FARM and DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 October 1924, Page 9

FARM and DAIRY

NOTES BY THE WAY. Canada is now entertaining a party of Dutch journalists who are touring vanada with a view to procuring first hand information on the possibilities of getting hundreds of their countrymen to. settle in the country. At the present time the president of .'the Canadian Pacific Railway, Mr E. W. deatty, is in Denmark seeking colonists for Canada, especially those familiar with the dairy industry, as it is the intention of the railway company to bring Danish dairy farmers to settle in the prairie provinces to develop the dairying industry. In the course of the annual meeting of a. South Island factory, Mr John Sawers, the manager, remarked on the objections by buyers in the Home markets to the presence of carbonate of soda in butter, and went on to say that New Zealand farmers would have to improve the general standard of their products, as other countries were coming into very strong competition,' and would exert a big influence on the markets. The condition of the milk supplied to. the factory controlled the grade of the product. It was impossible to make first-grade articles out of shoddy materials. He asked the suppliers to send sweet mills, and said they could do this only if they had sufficient cooling, quick delivery and thorough cleaning of all utensils and machinery. He remarked that the Government was forcing a. higher standard by increasing the grading points. He recommended the introduction of payment by grade, that, is, every supplier’s milk would be graded every morning, into first or second grade, and would be paid for accordingly. An echo of the boom in land was beard at the last meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board, when consideration was being given to a claim on an Okaiawa settler for treatment at the hospital. He gave a statement of his position, which showed that in the boom time be purchased a small farm near Okaiawa at the rate of £l7O per acre.

On the schedule for an A. and P. Show in a country district in England are classes for rabbits. They have no less than nine classes. The only class that one can imagine on a Dominion schedule is ‘‘killed”—and perhaps dressed. .

At the Hebden Bridge (England) A. and P. Association’s Show one item on the programme is a band contait.*, This year, says the local paper, the brass band contest, which had been promoted as a special attraction this, year, unfortunately proved a failure. . In common with other dairying districts at this time of the year a very brisk trade is being done oil the Hauraki Plains in calfskins. One buyer alone has, sinee the commencement of the season, purchased on an average ,1000 skins a week. He is of opinion that the number of skins he will handle during the present season will be greatly in excess o'f that, of previous seasons. In the course of his I travels the greatest number of calves j he has found being reared on any one farm is fourteen. As a rule, the' number kept is four to six, as farmers have learned that it has not paid to breed for market purposes. Some of .the farmers on the : plains keep all their calves and make a good profit by selling them as- vealers. • ■ ' “We should take off our hats to the producer every time,” was the consensus of opinion Expressed recently at the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce after the members had heard the difficulties the farmers in the North laboured under in regard to bad roads and other disabilities. ‘‘We have a right royal time in the towns and 1 cities,” said one »peakcr, “and have our regular hours, but these men work from anything up to 16 hours a day, and then very often do not make much financial headway.” Good roads, it was concluded, "was the solution of successful transport and trading. How a lamb was lost for two days and then found was related the other day by a Canterbury farmer. A ewe which had twin lambs suddenly lost one of them, and the farmer, who was in the paddock at the time, spent two hours searching for it. But the lamb bad made such “a complete disappearance that the farmer could only conclude that a hawk had picked it up and carried it off. Two days biter (relates the Timaru Herald) when in the same part of the field, the farmer found the lost lamb in a rabbit burrow. It was still alive, though very weak through lack of food, but after restoratives bad been given it revived rapidly and rejoined its mother, as if nothing had happened to it. THE SEASON IN CANTERBURY. (Press). As the days succeed one another, •with increasing strength in the sun, which on occasions during last week attained almost summer-like ferocity, fanners are becoming increasingly apprehensive in many parts of the province. Fortunately the whole of Canterbury is not exactly crying out for rain. There is not a district, however, which, would not welcome a good solid downpour, but there are some nearer the northern end and nearer the foothills that have received occasional showers, and in addition there have b£en good dews at night. North of the Hurunui River the crops are looking green and healthy, although the hills are brown, and similar conditions prevail up the Omihi Valley, where crops have made good headway this last few weeks in spite of the lack of rain. However, further south, from Amberley right down into South Canterbury, the middle area of the Plains, is in urgent need of a soaking rain. The crops in some districts are showing a brown tinge, due to lack of moisture, and even if they have rooted well it will take a, good season from now on to bring their yields to anything like normal. At the moment, although on heavy land and along foothills crons will probably be fair, the possibilities are that over a wide area the result will not be any better than last season. However, Canterbury is wonderfully responsive to rain, and good seasonable weather from now on may work wonders. At the time of writing, however (Monday), a howling nor’-wester is raging. It- may end in rain. DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Cc., of Christchurch, reporting this week on the new season, state as follow, inter alia:— All dairy produce factories have now made a start on the new season’s make. Whilst the North Island has bean backward through cold and wet weather, there is ample feed. Production is'lncreasing ranidlv and overtaking last season. The South Island, on the other Band, is undergoing one of the driest springs for many years, and unless good crops are experienced

