DEPRESSIONS OF THE PAST

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 18

DEPRESSIONS OF THE PAST

"THE GOOD OLD DAYS" A PIONEER'S RECOLLECTIONS Those "good old days" are not so good when one sits down and ponders over cold figures and forgets for the moment the bright spots. Perhaps it is pleasanter to recall the brighter side even if it is not so useful. It does not take long for the slumps to be forgotten, otherwise we would appreciate the warnings of those to come. A pioneer farmer of Mid-Canter-bury, whose memory can take him back more than half a century, provides a few figures of produce values when previous depressions were prevailing. The early day farmer certainly had the advantage of lower land values, but he had not a government to fall back on, even if that government is not a very dependable reed at times. At all events, comparisons are interesting, apart from the instructive value they should possess. Our informant, who is now retired, carried on general farming in MidCanterbury from the early eighties till 1914. He was manager of a sheep-run of 10,000 acres, from 188G to 1893, when he acquired about 1500 acres, part of the run, which he farmed successfully until his retirement in 1914. He recalls periods when sheep values were considerably lower than those of 1930 to 1932. The 1884 Harvest The harvest of 1884 was a disastrous one. It was in that* year that Mr R. K. Parkerson, who was farming 2000 acres at Ealing, shipped his wheat, on which he drew Is (id a bushel, but he had to face a reclamation of 9d a bushel. This was a severe loss, as the shipment was a large one. In harvesting he had two McCormack binders at work, and paid his men Is 6d an hour. On Sundays, overtime was paid at 2s an hour. From 1882 to 1895 sheep values were generally on a low level, though prices naturally iluctuated from time to time. At Mr F. G. Ruddenklau's sale at Ealing in 1886. two-tooth and four-tooth ewes (Lincoln-merino cross and E.L. merino cross) sold as low as 2s (id each. Fat merino ewes, on rape, made lid. Wheat at 2s a Bushel The year 188(> was also down In price: oats (42 and 431b to the bushel) were lOd. Wheat was delivered from Rangitata to Timaru at 2s a bushel. The spring of 1890 was very dry and one of the worst, experienced by farmers in Mid-Canterbury. Wheat, however, sold at about 3s. which was a drop of 9d on the previous year's price. Tn spite of the dry conditions, stock prices improved in the 1890-91 season, when paddock wool brought ISJ.d in Christehurch, and sandy wool 13Jd. Mortgage interest was then 7 per cent. Century Starts Well The following season of 1891-92 saw improved crops. Seed wheat sold at 3s i)d. In 1893 sheep prices were up. Fine crossbred ewes were bought at lG's, hoggets at. lis lid, and a line of 780 merino ewes cost 8s (id. Prices fell sharply in 189<1. After weaning the lambs, the same ewes were sold in lots by auction at Timaru. Ashburton, and Geraldine at from 2s 4d to 2s (id a head. At that time, Mr Charles Bourn, who owned the boiling-down works at Washdyke, bought thousands of sheep i'or boiling down at 4d. One farmer sold oats at Is, after storing them for two years. In 1899 there was a record wheat crop, more than 13,000,000 bushels being produced. Prices were from 2s 4d to 2s 7d. In 1900 and 1901 prices were under 2s (>d.

In 1903-4, the price of wheat was from 4s to ss, but in the following season, which was a wet one, with good crops, prices fell, wheat selling at 3s 9d. A Bad Wool Year The season of 1905-6 was a very severe one for sheepfarmers. Wool sold at from 2d to 7d per lb, and many farmers lost their holdings. In those days wool-buyers called on the farmers and bought clips, large or small, direct from the growers. Low prices for stock were experienced in the 1907-8 season. Southdown cross lambs were sold in Smithlield at from 3jd to 3ki; wether mutton at 2:,' d, ewes at 2d. The net return to shippers that season was about 4s 9d a head. From 1908 to 1912 wheat averaged 3s 11 Jd a bushel The 1914 (pre-war) prices generally were considered good. At the Christchurch wool sale of January, super merino sold at 12d to 13d, medium and inferior 9d to 113 d, medium halfbrcd 10-Ul to Hid, and medium crossbred 8d to 93d. Fat lambs sold at 18s to 20s, fat wethers at 20s. Butter was 1113s to 120s per cwt, wheat 3s Cd on trucks, oats 2s Id, and potatoes £3 5s on trucks. All round the 1914 prices differ little from those of to-day, except that butter was 50 per cent, better, but on [lie oilier hand wool to-uay is 50 per cent, better than in 1914. MEAT BRANDING PROVISIONS OF NKW OKI) Kit Originating with a request from the National Farmers' Union of England, the British Government proposes to issue an order-in-couneil requiring all imported meat to be marked, so that it can be distinguished from homekilled. The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board/which for more than two years has been contesting the proposal, has received the draft of the nroposed order, which shows that the principal requirements will be as follows: Mutton and lamb will be marked in three places on each side, namely—in six places on the carcase.

Chilled beef is to be marked by three lines longitudinally over the whole side.

Frozen pork will require to be marked f6ur times on each side, involving eight marks on the carcase. Frozen beef docs not require to be marked, but boneless beef, boneless veal, and all offals must, be marked with an indication of origin on each container oj; package. All marks must be in letters of riot less than half an inch in height. A Modification

These requirements represent a considerable modification compared with the requests of the English farmers' organisation,- which would have involved stamping a brand continuously along the whole length of the carcase. The matter was referred by the British Government to a standing committee for investigation. Very strong exception was taken by the representatives of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, supported by other overseas organisations, to a system which, it was contended, would seriously depreciate the appearance of the meat. The reduced extent of branding now required is some testimony to the weight of the evidence brought against the first proposal. At one of the sittings of the standing committee several hours were taken up in hearing the arguments presented on behalf of the Meat Producers' Board, fully supported by evidence. The principal objections, in addition to that of depreciating the appearance of the meat, related to the cost of branding, and the slowing down of killing and preparation of meat for export. The Meat Producers' Board is In touch with the New Zealand Government with a view to the adoption of a national "indication of origin," but the exact form which this will take has not been finally decided. It is understood that the English order-in-council will be made operative in respect to all arrivals- of meat in the United Kingdom as from January It 1935.