FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 172, 9 April 1923, Page 10

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

NEWS AND NOTES

AUCTION SALES FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. TO-DAY. 79 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 10.39 a.in. —Sale of boots and shoes (C. W. Price). Blair Street, Wellington, 12 noon —Sale of motor truck (A. G. Wallace and Co). Johnsonville, 1 p.m.—Store stock sale (Abraham ami Williams). 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 1.30 p.m. —Sale of damaged cargo (Johnston and

Co-). 79 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 1.30 p.m. Furniture sale (C. W. Price). TO-MORROW. Levin Yards, 12 noon—Stock sale. Glenside Yards, 12 noon—Sale of stock, Implements, and machinery ;N.Z. Far-

mer's Co-op.). . Pahiatua. 2 p.m.—Land sale (V\ airarapa Farmer- Co-op. Association, Ltd.). Levin. 2.39 p.m—Land sale (Joplin, Stallard and Carmichael, Ltd.). WEDNESDAY.

Lovin, 12 noon—Sale of dairy stock, horses and implements (N.Z. Loan Co.) Jahnsonville Yards, 1 p.m. Stock sole 195 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 2.30 p.m. —Property sale (Harcourt and Co.). Featherston Street, Wellington, 2.30 p.m. —Property sale (Bothune and Co.).

FARMING INTERESTS CANADIAN STORE CATTLE ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND BRINGS LOWER PRICESLondon, April 6. Two consignments of Candian store cattle have arrived in Glasgow and Manchester in excellent condition. Tho first bullock landed in Glasgow was auctioned for £SOO for the Lord Provost’s unemployed fund. The arrival ’of the Canadians is already lowering the prices of cattle in the fairs. In Ireland : n some instances stores are unsaleable. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FROZEN MEAT LONDON QUOTATIONS. (Rec. April 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 7. The following are quotations for frozen and chilled meat: Sheep. Canterbury, light 9Jd. per lb., medium BJd., heavv 7J<lNorth Island, heavy . 7d. New Zealand ewes, GJd. Argentine, firsts 6Jd., seconds s?d.

Lambs. North Island, firsts lid., seconds lOd. Australian, firsts 10d., thirds BJd. Argentine, firsts, light 9jd.j medium 9-jd Frozen Beef. New Zealand fores 3}d. Argentine, fores 3d., hinds SidUruguay, fores 2Jd. '• Chilled Best. s ■ • Argentine, fores 2Jd., hinds 51d. Uruguay, fores 2jd., hinds Other meats are unchanged.—Aus.N'.Z. Cable Assn. BUTTER AND CHEESE GRADING RETURNS BIG INCREASE IN BUTTER. The figures of the Dairy Division of tho Department of Agriculture show that the salted butter graded for March, 1923, was 132.467 cwt.. and the ..unsalted 9171 cwt., compared with a total of 100.429 cwt. for March of last rear —an increase of 41.03 per cent. For the eight months ended March, 1923. the respective quantities were 1,114,921 cwt. and 75.213 cwt., compared with a total of 838,210 cwt —an increase of 41.98 per cent. The cheese graded for March. 1923. comprised : White, 104.775 cwt.; coloured. 62,470 cwt.; compared with J.81,506cwt. for March, 1922, a doorease of 7.84 per cent. The totals for the eight months ended March. 1923. were: White, 641,330 cwt.: coloured, 360.645 cwt.; compared with a total of 1.074,421 cwt.. a decrease of 6.74 per cent. Converting these figures into bnt-ter-tfnt eouivafcnit, there is an increase of 23.87 per cent, in butter-fat production for the eight months, n« compared with the corresponding period of 1921-22.

FOR CLOSER SETTLEMENT QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT TO CUT UP LARGE AREA. Brisbane, April 7. Tho Government has decided to resume 730,000 acres of freehold and leasehold land in the Roma, Mitchel], and GoondAvindi districts, served by railways and suitable for wheat-grow-ing, but now mostly devoted to sheep. The land will be cut into wheat-grow-ing farms and otherwise used to promote closer settlement. —Press Assn.

LONDON MARKET REPORTS Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. April 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 7Cotton. —Liverpool quotation for American middling upland cotton, 15.27 d. per lb. Rubber.—Fine hard para, 15Jd. per lb.: plantation first latex crepe, 16R1.; smoked ribbed sheet, 16Jd. Jute. —April-May-J une shipment, £33 per ton.

