THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 551, 5 July 1909, Page 8

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

ALTON DAIRY COMPANY FORMED. ARTICLES SICNED. INTERESTING POINTS OF FINANCE. The Alton Dairy, Company, of Taranaki, is to lie ono of the now companies oporating in the coming dairy season. At a meeting of twenty-three of -tho shareholders, hold to oompleto details, Mr. J. Gibbs,(who presided) said the provisional directors liad-arranged to purchase a site from Mr. Bert Gibbs, which •had'been examined and approved by Messrs. Singleton and Howe. He moved that the. memorandum of association now presented to ths .meeting be -passed;. This differed- only in-the case of a few words from the memorandum of the Kakaramea Dairy Co. ; llr. 'Foretaan seconded the motion, which was;carried without dissent; and tho menio-; randum was then signed, by the provisional directors and by shareholders. ; In- moving tho'adoption of the articles of association, Mr. Gibbs said; their; form, had beon -suggested bj; ten or twelve years 1 experience in working at Kakaramea. lie thought it would bo "to tho benefit of the pliers if the articles wero, passed as .they, stood. V,; Reserve Fund or Profits? .< > , - Mr, Willis said ho vwould lilso to seo: the olanse relating to reserve and; empowering, tho directors to set . .aside- a/'portion ;of; the' profits.to tile reserve fund, struck out! '.The profits ; should be • distributed year by; year, and each year should pay its own way., ,: Mr. Gibbs : . said' he .did nojb see' liow ..they, oould. go on with the diral plant, jnnless they were prepared to build up Mime* sort of re-' serve fund. Ho believed it would take all tho money they co{ild'raise'to'Work under.the) new.conditkms. They; would; havetoprovide'.in: some way for the. ex tensions •'necessary in tho' future, and he'. certainly thought' it would bo wise to build np a' small reserve, and bo to some extent, independent of the' banks. Personally he thought that tho allocation of tho money to reserve should be done at.,a general meeting. The directors could introduce tho matter, in their report. Ho was, however, content to r accept the clause as it stood. ; Mr. ,Willis. suggested that if a shareholder assisted to build up the reserve for a number of. years and then 6old' out anyone buying his shares would have an .unfair advantage. .. Mr. Hamerton pointed out that-the share-' had .complete power in the matter. Thoy could at any time-order any surplus reserro to bo disbursed in the form of, a pro rata payment' on shares. The articles of .associates • simply said ; that tho - directors should have power to recommend additions to tho reserve fund. The general .meeting of shareholders could accept these- recommend!Vtions or ljot as it pleased.; .'■ .'- ThD Viow of Short-Lease Men. Mr.. Foreman- held that the clauso would enable new shareholders • coming in to reap undue bonefits.">• .' •'Mr. .Willis.; considered that,it was unfair to men. . ;Mr. ;Gibbs said : that the amount set . aside, each year would be so small that no ono would ho hurt by it : . i : . Nevertheless it would amount m" the aggregate to a fund -which might ..be -. very' useful -'in'; covering. necessary expenditure m-. the future.. Ho would liko to seo the clause' stand; ; . ■ v y ]■ > Mr. Foreman asked what part of the annual depreciation fund it was proposed to transfer .to, ■ the', overdraft/; redemption!;' .account, ' 1 v [ " Mr. Gibbs roplied one quarter, but,;stated that if - the . clauso under discussion were, I struck out it -would bo nocessary to increase,, the- amount/so transferred.. - ■,*. Mr. Foreman said it seemed to him that I under this arrangemont thoy -were going to I clear their business of liability in about five years and a half. Ho thought it- would bo' qui^e'sufficient to- so arrange matters,.as, to' clear off the liability 'in about ten' years'. ' * " V- Mr.', Gibbs 'thought ■ the. estiniiato of,,- the previous ' speakeir.. '.someiwhat • top'. -optimisticj i and;he would prefer to.see the arrangement stand.' He moved that, the articles of association be adopted as read. : i Mr. Foreman seconded, and it was car-: tied. Tho : artioles'Were then signed by .the directors and shareholders, and , also ;a; bond guaranteeing tho bank "overdraft-.' - si. ' ..