arid decided tb N defer'it until after the proposed conference. The committee recommended acquiescence in the suggestion contained in the letter, and suggested that the committee be appointed as a delegation to the conference.

The chairman (Mr J". D. Hall) seconded, the proposal. . Mr A. M. Carpenter stated that as far as he could ascertain the growers did not understand exactly what the sliding scale would mean. The chairman: Well, it has been published. Mr Carpenter agreed that such was the case, but maintained that its meaning was obscure. The recommendation was adopted. BIG LAMB MORTALITY. INVESTIGATION OF CAUSES. [THE PBESS Special Service.] , | WELLINGTON, July 201 Replying to Mr Burnett's question about big lamb mortality, the Hon. Mr Hawken to-day stated that the Department of Agriculture has made good progress in its investigations into the exact cause of the mortality which occurs annually among the best and fattest, lambs. So far as these investigations hare proceeded, they confirm the opinion previously held that dietetic conditions, and not infectious or contagious disease, are responsible for the trouble. The knowledge gained by these investigations,, especially as regards. preventive measures, is in the hands of the Department's veterinarians and inspectors of stock, and they will be glad I to advise sheepowners in every possible way. The special investigating officers will also take up the work again when the lambing season arrives. ISLAND FRUIT. WAIPAHPS SMALL CARGO. ; [THS PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, July 20. [ With less than half her full capacity of friiit, the steamer Waipahi returned to Auckland from Cook Islands this morning. The light shipment is said to be partly due to the fact that the growers at Mauke, one of the outlying islands of the group, were not advised of the vessel's movements, and in con- j sequence did not have any cargo ready. I The shipment consists chiefly or oranges, but there are also a number of cases of tomatoes and bananas. A fairly large proportion of the oranges are reported to be in poor condition owing to the rainy season which had been experienced at the Islands. The tomatoes and bananas are in first-class order, and local importers are confident that the ship is well suitgd for the trade. It is expected that considerably larger cargoes will be brought to Auckland on future trips.