this month tl\e prospects for early feed and mUSt poor - Both ' sheep and cattle are already suffering, and mal mi k pi ' oduetloll is f ar belotf norMarkets. Butter: Owing to continued buying on the part of Germany principally from Denmark, there is igam a short supply of first-class butFm- th ® L ° nd °n market, and prices toi New Zealand rose to as high as -10 s, easing off slightly to 208 s, but again advancing last week to 212 s at . .viJich figure there is still a firm de-' quantities of Siberian JUtter. however, continue to arrive in lie United Kingdom, and as the quality ot this make is improving it must be ipunted as a serious rival. Australian and Argentine reports are favourable, and supplies should shortly arrive in the United Kingdom, when we must expect an easier market. i'he following statistics will, we think, prove of interest:— Butter. Shipments from New Zealand during August-1922, 18,000 cwts : 1923, 14 000 cwts : 1924, 22,000cwts. ’ 1- MOUths to AllgUSt 31 Gradings for August—l 922 ’4l 000 cwts: 1923, 41,000 cwt; 1924 38,000^ dings 12 months to August 31 1923 ’ Ms6,<j§Bri924, 1,234,000 cwt.« Sutter awaiting shipment Ifofct’ 192 - 34 ' 000< ™-‘; 182 < Cheese. Shipments from New Zealand for August—l 922, 30,000 crates: 1923 4000 crates; 1924, 26,000 crates. J^- pn i, ents 12 mont hs to August 31— 1922, 881,000 crates; 1923, 844 000 crates; 1924, 1,006,000 crates.' f ? :r August—l 923, 6000 cwt; 1924, 4000 cwt. Gradings for 12 months to August 31—1922, 1,275.000 cwt; 1923 V231.000cwt.; 1924, 1,481,000 cwt. Cheese awaiting shipment 4000ewt; 1923, SOOOcwt; 1924, 10 000 cwt. : . ’ A NOTABLE JERSEY. MAORI PEARL’S RECORD. Mr H. B. Lepper‘s pedigree Jersey eow Maori Pearl, which has been destroyed in the Argentine as the suit of foot and mouth disease, was a very tvpy eow, showing great constitution, and had won many prizes in the show ring under different judges and under S.O.R. she gave 539.891 b. fat (9594.91 b milk) in 354 days. Considering she was taken from show to show during her test period this record is a very creditable one. Her dam, Lilium’s Mab, under S.O.R. did 705.441 b. fat and 13,503.61 b milk in 365 days, calving shortly after completing, and her grand dam, Liliunt, under S.O.R.'gave 383.84, lb. fat and 7624.51 b. milk in 365 days at the advanced age of 21 years, probably the. oldest cow of any breed ever put under 5.0. R., but unfortunately she did not get a certificate as she failed to get in calf. Now compare this old matron Lilium with Lady Aldau. The latter at 19 years put up 2451 b. (85 per cent butter), milk 41841 b. in 223 days, whereas Lilium at 21 years put up 2801 b. (85 per cent. butter), milk 49531 b. in 225 days. Lady Aldau one of the most noted jersey Island cows, and probably fed on the best all her life, while Lilium from the very first of her life to 21 years never knew what it was to have any food given to her. such as bran and oats. She simply grazed on the pastures with from 70 to 80 dairy cows. Maori Pearl is descended from this grand family, being by Petune’s Noble (imp.). When competing' at the Palermo Show in the Argentine she was very highly commended, while her record in New Zealand was as follows: 1921 — Stratford A. and P. Show: First prize in mature class, third in pair class; second prize in dairy class, judged on points. 1922 New Plymouth A. and P. Show: Third prize in breeder’s team, tliree cows and bull; third prize in pair class. Egmont A. and P. Show (while under 5.0. R.): First in mature class and reserve champion (beating Elf’s Beauty); second prize dairy cow (Elf’s Beauty first). Stratford A. and P. Show: Second prize in pair class; second prize in mature class (Elf’s Beauty first); first prize as one of three cows and bull (breeder’s team); highly commended as dairv eow (still under 5.0. R.). 1923 Egmont A. and P. Show: Third prize in mature class. Stratford A. and P. Show: Third prize in mature class; first prize in pair class; fourth in dairy class. OUR BUTTER EXPORTS. AN ENGLISH OPINION. SOLD AS DANISH. It . is gratifying to find occasional English writers drawing favourable attention to the quality of importations of N.Z. and Australian butter. A contributor to a recent issue of Country Life has much to say on this theme. “How i s it,” he asks, ‘‘that the New Zealand and what as known in the trade as choicest Australian butter cannot be surpassed? One word supplies the answer—co-operation. Without combination it would be impossible for Australian and New Zealand dairy farmers to send their produce 12,000 miles or more and prosper as they are doing. The average British butter is inferior because it is badly made, and more often than not from milk that is bacterially dirty. An ordinary farmer cannot compete with the output of a factory equipped with all the la tea* scientific appliances, and staffed by highly skilled persons. In both the Commonwealth and Dominion, cream is separated on the farms, and collected by the factories, where it is pasteurised and neutralised, acidity thus being c.heeked and reduced to a standard proportion. By the use of a combined churn and worker the butter is made mechanically, without the necessity for human hands. The. perfection of the cooling system necessarily follows. On< New Zealand factory in the busy season receives as much as 10,000 gallons of cream a day. The contents of every can are tested, and the cream graded according to quality. The Governments of the two countries, recognising that a vast trade can only be built Tip on : honesty and efficiency, do their share. The dairy instructors are now regarded as the friends of' the farmers. If any farmer supplies cream of an inferior grade, he is visited, the source of the trouble traced, and a remedy suggested. Within recent years the general quality of the cream has been appreciably raised, as well as the production per eow. Finally, before dairy produce may be exported, it is subjected to severe

