THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 8

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

-—— • .". MEAT MATTERS- ; WHY we DON'T "TIN." ; SHOULD WE, OR SHOULD WE NOT? From the Hon. T. Mackenzie downwa'r'ls, most meat exports havo joined in the popular guessing competition as to 'the"caus'o of meat slump in Britain. Mr. Mackcnzio baa stated that tho freezing managers must pocket their personal feuds' and confer. They must i insulate their ieiAoss in their cold stores and cultivato warmer relations with ono another. Others aro of opinion that foreign: : tariffs must bo removed, and. access obtained for our meat to-Germany and France. And still others—utter pc-ssi-mists, no doubt—assert that moat will uover he any dearer. AI rather; new"'version'-of tho situation comes from Loudon, ivhcro another authoritywell in with the moat trade. says thai) wo have just simply mismanaged things. In tho course of a lottor .to a Now Zealand friend,'he states that, on July 2, there were discharging, or waiting for room ;to discharge, steamers from New Zealand with 293,000 carcasses of mutton and 550,000 carcasses of lamb. The stores woro blocked, and thero was trouble all round, tho moat trade being in a deplorablo condition. lio espressos tho opinion that the management of the trade in New Zealand has beon atrocious. Tho meat, he says; should havo been sold'forward both in New Zealand and in London before tho heavy shipments were knowii, and when prices were fair. • Tho; shipments should also havo been regulated instead' of the market being flooded "with unsold consignments. Many of tho agents in. London lost their heads when tho magnitude of the shipments became known, »ji»l instead of tackling the situation, they talked down tho-.markot., -Tho wet, cold Juno-m4de l matters worse. • ■' '; /a • ■ , ; It is understood that there. is . a; 'onsiderahlo differeneo ..between tho amount ; _bf forward' selling done by different, companies 'in : Now" Zealand this year, and i.thoso ,ivhoadopted', this; - policy most 'largely - will; ho .ho\r : tho least disturbed at the turn of Uio markets. In such a season,-as tho past one, it- is'casy to see _the virtues of,, a :system that secures forward sales but does not "rush' 'tho; : ; 'supplies-s away. - It necessitates, howevor, the -acceptance, of, prices which; at ,tho time may seem—particularly to cooporativo shareholders: who -do'not fully know tho truo; position—rather' low. ' It bhviously necessitates a considerable amount of backbone and--good forecasting in a directorato- to do extensive, business .on theso lines. ' y :: In. the past season, though .'-a,big output was; long previously anticipated, tho general bulk of the farmers, outside of the commercial circle of the meat industry, do not appear, to havo realised, till tho blow actually; . fell,' what rosults miglit "naturally follow - .the!. Existing combination of circumstances. .Tliey. ■ resent<3—quite; fall- in . the local prioes,of, stobk earlier in .the season.as being unwarranted by the ruling conditions of. the time. -- - ;. i

The .tinning euro has been advocated in several 'quarters of late, but the idea . does not appear to ;have been caught up with any oagornoss' by 'freezing 'men,' who; should . know: .best what will:' pay.: There .muet be: some', reason for the cool, reception accorded 'to : th'at branch of the industry, and it 'cannot boibccau so: those responsible ing the.'qnestion do hot know, their ' busi-. 'nesc'; Superficially,-viewed, ,"tinning appears .your-surplus' output, or' ; 'everiwith' portions i that;,. con id -scarcely ,be callcd surplus'. , But ' there aro some.practical difficulties. ;: ,Tho tinriihg of jhoep: to -'cater-for .'army contract'S/'Krneeta' with the 'difficulty '.that "Tommy; - 'Atkins".' prefers heef. The aro .mainly for., beef,- and ,'if r we : wero/to tin all,' or;jmtch,' 'of; our beef, that than improve our position.'. 'on y the, market,:. if thore; is ,-ariy- ;trtlth iii ytli'e vstitcmeiitV that '.'beef'helps, to.-.soll' Moreover,', tho New .Zealandi buHock is- Wt'fideal for tinning. Hepis\too ;Tli(j',best''ti.nning ■beef'comes"out of ;the,'ha-lWat;,animals .that a country like :Quoensland produces . well. , ; There migKt '. boia iroarketf for' tinno«i3<.lambi .at: a price.: But as fpr tinned mutton,' some of .those; in clpso;touch with the industry say 'it is ' '.'not . waiited," y'A. glut,of.,,tinned -mutton they regard as a matter of easy accomplishment. ;/'