• .; 'WOOL PACKS. CALICO LININCS DISLIKED. I : Further criticismfl- npon calico linings for I wool : packs' are contained, in: a letter ( from i the ,Bank- of New Zoaland in ;London, .recently .handed to the press for publication ! by Mr. J. D. Hoagerty, of; Wairarapa, The I letter states':— : "Wo carofully examined tho four calico- I lined bales on day of sale and drew the particular, attention of: buyers to 'them.V.yTho unanimous opinion , was that this particular lining was no improvement; upon;the old stylo of lining. ITio hooks' useel in handling the bales had in every case" torn'the; lining' and it had frayed, so that there were small particles of;' it amongst the wool, and, being almost the same colour as the wool itsolf, they were not, so easily detected as are. tho, particles of frayed jute. To explain our moaning we enclose a small samplei of the wool,, calico' and jute. ■ The best suggestion we have, yet, seen in this connection was, that stiff corrugated paper should be. used, firmly attached. to the inside of the packs, as recommended in the 'of' the committee of brokers and buyers, who have had this question: under consideration, a copy of which report was sent you last mail. If generally aewpted ithis, will'- inflict additional ex-■penSo'-Upoh -the growers,.'and:'it- is .by do means certain that in the easo of crossbred wool any better prices will be paid for: ; wool' so packed. Brokers' report, in this conhec'tion is herewith: We have;oxanrined''tliese four bales and found them in beautiful condition. 'Tho.tares looked'well preserved, and : ,tlla wool had .a bright appearance. Therefore, : so far. as the outside and the, packing are -conoernecl, it; was a ' complete sncoess; but - it is extremely doubtful whether it, is a; :good thing for the wool.; The' calico. imay ; easily get .toni, and where it : is cut 'open threads will become detached and will get into tho wool. in tho same , way ap; jute fibre. The committee, which -has recently made inquiries into tho matter, recommends :(if wool is impossible) a' thick; and coimgated paper firmly attached to a strong tare. ..' A.HANDSOME PROFIT. ■ As an illustintioa of the profits that may occasionally be made outside the dairying industry by Taranaki farmers,' the following, exponence of : a well-known, resident in this province is perhaps worth mentioning (says the Stratford "Post"). Just prior to the commencement of the autumn last year our informant bought 700 sound full-mouthed 'owes at 55.-Three hundred of these he culled out, and, bringing them to Stratford, sold for 7s. apieco. From tho remaining 400 ho got about 90 per cent, .of lambs, which, after having; been shorn, wero quitted at 12s. Their dams shorn gave an average of• 81b.;, and were subsequently fattened- and disposed of at lis. 6d.. whilst tho 10 pbr cent, of dry. ewes were shorn and tunied out at 19s. 6d. A little calculation, will be sufficient to show .that on an investment of £175 a profit of £493 10s. was made, and tliia inside twelve months! MAIZE CULTURE. WOULD GROW AT INVERCARGILL. Referring to the cultivation of maize for the grain crop, an informant of experienco in South Island farming states, that, although the maize-growing climato was usually considered to come no farther south than Hawko's Bay and Taranaki, yet maizo grain could be successfully riponod at Invorcargill. As to tho, good scope , for maize culture, suggested in-'tHis'column recently, ho believed that tlio demand for maize at tho present high prices was very limited. Nevertheless, oven at lower prices thoro was plonty of room for profitablo work on this crop. He thought the Government should publish a loaflet on maizo^rowing. ; In'order to grovp iiw «op

successfully 'in Southland, it was necessary to solect the propor voriotios for tho purpose. The question of varieties had been deeply investigated in Canada; but littlo was Known of that branch of tho subject in Now Zoaland.' Ono of the advantages of Southland for maize-growing was tho length of the summor dayß, duo to its low latitude. The question of latitude, raised by this informant, also enters' into the question of wheatgrowing. . Tho best .milling wheats aro often to bo found growing' in almost sub-Arctic regions. Their good qualities aro attributed to tho groat Jeitprth of the summer days nearer to the Poles. This extra. daylight (and sunlight) is credited with greater. influonce oil tho, berry of tho crop than tho Bun' 6 mere warmth.

