TOPICS OF THE DAY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 7

TOPICS OF THE DAY

THE FUTURE The future of farm production in Canterbury is discussed by Mr J. D. Stewart, lecturer in farm management, Lincoln College, in a bulletin recently issued by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.

“It is certain.” he writes, “that if, farm product prices remain fairly high, and in the same relation to one another, the emphasis in Canterbury in future years will be on sheep farming, based on improved, high-pro-' ducing. longer-lived pastures. Further-! more, it is certain that if improved management methods are even more l widely adopted, and if increased supplies of superphosphate are forthcoming, there will be very substantial in- • creases in sheep numbers in the near! future. It will be noted that no men-| lion has been made of irrigation, butij this would justify a bulletin in itself.] Sufficient to say, that we can go a, long way by further improving our dry-land farming techniques. But the ultimate limitation to increased volume of production in Canterbury is lack of moisture. The labour situation mayi become difficult, but with further] mechanisation and increasing use of contractors, it may be largely over-1 come.”

BORDERS POPULAR IN AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Border Leicesters continue to find a good market in Australia. Recently, a consignment of no fewer than 1400 ram and ewe hoggets of this prepotent breed was sold to Australian pastoralists. This is believed to be the greatest number for any single breed of sheep purchased by the one buyer in New Zealand for export overseas. The stock was secured in the Canterbury, Timaru, Gore and Invercargill districts and shipment will be spread over the next three months, depending on the shipping space available to Sydney. The purchasers, Messrs Marra Pty. Ltd., control properties at Marra and Nelyambo, in the Wilcannia district, Beanbah and Coleambally in the Coonamble district, Moolbong and Boondara in the Hillston district and Cowabbie in the Narrandera district, all in New South Wales. They intend mating the Border Leicester rams with Merino ewes to produce fat lambs and also wool of good quality. Last season, they procured several hundred sheep in New Zealand an 4 were so satisfied with the result that, this year, they decided to purchase a greater number, in fact any number of sheep up to the required standard that were available for sale. They have also established Border Leicester studs in three of their properties from stock purchased in New Zealand. The sale was handled by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd.

WAGES ON BRITISH FARMS

Between April and September, 1955, weekly earnings of male agricultural workers over 21 averaged 165 s 3d in Britain. This is total earnings including overtime, piecework, bonus, premiums and perquisites and after making allowance for time lost through sickness, etc. It is the figure given in a recent issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. Equivalent figures for youths under 21 were 99s 3d, and for women and girls 104 s 3d. For the year April, 1954, to March, 1955, males over 21 earned an average ot 150 s 9Jd a week. During this period 20.8 per cent, of them earned an average of 170 s or more and 23.3 per cent, earned less than 130 s. Almost one in every eight male workers over 21 (13.4 pe>' cent.) had average weekly earnings of 180 s or more, but only one in every 70 (1.4 per cent.) earned less than 120 s a week. Average earnings for youths under 21, and women and girls were 91s and 95s lOd a week respectively.

FOXES IN MILLIONS

The Western Australian Chief Vermin Control Officer, Mr A. R. Tomlinson, believes that the State’s fox population must be numbered in millions and that it is still increasing. Last year 4s a scalp was paid for 52,000 scalps, but this represented only a small proportion of the fox population.

The Agriculture Protection Board has found that some foxes are dying through eating poisoned rabbits (secondary poisoning), but that many died from primary poisoning—poisoned apple baits. Tests with fruit baits showed that dates were best, but that these were only about one-third as attractive as fats. Lard baits were left untouched. On the other hand, foxes came in for a surprising amount of commendation and support at a recent meeting of the Bathurst (N.S.W.) Pastures Protection Board, when it was claimed that foxes were the “best pack of dogs any grazier could have.” A request that a skin fee be put on foxes was under discussion and several members said that foxes destroyed a great number of kitten rabbits, even going so far as to dig them out of their warrens.

“IMPORTERS OF RABBITS”

An allegation that large numbers of wild rabbits had been imported into Anglesey (Britain) during last winter! was made recently by the County Agricultural Officer. Mr Edwin Jones, in an address to the county branch of the Farmers’ Union. The branch decided to assist in raising a voluntary fund to aid farmers to exterminate any rabbits which appeared on the scene. A local authority, who was present, said it was essential to have legislation to prosecute “importers” of rabbits. Anglesey was the first county to be declared a statutory rabbit clearance area.

FARM ADOPTION SCHEME GROWS

During 1955, nearly 300 schools and colleges were enrolled in the farm adoption scheme of the Association of Agriculture (Britain), which now has a membership of 14,000 schools and over 100 teachers’ training colleges. About 50 of the schools were in New Zealand. This increased membership reflects the policy of the 10-year-old association whose keynote is education and whose efforts to publicise agriculture reach something like 750,000 cm oo children. The scheme, in its hfth year, is still be in" advertised in the educational press, but, states the association’s annual report, “it is now virtually self-advertising.” Every type of school is represented, but it is particularly noticeable that the strongholds of the scheme are in the mainly industrial areas of Greater London, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the Western Midlands;