THE FARM INDUSTRY THE'FUTURE OF SHEEP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 610, 13 September 1909, Page 10

THE FARM INDUSTRY

THE'FUTURE OF SHEEP.

MASTERTON A. AND. P. ASSOCIATION.

■' ' DAIRY WORKERS' AWARD. THE TARANAKI CASE. . A FRIENDLY FINISH. • Tho Tarauaki dairy workers', application before tho Couciliaiou Board .for a now award last week lias entlcd happily.' After one day's sitting tho parties agreed on a conference, and after'two hours' • deliberation arrived .at. an agreement acceptable to all 1 parties. ■ Xlio proceedings took place at Stratford. 1 , . ', Messrs, It. Dihglo (chairman; of Stratford butter, factory)/-. A. ;Morton (chairman ..Mangorei butter" factory), anil' W. : Kichards (chairman Cardiff'cheese-factory), acted"as. assessors for the employers, and Messrs.-R. A. Prideaux. (creamery manager, Eltham), 1). A. M'Millan (engineer, Stratford), and \V. . 11. Sneddon (creamery nianagor, Gordon Eoad) for tho employees. Mr. W. Pryor (secretary of the Employers' Feneration) assisted by Mr. T.,11. Penn (secretary.'of the,Taranaki-Employers; TJnion), appeared for tho employers; and Mr. Coleman (secretary of tho - Tarauaki Employees' .Union) for tho employees. : Tho only material alterations asked for by the employees wore in regard ; to wages, classification. of 'factories and creameries (which should be abolished), and the preference clause. : Mr. Pryor (for the employers) said; the dispute proposed td deal '.with one of tho largest New, Zealand industries, and the very existence of the industry as regarded Taranaki was that day in - the'-'-commissioner's, hands. There, could "be-no comparison betweeu the _ selling value of dairy produce and the cost of .its pro-, duotioh,; as; the manufacturers had. ;io .control of the market value; and .the cost of production should' be'-fixed at such a rato -that tho industry could bo continued tho state of the market.'. lii other industries a manufacturer could, when the'market was against him, cease to manufacture any particular line and so shorten the supply thereof, but in'tho dairying industry this could not bo done, and the supply had still to go on, even though the market was down below; a paying price. The present . award had been' framed' when the industry was. on the crest of a .wave of prosperity, and had. been framed as an experiment. . After: two years' trial both sides .were that tho award had not proved satisfactory, and it could with advantage bo.varied, in many, directions. After preliminary discussions the parties resolved to confer together,with the Wellington iaward as the basis of discussion, and finally agreed to tho. conditions set ; out' below. . , / Prior, to tiro'close of proceedings,-Mr. Eichard, Dingle; chairman of directors of , the Stratford Dairy Company, moved a very hearty vote of thanks to the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. T. Harlo; Giles, for tho able way in which, ho had presided over tho discission of tho; dispute," aiid expressed himself ! ns having ibeongreatly 'astonished at the grasp, Mr! Giles 'had of. all tho details connected with tho'industry: If proof were needed of the fitness,of tho commissioner.for his' position, it was certainly to be found in the- successful issuo that had been brought about in. relation to a dispute that' had seemed fraught, with uutold dilficultics.- ' -. -, ■;

Mr.viX A. Jl'Jlillan, president iof tliO'Wor,kers* Union,'tendered to the 'commissioner his heartfelt 'thanks for his, patient and -untiring offorts, which had .brought about so successful.a result. ; , . '

-Messrs.->AV Morton,-chairman of directors of the Mangoroi 1 Dairy Company, and W.'.'M. Sneddon, piaiiagei Gordon Road.; creamery, supported: the -motion. ...... . Tho commissioner,.Mr. 'IV Harie Giles, in re•ply, -said . the • amicable "'.understanding, which had been come to, was in a great l'heasuro-dti'e to tlio'ablo conduct of the dispute by Mr. Pryor, (secretary of the Employers' Federation), assisted by Mr. T. "Harry Penii ■ (secretary ofthe Employers' Union), and; also -Mr* Coleman,' the able representative of-Hie .Workers' Union.