HAWKE'S BAY SHEPHERDS,

PETITION FILED. The Drovers' and' Shepherds' Industrial Union of Hawko's Bay 'have filed a petition ■ for an award from tho Arbitration. Court. Tho , citations have not yet been issued. Tho present is apparently tho natural season for industrial disputes, for about this time last year there was quite a,crop of .disputes growing I upr among dairy workers, shearers, drovers, and -shepherds, farm labourers, etc;*' Tho shearers demands in the Wellington provmce last year were .settled by private arrange- : ißenfc. and the terms are understood to have proved satisfactory, except .in. regard to allowing the full chargo ;for. shearing' lambs! '■ , ,• In suggesting that the employers shall ;imi mediately. ' peruse tho, demands decide on them, the official "Farmers' "Union Advocate' says*' —"Wo hope 'the employers will ' oarefally consider the. demands;'and ,if . exorbitant, then oppose-tlicmj and let the Court' decide the ' matter.. This is not a question that affects Hawke's-Bay alonej.-it-is to the interest of every 6heepowner to unite for mutual protection. Tne' Canterbury .farm : labour dispute showed that the farmer is considerate <rf 'his men-; and; pays, them a.-fair : wage,; and ,we.:.believe,.that this .is general; throughout tho. country. . The difficulty is. that.ttere are too many.-iriefficients who.want . ,the greatest 'amount: of ' pay for tho least amount of wofc Mejimay demand, and Arbitration- Qourts. -may . 'award, high : rates of wages, : hot the pinch of poverty will undo it : all .to the detriment, of the ; worker. _ We have no sympathy for those who desire to get their work done for next to nothing, but so long !as the. wages are reasonably adequate employers should be encouraged to keep their men in employment, even if the wages paid bo a slight ' decrease on what the Trades Council consider a necessary wage." •The •.•o()lK^iTOn^••ottinimOToße^'•s*3l.' . Napier, in- oomiectioil with, the-dispute on July 12. THE DAIRYING REVIVAL. COOD PRICES AT A CLEARINC SALE. Some light was thrown upon the returns from dairy farming recently at the salo of 1 jthe stock, etc., of Mrs. ; Scott's farm, :;near;Hawera,' last week. The' aria' of the .farmconsists of 77acres, and it carries 34 head of dairy cows. During the sale the auctioneers, i Messrs. Gillies and . Naldcr, produced a statement'from tho'secretary'of the Riverdale Dairy Factory,. to; .the effect that durr ing the past season his', factory had- paid > Mrs. Scott, for milk supplied, ,a sum of £490. Bonuses yet to come would bring tie amount : to ever £500. ; This. is . a.;return of nearly ■ £15 por cow: Last'., season, of .course, was a very remunerative one, to suppliers, whose factories had sold': their make outright, . but,, in any case,-. Mrs. Scott's ' return, will bo considered well-'above the 'average; Possibly thiscircumstanco had. some -influence'upon paid,- for- tho .average of £9 per cow realised 'on the: hord is 'very high. . Heifers, ud to two years old, sold at -from £4 -10s.-to £9.- Throe fine sows realised , av-total of £19 185..', •. . • ■.- "DOWN SOUTH." Mr. W. G. Coates, of the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, who is at present on a tour in .the North Island, states that,*.but) for the-slump.'in muttons-Canter-'! bury has experienced a splendid', season; There: was so much work on, the wharvos i at 'Lyttclton, said-sMr.v- Coates, that tho i demand- for -men sometimes , oxceoded: . the supply. Tho . South:.lsland was sending a good deal of potatoes and nwheat to tho Wellington .district; and oats and .wheat to Gisborno and Auckland. Referring to the fall in the-pneo of sheep, Mr. 1 Coates is 'of the' opinion that, if it continues for any longth of time, some Canterbury farmers will have a very hard time. MOISTURE IN BUTTER. Regarding excessive moisture in Auckland butter, reported by cablej tho manager of a large dairying business (says