official tests, by means of which dealers on this side know exactly what they are buying. Here, in a few wmls, in the explanation of the excellence of the New Zealand and Australian but ters. The experience in -mv household is that we can always depend up or them. Retailers in some parts'of "the country put them in tubs, and sell as Danish, pocketing the fid or 4fl per lb extra. Of course, people have their own remedy. By asking for the Imperial butter the3 r can effect substantial economies. ”

So long as the best of our butter exports are sold as Danish, and our butter exports contain a proportion of grades .other than choice, Denmark xvill obviously be able to maintain its reputation of producing choicer butter than Australian. The advertisement that should be obtained from the sale of our choicest butter is lost. At the same time inferior grades, sold openly as Australian, are advertising our product as of inferior quality. The problem is one, which must: seriously be considered by the authorities- set up under the Butter Export Bill, if passed, or otherwise by exporters and the importing houses themselves. Incidentally, it is perhaps time to consider the wisdom of sending England any second-grade butters. During the summer just past these had difficulty in competing with Siberian, Continental. English and Irish inferior grades, which were forward in very heavy quantities, and which could show profit on lower prices than were advantageously acceptable by handlers of Australian butter. They did not provide the best of advertisement for Australian quality—it will have been noticed that Country Life’s correspondent strictly limited his praises to “choicest”— and it is considered in many quarters of the trade that the wisest thing:'for Australia to do i s to concentrate her efforts on the export of “choicest,” and “choicest” alone. FARMERS’ UNION. BOY IMMIGRATION SCHEME. Some twelve months ago the New Zealand Farmers’ Union inaugurated a scheme under which specially, selected boys for farm labour are being brought out to the Dominion at intervals. The scheme has proved most successful, and the latest batch of boys—fourteen in number—arrived by the Rotorua recently, each lad proceeding direct to his employer. Farmers who desire to employ a boy immigrant make application to the branch of the union in their respective. districts. The applications are forwarded to Dominion headquarters, and when a number are received the union nominal, s that total. The immigration authorities through the High Commissioner ?s department , then select the suitable lads, preferably: from agricultural districts in Britain, and in due course the boys are sent out to New Zealand, being escorted to their employ er S on arrival .in New Zealand bv the Immigration Department officials. The employers undertake to employ the boys for a period of two years, subject to the good behaviour of the lads, and duri.g that time they are paid i'vo-n £1 to £1 5s per week. Of this sum the boys receive 5 S weekly for ; pocket money, the balance being paid by the empolyers- to the Internal Affair 3 Department, which holds the money on trust for the boys, who receive it at the expiration of the two years, when they are entitled to remain on with their employer.-at ruling agricultural rates, or seek new employment. The boys who have come, out under the scheme range from 16 to 18 years of age, and are said to be of a fine type.