: : RECOMMENDATIONS. - ■ The following are ; .the . recommendations adopted:-- . ■■ ~ ' < < ■ . Hours of Work, j . ;. 1. (a) The hours of work in butter and clieese. factOries.'.shall- not. exceed:-70 ho'urs.i'per week .of ■ sovoii>days,~'6xclusive: : ofrineal ;, ;ll<iurs. (b) The hours'of wtirk iuvcrcamerics shall bo arranged between tho employers aiid their re-, spectiv.e workers. ;•. | ; :--.v.. ; . ' Overtime.' ' ' : 2,. Any time in excess of tho hours, horein-.prescribed sliplljbe Jiaid for,at.thß.:,r4te i ,- of time and' a' quarter for. the first'four-' hbtii's' and. thereafter at tho rate of time.'.and a half. •. :i:; ;3. The following, shall be the minimum rates df wages for workers employed, in., butter ..and. cheese factories; (a) Whevo only, ono adult' worker other than the manager is employed,; he shall bo 'paid not,'.less than'. £$?■ per, weekA (b) Whoro tivo'T adult 1 -' workers "other '-tliariKthe': manager aro employed, the "first assistant shall be paid £2 ss. per week,. second assistant' £2 per; woek. ,(c) Where- three ;; or niore -adult workers,other than tho ni'aridgbi-'aro''employed: In other than branch, cheese factories:—First •assistant £2,155.- perjweek, second . assistant £2 7a. Gd. per'week,-third assistant £2 per week. In branch, cheese factories-.—lfirst. assistant £2 10s. per-week, second as3iStant-'.£2 ss. per week, third assistant .£2 nor week, (d) Other hands, not including youths, ill 17s. 6d. per week, (e) Engine-driver, : whero"certiflcatoas' required,". i£3'. jer ..week; i .'(f) '-In addition id theATSiges herein prescribed as above, milk, firewood,,and free sleeping accommodation shall be provided; and in'.the'.case of workers'm'butter,.factories, singlo'men shall b'o supplied eacli with lib. of hutter per ,wcek and married'men each with 2lb. of . butter ' per week'.' :

; ; Creamery Managers. 4. The. wages .of creamory/ffianagers-'shall Ij'o not less, than £2 ss. per. week with firewood, milk, suitatle'liviug accommodation and.butter as abovo. Any crcamery whoso daily' averago supply during December: does not exceed 1000 gallons, shall bo exempt from ..this award. , . . .Genera!. . 5. Whero any of the above-mentioned extras are not sujiphedi. payment shall bo.madeiin liou thereof, tlie amount to be settled by agreement between the omployer and the worker, and failing such an agreement' then by -tho local Inspector of Factories. Employment of Youths. ' i \ 6. Youths over the age of IG-years may bo employed in' factories at not less than _the following wagesV-l'rom 1G to 18; years of ogoj' .£1 per,week; from 18 to 20 years of age,;,£l 10s. por week. , ' , -. Holidays. . 7. (a) Every worker who shall have worked for not less than eight months during tho samo year for tho samo omployer shall bo entitled to and shall receive H days' holiday on full pay, and a holiday of proportionate duration shall be allowed every worker who shall havo worked less than .eight months during the same year for the samo employer, ; but not less than: two-months. For the purpose of this clauso the year shall be reckoned in each caso from' the . date of the commencement of the contract of service, (b) It shall, however be optional with employers to give workers in cheese factories one day per week instead' of the holiday prescribed in clauso 7 (a), the aggregate of such days not to. be •less than the . worker would receivo ' under clause 7 (a). . Accommodation. 8. A bathroom for the use of'workers shall be provided at all butter and cheese factories where' two or moro- workers are employed.1 Piecework.- ' 9. Piecework jghall not be allowed. ■ • ' ' Contracts. • .

10. Employers nro entitled to have all or any. part of their Work done by contract, tut in all cases where any work is let by contract tho employer shall make provision in every contract binding the contractor to pay: any worker employed by him on liny' such contract tho minimum rate of wages prescribed by this award, and to observe all the other conditions of, this award so far as the same are applicable to such workers. Payment of Wages, etc. 11. Wages shall be paid monthly, and not later than tho 7th of tho month. Fourteen days' notice of termination of engagement shall be given by cither sid.e. . , . -No Discrimination. 12.: No employer shall discriminate against members of the union, nor shall any employer in, the-conduct of his business do anything directly or indirectly for tho purposo of injuring the union. Term of Award.. 13. Two years.

CANADIAN CREAMERIES.