: :ifl i .,;''; ■' -00 w;; f Esyytfthl v J£.. ■' ■' ■...' A BECItJNJNti ; AT' CARTERTbti. ; A '^, ; lt is', good' to, hear' that a beginning .toward making 'yield tests .on. daii'y/.li'erus ■■ is being niadovthis" week. ni, : , Carterton.^'.This . beginning 1 will : Be between sup- : pliers to the Daleiield Dairy * Company alid Alessi's.r-Cuddie. and'Singleton,.'of.:tub''DairyingVDivision;'; •'lt" is well.-known .that tlio ■Dairy .Oomniissioiier and.; bis; .assistant; are keenly ' interested'.. in ' this, movement,; and both haro faith in- the results which it-will produce. The conference/ (held; by invitation, of the.'.directors) will .'take place on Saturday, after the annual meeting of> the Dalefiold shareholders, and; it .is expected ■ thatV dairy.; farmers■' from' other districts within reach will also attend 'in'-largo uum:bors;-:-•',:'.':.'"''.•'.'■" :.. .'::■(.■:.'.',":-." ■:•'' : - ; '

' / The question of \ testing is ; 'oii6 that /touches farmers—and ; . touches hard. _ With prices; tending; downwards," it is "just the .thing" foV-;dairymen:to'exaniin&'tliei'r : herds tlibroughly,vand'so find.'.out whether a cow that paid at last season's-price will still pay. if lower; prices', rulo -this ..fear.'; ..-If. any coolness has been shown toward testing in' 'the past, it, has been due largely to the fact that farmers have.been'too. busily looked up- in their very arduous' industry' to tacklo a task that ! seemed ,to bristle with- difficulties. ■ These difficulties are to be: taken ovorbyMr. Cnddie and his staff,- and, apparently, 7 all., that the dairy: farmer, will be asked to do: will, be merely l to obey orders in regard,to the supplying of samples. Of course,; everything is; quite voluntary. One would imagine that the natural result of : such a meeting as is projected for Saturday would-., be the definite formation of a yield-testing association, unless Mr* Cuddie' has some more advanced proposal to .make/.'' ■'.It is the , general, impression;, that, this- movement'. is going ;at last' to. sweep oyer New Zealand, and,' when its results have begun to permeate the herds of New Zealand, one may find that butter-fat ;at 9d. is as profitable as it was with present herds last season: at Hid. . ,',,.'. After. Vail, the success of New Zealand's dairying industry depends on .something clso besides mere market prices. In all walks of -life it is much the same.; The face value, and the real value of this,'that, and the other, is one thing. . Besides this '• there I is another -thing, which is also • they "real |. thing." Arid-the "real' thing"i only, comes to the sons, of men after • much investigaf jtion and effort. Come, to think of rt,.there : I is much golden in farming, as in everything 'else. ■ ' ; ' \, ■> MESSRS. LOVELL' AND 'CHRISTMAS. That losses were sustained by operators in colonial butter last season is a fact that has been well understood, and it is, therefore,' ,no£ surprising to find Messrs. Dovell and Christmas,-in their annual report, confirm-' ing ' this .impression. Tho report, for the year, ended- June 30 last, states that.after providing for all contingencies, there remains,' including £23,477 brought forward, £90,367 available for distribution. It is proposed to pay a final dividend at tho rate of 8 per cent', on the ordinary shares, making 7 por cent, for the year,.'..'.'carrying forward £28,867.Througkoutthe past year trading at a profit' has been extremely difficult. Importers of colonial butter and chedso N have suffered severely, in many instances those goods being, sold hero at less than the original cost in the: -.colonies;.;. In the dpinion of the directors .the most satisfactory feature in the business is that the sales have been larger than in any previous year, showing that tho company nolds tho full confidence of its numerous customers. During the past year serious ; loss has been made by the failure of three companies with whom a largo business has been done for many years.; This loss has been met by the reserve-fund established to cover such a' contingency. 'The tot profit for the to;£B6^a0 4 , ..;.•' '