FIFTY YEARS AGO. From the Lyttelton Times, September 26, 1874. Stucl Ilorse Parade.—-The a initial parade of entire horses will take place on the Agricultural Show Grounds today. ...The entries number fifty-three, which is four in excess of last, year. There are three imported thoroughbreds, seven colonial-bred thoroughbreds, nine roadsters and carriage horses, eight imported draughts, twen-ty-two colonial-bred draughts, and four ponies. . • This . paragraph recalls the halcyon days of stud parades in Ilawera, when entries were, nearly as large. CROFTERS FOR CANADA. The drift of the human tide across the -Atlantic is recalled by the fact that over a thousand -emigrants, mainly from the Highlands and islands, left the Clyde recently for Canada. With them went a deputation of four fishermen and a clergyman to investigate for themselves the fishing and farming prospects of Canada. Such a representation, drawn direct from the men most interested, is bound to be far more potent than any of a second-hand character. The visitors, who will have every assistance from the provincial governments, mean to survey the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and in particular to see the Hebridean settlements which have been formed within the last few years. The party is accompanied by the Rev. R. A. Macdonnell, of the Immigration Aid Society, who has been in charge of the various organised parties which have arrived in the West.

UNIFORM HERD-TESTING,

The official testing of purebred c-ows has been reduced to a uniform basis. The points upon which some friction was expected have been smoothed out by reasoning on broad lines for the