HOW THE GOVERNMENT HELPS. According to the report of the Scottish Agricnltural. Commission to Canada, tho way in .which the Governmental supervised creameries are established and managed in tho Dominion is as follows When a desire arises nmong the farmers of a district to have a orenmory, thoso interested approach tho Dairy Commissioner for tho province. He informs them that lie can help tljem if they will fulfil tho conditions of the i'Dairyman s Act. \ They must, therefoio, guarantee the milk from at least 400 'cows j. they -must conscnt to bo registered— free of expense—aa a trading association.; thej

must subscribe funds for tho erection of a suitable building, and for other purposes; and their committee must become responsible for tho performance of certain duties, including the haulage of cream from the farms. . .The Government 011 its side is prepared to lend money up to 1500'dollnrs for equipment, at the "low interest of 3 per cent.; to have that equipment bought and crected by a skilled man; and to appoint a butterman to take charge. When butter.is made it is.taken to the Government cold storage and in due time is 6old,- still by Government officials. Tho ordinary charge made for the manufacture of butter, whether in Government or other creameries, is i cents (2d.) a pound: The uso of the cold storo is granted without charge, but the material used and; tho. outlay incurred in refrigerating have to be paid for. Thus the Government, at a very small outlay, encourages the develop-, ment|of an industry , that is suitable for the country; it ensures the establishment of creameries on sound and safe business lines; andit provides for the production of the best butter that the country can make.

MONTHLY MEETING. : . . The monthly meeting of tho llasterton A. and P. Association "was held on' Saturday morning, when there were present:.. Messrs. G. C. Summerell (president), H/ Morrison, ,0. C. Cooper, J. D.- Cruickshank, C'. Harper, It. J. Dagg„ .W: J. Welch, -W. Cooper, J. W. James, J. P. Perry, F. W. H. Ivummer, and G. Shaw. ■ The following correspondence was dealt with:—From J. M. Johnston, returning cheque which had been forwarded him for travelling .expenses. A vote of. thanks was accorded Mr. ; Johnston for his donation. From J. Sweeney, thanking the association for his appointment as district, representative for Pahintiia, -. aud suggesting that the log. jump at the show have a collapsible top similar to that at Palmerston North. A letter was received from the' Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association With regard to the question of hereditary unsoundness among horses 111 the Dominion, arid stating that the matter had been discussed with Mr. Reakes (Chief. Veterinarian), who expressed himself as being ' fully 'in sympathy with the question, although he was still of opinion that a system of official licensing was preferable to simple voluntary., examinations. The Mastorton Association was asked' for suggestions as to the best method of giving effect to the following resolution passed at the con-, ferenco of A. and P. Associations:—"That the Government appoint inspectors whose duty it -shall bo to examino stallions voluntarily submitted, to them, ahd give certificates'on the payment of a fee .of .£l, if such stallions were proved.free from hereditary disense the system to be on the lines of the Victorian schemo; and that \tho veterinary, inspection of stud horse classes at, .the •' Dominion "agricultural shows be undertaken by tho Department of Agriculture, and'that no/prizo be awarded exhibitors in such classes unless certified'jW sound by a qualified vetcririair officer." ' Tho matter was'held'over till next meeting. ' The Ground Committee reported as follows:— 'Mr.,W. Perry had been elected chairman for the current year. The iron fenco between Solway , and Mr;,; M'Master's property .was almost 1 completed, and the caretaker had. been instructed to pick off all the' stones ; on the" portion now ploughed and, in grass, preparatory to rolling.,''lt was recommended that the portion of the unsown land; adjoining :the terrace and Mr. Judd's property be ploughed and sown. The question of; grazing, the., portion of Solway now-in grass was left in the hands of the chairman- (Sir. N. Cooper)'and tho secretary. It had.; been. resolved to. recommend that the application for the removal'of Iho boiling-down plant oh' Solway bis' granted."' . The report was adopted; The Finance', Committee reported,:-as., follows:—Mr. O. C.; Copper was . efc.cted .chairman for the ensuing-year.;* The secretary;was 1 in-' structedto circularise members, asking t them: to pay their subscriptions,at their earliest con-, venience as thdrassociation was undertaking a great deal of expense iin connection with' the Solway grounds;: . Mr. AV. Allan' wrote suggesting, as-a means, of raising funds'.for the showgrounds at Sol-, way, that exhibitors, memteißr and ' well-*-'wishers' lists"bo. prepared in ' the following imannor:—A'list, to. be ..opened for ,four, years at ■'£rl per annum,:and payable cach- year'at rtim -fair time; ono: hundred subscribers to be "ohtained for.this if 'possible; 'another-list-"to'bo opened for four years at.X4 per annum;.and so on; and that the members of the association ■.double their suUscriptions for..four, years.,; Tho writer stated#at hi* first'subscription .-towards 1 this fund woutU bo a twenty-guinea stud ram. A sub-committee, consisting of: Messrs. G. C. Summerell, JflD. Cruickshank; ;J.;:8.-Moodie;, and 0: C. Cooler, was set up to" 'import' at.tho. jie.tt meeting with regard to JfrrAllanVstiggestion, and hev.was accorded a hearty vote of. thanks for his generous offer.-

INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS,:, ' Mr. George M'Kerrow; n '■ notable farmer and' president of agricultural societies jn Wisconsin, U.S.A., read a. paper : a,t a conference,' of sheep breeders at.Gloucester during- the week of the EoyalliShdw, which' contained some statements we might take note of with advantage in this country. He pointed, out,that in both the.'Americas, in Australia, and. in Now Zealand, the sheep ranches are being converted into other ikinds of farms by irrigation or by improved methods of "dry" farming, and that therefore there was a corresponding, reduction' in the amount of mutton..,and-wool produced,, while at the same-''t'ime 'the' population: df'all these countries: is increasing rapidly, and in America, at least, the consumption of mutton per head was'increasing—the Yankees becoming more.,and more, mutton-caters, All this points "to' a>i6e~ih the' values of sheep of all kinds, and Mr.* H'Ketrbw urged that every flockmaster should 1 Bteadily" improve, his, methods of handling sheep, especially in the matter of "culls"; -these, should;.' go •to the butcher! and not into the Hands' of breeders. ,A vigorous constitution, a' mutton conformation, a" happy medium in the size of the breed, thick and smooth, flesh, were, ho/.said, the desiderata. Constitution .ho defined as'more and stronger lambs; a mutton conformation meant a heavy leg, a wide thick'loin,'and well sprung rib. Ho objected, to showing ; standards where undue preference is,given-.tb p'ver-fleshed and over-fat animals, but whoso carcasses do not sell so well as others more 6ensibly.developed; , It is conceded all oyer tho world that live stock on, a.farm keep up the fertility,-and that sheep do this "better, than any other'kind of stock.. Some 80 per cent, of -their food is returned to,the soil, while their droppings are more evenly'spread than any others over the ground; .but, besides this, Mr. M'Kerrow pointed /put that ; the , sheep consumes ' classes of food that othefi animals neglect. In new districts it helps to. eradicate, various shrubs and herbs that are obnoxious in pastures; on cultivated' farms it becomes a -weed csterminator, and turns into mutton and w001'75 per cent, of tho weeds on arable land to which it has access. He found it was not a good plan'"to run sheep more than tw> or tnreo weeks on the samo pasture. He worked his in two .shifts, and alternated the sheep every two weeks; this -very much .reduced 1 their chance of 'getting 'parasitical diseases!;-■• '/-'■ :.'.' -.".,' "■•■'..■ ''■;#■?.:,-,■■ ■ BUTTER GRADER FOR HAWKE'S BAY. (Uy Telcgraph-Prcss. Association.! Napier, September 12. The Hon. T. Mackenzie; in reply to'repre--sentations made by a deputation at Hastingß on Saturday, said that he.would endeavour to have a butter, grader'appointed for Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay, jointly/, ; /LIVE STOCK SALES. : Messrs. Dalgetyand Company, Limited, report that at their Feildin'g sale,-held on Friday, they had a small entry of sheep l and cattle. Tho following is a lißt of tho. principal Bales:— Wether hoggets, 10s. 3d.; ewe-hoggets, 125.; 18months to two-year steers,, to'-'£2 16s. 6d.; two and a half-year to three-year steers! £4 ss. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Limited,- report:—At Waikanao on Friday .'wo had a fair v yarding of sheep and a good yarding of cattle, all of which met with a ready sale, and we disposed of the whole of our entry at satisfactory prices. Quotations:—Hoggets, 109. 4d. to 10s. Wd. ; to 12s. 3d.; empty ewes, Bs., 3d.; mixed fat sheep, 13s. Bd.: fat ewes. Us. 3d.; 18-months steers, £2 2s. 6d. to £2 Us. 6d.; heifers in calf, £2 10s. to £3; springins heifers,' £4 ss. to £4 12s. 6d. to £5 2s. 6d. to £6175. 6d.; fat cows (light), £3 10s. .to £4; springing cows, £5 10s.; mixed yearlings, 265.;. : bulls,' £2 10s. . - . ; ;■' —: ■■ - ■ -, MARKET REPORTS. Mr.. Harry Palmer (says our. Palracrston correspondent) reports an exceptionally large entry of pigs, at his sale, over 200 being offerc(. Prices wero lower than those ruling last wcol;, although good payable values were realised. Wcaners were particularly plentiful, and one or two lines with very high reserves had consequently to be passed. Poultry came forward in good numbers, and thoro wao a decided increaso in prices, very few lines bciug sold under. ss. per pair. A keen.demand existed for ducks at from ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per pair, and-the average price, at'tho sale on Saturday was 65.: per pair. The produce market was not particularly active, prices boin~ on a par with last week's rates. Quotations:—Wcaners, 95., 10s.. Us., 125., 13s. to 145.; slips, 13a,, 15s.', 165., lCs. 3d., 17s. to J'fs. 9d,; stores, 13s. 155., lis., 183., Us, 20&, ta L