SALE OF DRAUGHT STUD STOCK. (Jiy Tcltcrapb-Prcßs Association.) Oamaru, August 18.; ■ There was a.largo attendance at the clearing sale of the Eldorslio draught stock stud to-day, and good prices lvcro realised. Mr. E. Short, of Foilding; purchased a ; four-year-old hlly, by Agitator; at 2315 guineas, a four-year-old filly, by Shepherd' Lad, lit I'll guineas, and a three-year-old filly, by Slic'])herd Lad, at SO guineas,- A thieo-yoar-old filly, by Agitator, wont to Mr, 1). Duncan at: 110 guineas, and a similar prioo wan given for a threc-venr-oid filly by tho same siro by Mr. T. Muir. Mr.W. H. Wadclcll and Mr. J. Turnbull, of Waikalca, also gavo Viigh' prices for marcs. Tho colts realised up to 105 guineas. Genorally speaking, the salo was a very successful one. LIVE STOCK SALES. (By TclccraDli.-I'rcas Association.! Clirlstchurch, August 18, At Addington there woro moder'ato yarding* of stock, and a fair attendance. Fat cattlo and fat sheep eold below last week's rates. Storo sheop were dull of sale, and pips met with proud demand. The entry of storo sheen was Smaller than of late. There were a fow lotn of. owes and lambs, .tho first offered in tho yards this season. The demand was void of animation, and sovcral of tho best lines failed to roach ownors' reserves at. auction, hut woro sold privately. A specially good lino of 201 6 and 3-tooth halfbred ewes made 18a; 6d.; 203 2-tootk, 16s. Cd.; 157, 4-toofch wore passed at 170. 6d; All ewes', and lambs wore- passed. Ualfbrcd wethers sold at 10s., to 10s. 6d. There were only eight now season's lambs ponnod, three for F. Bailey (Tompleton) selling at 20s„ and five for Goo. Boaton (Klrwco) at 18s. There was a larger entry of fat hoggets than last week, and they mot with a fair salo at 10s. 6d. to 13s. lid, There was, a fairly] largo, yarding of fat sheep, and though there was good demand dri tho part of butchers, the supply was beyond their reauiremonts."' Prices woro somdwhat irregular, and, on the whole, easier. Thcro was Httio. business dono for export. , The rongo of pricOß.was: Extra prime .wethers; 20b. to 235. 3d.; prime, 16s. to 19s. 4d.; lighter, 12s. 3d, to 15s/ 6d.; extra prime ewes, to 18s. 2d.; prime.'. 13s. 6d. to 165.; others, 9s. 6d. to, 135.; merino', wothcrs, 9s. to 12s. Ad.-- ■;■ ■•■'.■: ■ ': -■ '

The,entry of fat cattlo totalled 336 of fair average. quality, aud prices showed no change from provious wcok, when they .wore rather firmorthan tho-wcek beforo-At the opening of the sole several pens wore, pa'ssodj but tbcfo afterwards changed hands. Steers . sold'.' at £6 17si 6d. to.tfll :155.; lieiforg, £5 to. £9 7s.'-6d.; and; cowe, £4 la: Gd. to £7'55.. equal-to 20s.'Gd;.'to 223. 6d. for prime', medium' 183.' 6d. to Ms.,- and. cow! and inferior 16s. 6d. to-10s. !per'lCOlb. A small entry of store cattle was made up chiefly of young sortg, and there-was a Rood clearance.' Yearlings made 31s. to 36,-:.; 15 to ,18-months, £2 4s. 6d, to-£2 ;14s.' 6d.; -2-year steers, -£3: Is. 8d.,, £i 17s. G:l.; i2-year heifers, £3 to £3 Bs.; 21year.steers, £4-17& Cd.; 3-year'steers, £5 2s. to' £5 75.-Cd.; 3-year heifers, £4 2s. Gd.; and dry cows', 10a.' to £3 ISs. Dairy cows were in rood demand, and a fairly large entry was sold'at £3 105. to £9, the better ; sorts being well coffipeied for. ■ ■ ■ . There was, a large , yarding:, of pigs, and all classcs mot with improved demand, and a good clearance was effected. Choppers-made £5 55.; hea-vy-baeohers,' : 'ssg, to 655.; lighter, 455./ to 525.. 6d. (equal to 43d., per, lb.); large porkers, 38s',- to 445,;. and lighter,-335. to 378: '(equal to 55d. to, 5Jd.); large stores,-.335. to 375. 6d.;. medium 245.i to 325.; wcaners,• 145."t0.205.:-' .- > .