an Auckland Press Association telegram) said thero had possibly been too much moisture in a small proportion of tho butter exported, but this was the result of on inadvertence. There had been a : disposition of late, to have a slight increase of moisture in butter sent Home,, but this had been done as the. result of advico from London that people preferred butter that, spread well. . . v BUTTER-FAT PRICES. Roports from the various Wairarapa cheeso factories indicate that a splendid season is approaching. Tho result is gauged on .the butter-fat return, and. apparently. the' whole of' the institutions will pay something over Is; -per pound.Featherston' claims that it will pay up to 13d.—the highest price yet attained in . a New Zealand. factory—while Dalefield; Belvedere, Taratahi, and Parkvale orpect to realise tho substantial sum of 12£ d. or a fraction within that amount. WOOL, SKIN, AND HIDE SALES. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co.' report as follows: —Our catalogue to-day (July 2) consisted of 85 bales: wool, 3400 sheepskins; and 250 hides. , The reported easier feeling of the Old World markets had, the effect of causing a hesitancy, in the bidding, and, oil the whole, there wan a tendency, towards lower, prices which, was most noticeable in the coarser grades of wool and skins, which may be quoted at a Jd. lower. 'Hides were in good request, but rlight and medium weights, which held their own last sale, receded slightly in price, and were id. to }d. lower. Heavies sold at rates fully equal to last sale.- We quote prices ri-Wool: Crossbred, medium, 6Jd. to 7jd. per lb. j' do., inferior, sjd. to GJd. per lb.;' lambs, 5Jd. to 7d. per Ib.j crutchings, medium to good, 4jd. to sic L;' inferior, 3Jd. to 4Jd. per lb. j pieces: and bellies, 3Jd:to 5d r per lb. Skins: Crossbred, fine, 7Jd.to SJd. per lb.; do., coarse to.medium, CJd. to 7d. per lb.; do., short, 4Jd. to 5Jd. per lb.; do., inferior, 4Jd. to 6d. per lb.; dead and hoggets, 4d. to sla; per lb.; broken, and.damaged, 2d. to id. per fb.; green and salted, 3s. to 6s. 3d. each; Hides: (Heavyvox, 6Jd. to '7Jd per, lb.; medium ox, sjd. to'6}d. per lb.; light ox; 5Jd. to 5Jd.- per lb.; heavy cow,,s}d. to 5Jd. per lb.; light: to medium,; s}d;. to sjd. per lb.; calfskins:, fair, medium, ,Bd. to Bid. per lb.; damaged, 4Jd. to s|d. per lb.; heavy, 4Jd. to Gjd. per lb.; yearlings,,sid. to 6Jd. per lb. Talloif: Casks, none offered; tins, 18s .6d.' to 20s. per cwt. '-. ■' — •: Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co., report as follows: —Our catalogue on Friday consisted of , 85 bales wool, 34(10 sheepskins,': and; 250 hides. The reported easier feeling'of the Old World' markets had the effect of causing restriction in the bidding, and, on the whole, th«re was a' tendency towards lower prices; ■ which was most noticeable in the coarser grades of wool and skins, which may be quoted at I<l. lower. Hides were id good request, but light rind • medium weights, which held their own last sale, receded slightly in price, and wero id. to id. lower. Heavies, sold at rates fully , equal to last sale. We quote prices:—Wool:" Crossbred, medium, 6}d. to 73d. per.'lb.; crossbred,' inferior, 5Jd. to Bid.; lambs, 53d. to 7d.; crntchings, medium to good, 4jd. 1 to s{d.; crutchings, inferior, 3Jd. to 4U1.; pieces, bellies, 3}d. to sd. Skins: Crossbred, fine, 7jd. to Bd.; crossbred, coal-Bo to medium, Gjd. to 7d.; cross- • bred; short, 43d. to . sjd.; crossbred, inferior, ijd.' to 6d.; dead and hoggets, 4d.; to s}d.; broken and damaged,' 2d. to 4d.; £reen and salted; 3s. to Gs. 3d. each. Hides: Heavy ox, Gjd.-t0.74d.-por lb.; medium.ox, sjd. to Gjd.; light ox, sj<L to S|d.; heavy cow, sjd. to £JtL; light to medium cow, s}d. to sjd.; calfskins, fair, medium, Bd. to;BJd.; damaged, 4|d. to ' 5Jd.; heavy, 4Jd. to-6Jd.;-yearlings, >}d. to 6M, Tallow: Casks, none offarod. . Titm, 183. Cd. tQ 20a. PCS'CWt ' . '