FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

THE ALLEGED FACTORIES' RING. WELLINGTON MERCHANT'S STATEMENT. Regarding a published statement that there is u ring among the butter factories, a wcll-lcnowu Wellington butter merchant, who has recently been through Taranaki and other country districts, states that ho does not consider that such a ring exists. Ho says tho present staito of tho butter market is just a caso of 'supply and demand. "Tho factories havo not got tho butter," lie said yesterday. "The May make fell away below all expectations. Suppose a factory has inquiries for butter which total 1000 boxes, and that that'factory's stock is 200 boxes, what is that factory going -to do, but t put up the price? Wo havo big orders now, but one can't get ,tho butter to fulfil them. Wo turned down a price of 'K Id. bulk offered us by a southern firm to-day." • ' He also said that he did not think Australian butter could be landed hero at /less than Is. Id., and the quality of tho \article would bo lower than the New Zealand quality. Tho prico at which tho Wellington "wholesalers were selling tho jratted butter to the retailers now was 12) pence less 5 per cent., which worked out at about 11.9 pence. The present price being charged by the factories was J2l pence to 123 ponce. STALLION REGISTRATION. SIR. REAKES'S SCHEME. During the discussion at the Farmers' '.Union Conference at "ttoodville of Mar-: 'ton's remit concerning the registration of stallions, it was stated that the Chief Veterinarian (Mr. C. J. Realces) dis-favoured-making registration compulsory. <Tho statement was not gonerallv agreed Iwith, but there appeared to be somo imisapprehension as lo Mr. Rentes fcolWng in the matter. Mr. Eeakes w-as 'not present at tho time. Subsequently, when discussing the subject with some of those- who had been present, he made it rlear that bis attitude was that a voluntary system would not be a good one. He reminded them of his attitude at tho last Agricultural Conference, in August, 1000. At.that conference Mr. Reake; submitted a scheme which- provided for tho examination of only two or ihrec-year-olds at the time of its coming into force. It would only be compulsory for tho , coming stallions, and not tho existing j horses. In the second yeir it would apply 'to three or four-year-olds; in tho third ; year it would bo extended to five-year-olds, and so on. Therefore, it would be oiilv prospective as far as present-day •stallions were concerned, and owners would not be interfered with. The official report of the conference proceedings, from which tho above remarks are extracted, , shows lint Mr. Reokes went on to say that j he qnito' appreciated tho argument that 'it would not be fair to compel all horses to be examined right away, as there might i tie men who had invasted a lot of money ;rn. a horse, or in horses, in good faith. ;But if his suggestion .were carried,-ho '.thought, every one oujlifc to be very well ■ satisfied. . AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. TO -INCREASE THEIR • USEFULNESS. At the annual meeting of tho Pahiattm- • 'Akitio A. and P. Association, Mr. T Quirk? made somo suggestions as to how agricultural societies might increase their '•usefulness. . 3ir.'_Qairke said, that at present the asr doriations concentrated 1 their efforrs on a one or a two-days' : .show, but there wers pevcrab other ways in" which they could 1 increase their usefulness to the farming community. He suggested that tho system of judging by points should be introduced at thb show, which would prove educational, rind tho farmers would be able to understand tho awards better. (Hear, hear.) Dairy cow competitions should be extended over four milkings, instead of the butter-fat yield being based on two monthly milkings, which was inconclusive, and often meant that a cow would bo in her prime at the first milking;, and Tight off at the next. This was an important question for the dairyman. (Hear, hear.) Stack-building and t>lou;lirng matches could also be- inaugurated. ■ He suggested the formation of an asso- ■ elation of theA. ami P. Societies in the -(surrounding districts, so that an arrangement could bo come to as regards show dates and the appointment of judges. Mr. Quirk said he did not make the suggestions in a earning snirit, but in e. friendlv •manner, in wliich fie believed they would •be accepted. (Applauses.)

{JEWS AND NOTES.