215.; light porkers, £1 2s. 6d„ £1 65., to £1 63.; heavy sorts, £1 6s. 6d„ £1 75., £1 7s. 6d:, £l'Bs., £1 lis. 6d., £1 13s. to £1 15a.; ducks, 55.,. ss. 9d., 65., to 63. 6d.—average price, 65.; cockß, Is.'to 7s, 6d.—average, ss. 9d.; licus and pullets. 45.'3d., 4s. 9d., 53.,-55.. 3d., ss. 6d., 65., to 7s. 6d.: hens aud duckling's, 7s. to Bs.' 6(1.; hens and chickens, 7s. 9d.; njangolds, "Is. v 9d. to 25.; carrots, 2s. to 2s. 6d.; cabbages, 25." 6d.; pumpkins, 45.; pig potatoes, 2s. 6a. to 35.; table potatoes, prime, Bs. to 10s.; inferior, 63. 6d. to Bs.; wheat, 15s. to 18s.; barley, 9s. to 125.; liran, -95.; pbllard, 125.; ■pig meal, 10s.. 6d.; chaff, 2s. 6d. to 35.; oats, •10s.; all at per sack; hams, "sd. to'6d.; bacon, sd. to 6d. A clearing sale at ABhhurst, on account of .Mr. Wood, was well attended, and some 200 hens were sold at from 2s. 6d. to 4s. each. All other lines 'sold well. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson and Company, Ltd.. of i'eilding, report;— Only a limited entry of pigs at last week's. sale. 1 These sold at full rates, every pen meeting strong 'competition, especially weaners. In poultry, thev had only two or three pens filled, and, with the current high ruling prices, it is surprising that birds 'are not marketed in greater numbers. . Quotations:—Horse: Three-year pony, £7 7s. Pigs: ,\Voaners, 13s. 6d., 13s. 9d„ 145., 14s. 3d.; slips and stores, 16s. 3d., 175., 215., 245.; light porkers, 235. 6d. to 275. 6d.; medium, to 295. Poultry: Hens; Is.' lOd.; cockerels, Is.; roosters, Is. lOd. •to.2s. each. Vehicles, etc.: Spring-dray, £5 10s.; tip-dray,' 375. 6d.; harness, to £3 12s. 6d. Produce: Potatoes, 7s. to 10s. 6d.; seed, Up-to-Dates, and Magnum Bonum, ss. to 6s. per cwt.; N. •.Stars and. F,l' Dorados, ss. to 9s. per bag; pig 'do., 2s. to 25.• 6d: per bag; onions, 3d. to Id.; marrows, Is. 9d. to'2s. 9d.; oats, Bs. to 95.; carrots, Is. 3d., to 25.; cauliflowers, Is.' 9d. to 2s. 9d.; wheat, 15s; to. 175.; bran, 65.; factory bacon, sides, 7Jd. lb.; hama,'Bd.