Copra.—March-May shipment, £29 15s. per ton. Linseed oil, £46 per ton. Turpentine, 113 s. 9d. per cwtMessrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London agents, dated April 6: — “Quotations New Zealand prime Canterbury lamb, 281 b. to 421 b., 12d.; North Island lamb, 281 b. to 421 b.. 12d.; prime Canterbury mutton, o6lh. to 641 b., 8?d. ; North Island mutton, 561 b. to 641 b.. BJd.; ewes, 481 b. to 041 b., 6)d.; New Zealand prime ox beef, 1601 b. to 2201 b., hinds, 5d.; fores, 3sa. These prices are ex store. As compared with last week’s quotations lamb and North Island mutton are Jd. per lb. cheaper; ewes, }d. per lb. cheaper; Canterbury mutton, |d. per lb. dearer. Prices for beef are nominal. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cablegram from their London house under date April 6j “New Zealand Frozen Meat.— Lamb, ll}d. per lb. (average), rather better demand; mutton, wether and maiden ewe, light, B|d. per lb., heavy, per lb.; ewe, light, 6|d. per lb., heavy, Gd. per lb., market slow. Beef, same as last. Last quotations: Ox, hinds, sd. per lb., fores. 3Jd. per lb. ; cow, hinds, 4Jd. per lb., fores, 3d. per lb. “New Zealand Dairy Produce. —Butter, 1725. to 1765. per cwt.; market dull. Cheese. 138 s. to 1445. per cwt.; market quiet, downward tendency.” Messrs. A. H. Turnbull and Co. have rcce’ved The following cablegram from Messrs. W. Weddel a.nd Co., Ltd., London, reporting on the dairy produce market: —Danish butter, 182 s. to 1865.: Now Zealand butter, unsalted, 184 s. to 1865., salted, 1705._ to 1765. ; New Zealand cheese, white, 1365. to 1385., coloured, 138 s. to 1425. GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS BT TELEGRAPH—PMSS ASSOCIATION. Christchurch, April G. The Canterbury market lias scarcely settled down since the holidays, but generally tho tone ia inclined to be easier. The oat position is scarcely so good as it was a week or two ago. Current quotations are'3s. 3_d. f.o.b. 5.1., as compared with 3s. 3Jd. and 3s. 4d. formerly. i With tho certainty of a good deal of lew-grade wheat, fowl feed is weak, nominally about 4s- f.o.b. , Chaff remains at about the same figure as before the holidays, £4 10s., according to stations. White clover is very weak, and few merchants would be prepared to give over Is. per lb. at country stations. Cow-grass is commencing to come forward, but is not meeting with much inquiry. For specially good stuff, from 9d to lOd. per lb. is the nominal quotation, but for average quality from BJd. to 9d. covers values; There is little ryegrass about, but the demand is small. Sales have been made for dressed seed on a basis of 6s. 9d. f.o.b. 5.1., equal to 4s. 9d. at country stations for undressed seed. Linseed is quoted at from £l4 to £l4 os. at country stations. Little business is possible at this figure with Australia, on account of Indian supplies. The most unremuneraitive branch of the seed business at present is cocksfoot. The abundance of Danish seed, costing 7id. per lb., held by northern merchants, is depressing values for Peninsula seed to a most unpayable price. Certain it is that another cocksfoot year like the present will almost end the old-established industry that has made the bays famous. Values to-day to growers vary according to quality, as follows: —Good, 131 b. seed, sd. per lb.; 11-121 b. seed, 4Jd., and 101 b. seed (of which there is quite a quantity offering) 4d-Potato-digging during the past fortnight has revealed smaller yields than were anticipated. There is a heavy proportion of under-sized tubers so far. In respect to the purely local aspect, the steamer Opihi was to have left last night for Auckland with, it is estimated, from 2500 to 3000 sacks. This is a larger consignment than usually goes forward at this time of the year. Quotations are £3 10s. at country stations for April-May delivery. ’ Onion prices are unaltered. There is no demand from the north. The local crop this year is a light one.

COMMERCIAL ITEMS MUTTON AND LAMB MARKET TENDING EASIER Tho mutton market is slow, and tho supply of lamb exceeds the demand, was the report of the High Commissioner. but last w;ek tho demand improved owing to cold weather, but the market was tending downwards. The mutton market was reported weak. It is nrobablo that increasing supplies, especially from New Zealand and tho Argentine, arc affecting the market. The shipments of mutton and lamb for January and February from tho three exporting countries were as follow: —

The shipments from New Zealand last month were fairly heavy, and largo quantities of beef were expected to bo sent forward from South America. Commenting on the establishment of the Meat Control Board in their annual review of the frozen meat trade, Messrs. W. Weddel and Co., state that: “In such matters as the super-

