IN THE MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 214, 6 June 1922, Page 9

IN THE MANAWATU

FARMING PROSPECTS FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT. Palmerston North, June 3. Wintry conditions have prevailed during the past week in this district, although but little rain has fallen. In spite of the cold winds and slight frosts in the early hours of the morning, the pastures are still looking well and feed is holding out better than it has been for many years at this time of the season. Added to this there is plenty of hay, lucerne, and root crops to keep them in good condition during tho rigorous period between now and next spring. With such favourable prospects it is hard to comprehend why winter milking is not indulged in to a greater extent than is the case. In the colder countries such as Great Britain, where most of the holdings are small compared with those ruling in New Zealand, in spite of the severity of the climate, which compels the animals to be clothed and housed, milking is carried on throughout the year with considerable advantage, and cows are bred specially to come in at the ' time when the prices for dairy products are high, especially for local consumption. As a matter of fact, during the winter we are entil»ly dependent on our winter supply of butter for frozen stuff which is in store, instead of being dble to secure fresh butter. The supply of milk is now falling off at the factories, and in a week or two most of them will be closed down until August, when tho new season will commence. On the Land. Sol far as agriculture is concerned very large areas have been broken up, which augurs welh for a large amount of both grain and wheat for next year, while every advantage has been taken of autumn sowing for early crops of green feed. Some large areas which have been broken up more recently will be allowed to lie fallow for the winter. The Stock Markets, So far as fat sheep are concerned most of the works in tho north have now closed down for the season, more especially in the Hawke’s Bay district, but it is evident that work is still being carried on at the factories in the vicinity of Wellington, as heavily laden trams of. fat sheep continue to pass through Palmerston North for that centre. Store sheep, which were abnormally high a few weeks ago, are now much easier, the only class in request being ewes in lamb, which are still in demand, as most of tho pastures are but lightly stocked. Although little or nothing is doing in the beef trade for export in this district,'it is reported that sales of some fair linos have been made in the Wairarapa, but prices are still below a payable basis. The demand, which was fairly strong for dairy heifers, has now fallen off, and prices show ait inclination to ease. The Proposed Bacon Pool. As I foretold in my notes a couple of weeks ago, the proposal to form a bacon pool, to stabilise the price of pigs, h:#i not come to anything, principally on account of the disinclination of pig fanners to bind themselves to sell only through tho pool. The Property Market. In spite of tho fact that the financial position is causing a good deal of anxiety generally, more especially amongst the farming community, there is a certain section of business men w'ho evidently have sufficient faith in the future to put their money into speculations. A leading hotel in Palmerston North was purchased by a syndicate the other day, somewhere in tho vicinity of £lB,OOO being paid for the freehold. Quite a number of town properties have recently changed hands at values which a little time ago would hardly have been mentioned, and small residential properties arc eagerly inquired for. Tha Unemployed Question. There does not appear to be as many ,men looking for work in the Palmerston North district as was the case a few weeks ago, the majority of those now seeking employment being general farm hands with but a limited knowledge of the work. With the works for which the Palmerston North Borough Council has raised money to carry on, the bulk of the labour offering should be absorbed as soon as operations are commenced, and this is likely to be jn tho course of a few weeks. The work will last for the best part of the winter. The Railway Deviation. The borough has been put to a considerable amount of inconvenience and loss through being unable to proceed with the erection of the much-needed new gasworkj and the electric light and power station, which has been held up awaiting the decision of the Railway Department as to the location of the new railway station. Until the exact position of the now station is decided upon, it is impossible to decide on a spot on which to erect tho works, as the matter of providing a siding rests with the Department. Now, however, it looks ns if there would soon be some'finalitv nbout the matter. Mr. J. A. Nash. M.P. (Mayor) and Councillor C. F. Spooner had a conference -with the executive officers of tho Railway' Department, and although they were given to understand that it would not be possible to give them the siding they wanted, the General Manager promised tho deputation that the necessary plans would be available next week, and. he would again meet them with a view to making such arrangements as allow the Borough Council to immediately proceed with the proposed works. Labour Candidates. Although Mr. C. G. Christensen, who announced himself as the selected Labour candidate for the Palmerston seat, opened the campaign with an open-air address on Saturday night fast, it has been ascertained that at a meeting of tho executive held at headquarters (Greymouth) last week a resolution was carried by a very large majority to take another ballot amongst tho party in this electorate for the selection of a candidate to carry the banner of Labour.