' ■ • ' , Dunodin, August 18. At the Burnside Rtock market to-day, 232, head' of fat cattlo were'vardf-d, consisting princioally' of primo quality -animals. Prices for well-flnißhed lines"' were maintained, but unfinished '.'showed a, slight decline.' Best bullocks. £10 10s. to £11 103.;. extra,- £13 -2s: Gd.'; medium, £8 15s. to£9 '55.; .inferior,. £6 :15s; to £7 55.; best' cows and. heifers. £6 15s. to £8; 'medium, :£5,105. to £6 55.; inferior, ,£4 10s.--to £5. -; ,

Sheep: 4714 yarded,, a very heavy entry of good quality and.larger.than.,was expected at this time of'the. year.' Prices in, consequence; suffered a''considerable decline! Extra ■ heavy weights tyero -easier to the extent of ,2s. .to Zs. Gd. as compared- with last week's, • rates. Medium weights,-although, easier,- did not show - so decided a, drop. - Ewes met-with,pood compe-: tition, and: sold at prices 6d. to -Is. below those obtained . last' ' week. Best wethers, 17s. '6d.; medium,' ; 15s.' to 16s.i"beat. cwis, l up to; 13s. fid. ;\ medium, lis. to: 12s.'■ ■ ;1 ■"

- Lambs:'27s yarded. The bulk ,wero secured\by. butchers,- and-a few went to the country, prices, being' practically . equal to - last' week's, Best' .lambs, 125.,t0 135.; others, 10a. 6d. to lis.: 6d. ■ Pigs: 105: yarded.. Tho aver'aco yarding-, prices for young pigs were equal to last: week's owing, to the small number coming 'forward. There-ia at'present-a keen demand ■ for all -good-quality young pigs. : Porkers wero in fair supply, and, thero -.being : good inquiry; recent prices were maintained. Suckers,, ,135.. to ,175.; Blips,: 19s. to 23s.;,storc?,-305.t0 355.; pprkers. 38s. to-435); light baconers, ,455. .to 505.; heavy, 535. to. 60s. '

. ilci'srs.,,/Dalgety .and Co':, Ltd., report.as: follows, on their, Qtaki, salo.—A good yarding of sheep and cattlo cain6.'for ward, but bidding at' auction was not too keen.', However, ■ a total clearance:'of 'sheep was- effected, and'nearly: all tho icattlo', changed', hands at the following' prices:—Light.'fat wethers,; 14s. 9d.; 2 and 4-tooth wethers,'- 135., 2d.; 2-tobth Avcthers, -12s. 9d.; mixed hoggets; 9s'. 10d., to 10s. 3d.; springing ,cows,' to, £5 10s.; backward sorts,''to £4 -lOs.j mixed woaners, £1 63. to £1. 'lis.' 6dJ; -.cows, in calf, £3, £$.. 10s. ;to : -iS'-lTst'.'M-t ■ poor empty 'cows,' '305.. to '£2; ompty forward 'Cows, .£3. : 75.;: lieifers. in calf, '£2 ,os.; .yearling heifers,:,3Bs.; .bulls,' to £2 15s'.;'cull cows,-£l. "V ■'

Messrs. Abraham and, Williams, Ltd., report on thcir. 'Masterton; stock' Sajc,' held . yesterday, as follows:—Stock came forward'up'to advertised numbers,- but,' owing :to: wretchcdi weather' pre-; jailing, the ,'attendaneo .was' snail; Bnsuicss<atauction,' dragged,.• but, .with s the ; exception'ol: a couple lOfhpcns..of. hogcetsi we ■ quitted :tlio whole of .our entry." A. small lot of 166 breeding owes in .good; condition''sold' under their .value.; The entry'.'df cattle was limited .to a few. pens, the bulk of - which changed hands. .' ; A nice line' of.'extra good.springing dairy .heifers' made satisfactory prico of £6 12s. $d. ."We. quote:— 2-tobth. wethers,. 12a; 7d.; breeding ewes, lOs;- fid., up to Hs. ; 9d.i hogcets,.lCs.'.Od;. to lis.; springine heifers,' good, '£6,125. 6d.; mixed ; j/earlings,£2 3s. 6d. ■' ■- ' ■■■■ V .