vision of grading, transport and loading; the standardising of grade marks; tho reduction of charges ; and the fixing of a minimum number of carcases or quarters to bo shipped in one lot, the board has been working along lines which will meet with general commendation.” The report also states that tho reduction of the kidneys and kidney fat can be passed over, without sacrificing any vital principle of commercial freedom. But tho acquisition of complete control of tho trade, involving tho concentration of the selling of all' New Zealand meat into tho hands of' one body, which is still thp avowed aim of the board, would have such far-reaching effects on every person engaged in the trade, that the opposition aroused might quite possibly have consequences unforeseen by thg promoters of this scheme. They can hardly shut their eyes to the fact that such a monopoly would in all probability lead to the formation of . a buyers’ pool in London, which, with Australia and South American supplies as a standby, might endeavour to put itself in a. position to dictate to the New Zealand pool the price to be paid for New Zealand meat.” STOCK MARKETS Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Palmerston North, report having a small entry of sheep and cattle at their Mangaweka sale on Thursday, April 5. Quotations: Small lambs, 12s. 9d.; very fair lambs, 17s. Id.; weaner steers, 265. 6d. ; weaner heifers, 245.; 20-month steers, £3 6s. 6d. ; Hereford cross heifers, r w.b., £4 3s. 6d.; fat cows, £4 to £4 10s. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd... report having held their fortnightly sale at Taihape on Wednesday, April 4, when a good yarding of sheep and a fair yarding of cattle came to hand. AU lines submitted changed hands at prices in advance of late rates; particularly was this the case with lambs. Quotations: Small lambs, 145.; ewo lambs, fair, 18s- 3d,; wether lambs, to 19s. 2d. ; m.a. low condition, 16s 6d.; low-conditioned 2 and 4-tooth ewes, 235. 6d. ; 2-tooth wethers, 255. Id.; 2-tooth ewes, 275. 4d.; 2i-year steers, £4 11s.; 18-month steers, £2 4s.

Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report on their Feildmg sale, held on April 6: —A good yarding of sheep met with a good sale. A fair entry of cattle sold well at late rates. Quotations: Fat-ewes, 21s. 9d., 255. 3d., to 305.; fat lambs, to 235. Id.; store lambs, 14s. 6d., 155., to 16s. 7d.; 5-year ewes, r.w. S.D. rams, to 255. 6d.; Romney rams, 1J- to 2}gns.; S.D. rams, 4gns. to 6gns.; Springing cows, £7 10s., £9, £9 155.; weaner jersey heifers, £2 Bs., £3, to £3 12s. 6d. ; weaner S.H. heifers', 305., 325., 355. to £2; Jersey heifers, r.w.b., £8 155.: store cows, £l, 255., to 305.; 2J-year S.II. bullocks. £4 18s. 6d. to £s;'4Jyear S.H. bullocks, £5 14s. ; fat bullocks, £5 2s. 6d., £6, to £6 55.; fat Ijeifers, £4 ss. to £6 Is. ; fat cows, £3. £3 155., to £4. Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., report of stock sales for week ending April 7:—At Rongotea, on Wednesday, a fair yarding came forward. Cattle sold at late rates. Good store pigs were in good demand while weaners and slips declined in value. Quotations: 2year heifers, r.w.b.. I'at £5 17s. 6d.. 3at £5, 2 at £3; unsound dairy, cows, £2 55.; small weaner heifers, 395., 15s. ; 2-year steers, mixed colours, £3; store cows, 235., 375. 6d. t 385.; fat cows. £3 18s., £3 10s., £2 135.; S.H. bull. £2 2s. 6d.; small weaner pigs. 10s., Bs., 65.; good slips. 16s. 6d., 155., 12s. 6d., 11s.: good store pigs, £2 195., £2 12s. 6d. At Feildingj on Friday, we had a small entry of cattle and a good yarding of sheep, consisting chiefly of lambs. Th© recent rise in whiteface lambs was fully maintained, the good lines selling specially well. A few pens of breeding ewes met with fair competition. We had no lines of cattle penned and the single beasts and small lots sold at late values. Quotations: Good Romney wether lambs, 209 at 205., 98 at 18s. 9d., 88 at 18s. Id., 160 at 16s. 2d.: small lambs, 45 at 145., 3o at 12s. 9d.: good Romney ewe lambs, 30 at 235. Id.; small ewe lambs, 140 at 18s. 7d. ; good b.f. woolly lambs 303 at 225. Id.; 584 at 18s. 6d.. 106 o,t 16s. 7d.; 2 and 4-tooth ewes, r.w. Romnev rams. 110 at 30s. 9d.; 4-tooth ewes, 155 at 325.: 6-tooth and 4-year ewes, 30 at 275. 6d.; 30 Linco n cross m.a. ewes, 265. 8<1.; ewes, 60 at Bs. lid. ; sprnging S.H., second calvers, guaranteed, £9: fan- Jersey cross weanor 'heifers, £3 los.. £3 lbs., S.II. cross weaner heifers. 255., 2Js.. 30s. ; yearling heifers, £3 155.; f. and f cows £2, £2 Bs.. £2 10s.; fat S.H. cows, £5, £4 7s. 6d., £4. £3 12s. 6d., £3 2s. 6d,

Mutton Lamb Ccs. Ccs. New Zealand .. . 422.798 1,295,552 S. Amarica .... . 430.150 319,150 Australia 6,595 8,226 859,543 1,652,928