common good. All' the breed societies in this State,, including those' with headquarters in Queensland and Victoria, have come into line, and through the council of the United Purebred Dairy Cattle Breeders’ Association have .endorsed the Australian purebred scheme, as adopted by the conference of Ministers of Agriculture, and which came into force as from July 1, 1924. This provides for a uniform .system of taking tests, for the testing of all purebreds "submitted for registration, and the publication of all official records in the herd books of the respec-tive'breed-societies. ■; There is general satisfaction here tjiat this complete co-ordination’ has been made possible by the adoption of the conditions by fJie Australian' Jersey ’ Herd Society, coupled with the decision of the Victorian Department of Agriculture to put-’it into' operation. ’ The- United Breeders-’ has modified a recommendation of the 'sub-committee that" all/femdles should be tested', four times ineight years by confining the minimum testing-to once Irefore 'reaching the age of four, years, and again before attaining eight years.’ It also has been'laid 'down for surety of identification that "all .calves'shall be ,registered, and marked before they are 60 days ol'd. ' I ■' ’ v The uniform scheme for the official testing ofi purebred dairy cows, adopted ‘by" the Ministers qf Agriculture of the various Statesj-became bpefative on July 1/ ’ The’standards upon whicb certificates shall be issued as are follows: Junior, 2-year-old,"’2001b. ’butter-fat; senior, 2-vear-61d, 2fisib. butter-fat; .■junior, 3-year-old, 2501 b- butter-fat; senior,' 3-.yeaf-oi'd, 2751 b. butter-fat; junior, 4-year-old, '3oolb.- butter-fat; senior, 4-ye’ar-old, 3251 b. butter-fat; mature cows, 3501 b. butter-fat. Junior ahimal in each class shall be one which is two) thfeej'or four years of age, or over, on day of calving, but under such, plus six "‘months. Senior, animals in each class shall be one which is 24, 3J, or 44 years' of age or over on day of calving, but under such age, plus six months. The feedipg of milk or cream to cow 3 undergoing test is prohibited. DAIRYING. FAVOURABLE PROSPECTS. Brisbane: f ‘ The prospects of the dairying industry are encouraging, and there is,, every indication of an' early season,” said the Directoi*of Dairying (Mr Graham). He added that all the districts were looking well, the pastures were responding, and Woiild assure a satisfactory period. Butter was coming forward from the factories. As the Southern States were producing adequate supplies! for their cwn needs, the present ’ butter production in Queensland compared, more than favourably with that of the corresponding time last, year, the. excess of production being this year by about 4000 boxes a week. The surplus would be shipped to Great Britain. TOP-DRESSING. When not already done, this should be pushed along. Suitable manures at present are: Basic slag, basic super, super’ and Nauru (half an half), and, in the earlier districts, superphosphate alone will give best results.,. Where lime has been applied earlier superphosphate should be put on from the middle to the end of July. Keep the harrows going to scatter all deposits of mamire. This is a good time to give’a final harrowing to a top-dressed paddock and close it up for the early calving cows or early lambing ewes. Remember there is no better tonic for a freshly-calved cow or lambed ewe than a bit of nice clean pasture.. A v * HIGH TESTING HEIFER AT AUROA. It is always interesting to secure records of dairy cattle under test. Mr R. Dunn, Auroa, sends us semi-official returns for his Junior 2-year-old Jersey heifer Lulala. This heifer was 2 years and 2 days when the test commenced. Month. Lb. milk. Test. Lb. Fat. Sept. 891.4 4.66 41.53 Oct. 1144.0. 6.34 72.52 Nov. . 992.8 6.03 59.86 Dec. ' 930.2 6.36 59.16 Jan. 873.2 6.34 55.36 Feb. 824.2 6.75 55.63 Mar. 853.3 7.00 ! 59.73 April 791.4 6.76 53.49 Ma’v 794.7 7.35 58.41 June, 715.2 7.53 53.85 July . • 685.2 7.79 53.37 Aug. 673.1 7.73 52.03 Sept. 41.8 7.73 3.23 Total 10,210.5 678.17 Lulala finished her test on September 2 and calved again on September 20. The amount required to qualify was 240.71 b butter-fat. . Lulala’s breeding is as follows: By -Twylisli’s Own (his well-known herd sire) out of Sv/eet Mabel of O.K. The dam, it is regretted to have to report, died last year after getting a certificate after being under test. A GOAT COMPETITION. More and more interest is being taken in the* Old Country in the “poor man’s cow,” the goat, and with the introduction of Continental animals recently an impetus has been given to breeding. The Yorkshire Goat Society (of which Sir George Fisher-Smith is the president) is one of the largest societies in the country, and it is fitting, therefore, that the Yorkshire Agricultural Society should help in advancing the interest of goat breeding. At the Yorkshire Show at York, on July 23 to 25, there was an excellent classification for goats. The tit-bit of the goat section, however) was the inter-county competition between Yorkshire and Lancashire. The two so : eieties have presented a challenge bowl for the best team of tliree goats exhibited by each county, viz., female in milk, and female kid. Here we have (says a local paper) the War of the Roses’in a new form, and, as ware not aware that a similar competition has ever been held, there should be keen rivalry. DAIRY PRODUCE. THE NEED FOR ADVERTISE- ' MENT. Some very useful advice is gix-en by a Yorkshire journal (the Scarborough Evening News) as to what must be the procedure to ensure the successful marketing in the Mother Country of produce from overseas. Remarking ‘‘the Empire ,is a wonderful -thing, ’ ’ the writer continues: ‘‘Those who live in the distant parts of it sometimes look at it from a different point of view to: those who live at its heart. They are inclined to think that because they are a part of it they should be given first consideration in all things. It is an ideal which fails before human nature. There are complaints from some of the colonies that European food pro-

ducts can be bought anywhere’ in England, but that it is a very difficult thing to find colonial foods.

‘‘Butter is given as an instance. That from Denmark can be found in almost every street, but the product of New Zealand is as scarce as strawberries in winter time. We know nothing of the difference of the two butters, but we do- know this: The origin of ! the commodity is of no value whatever unless the public is told of it. It is unreasonable to , expect colonial things to thrive merely because they are colonial. No sane man opens a shop hoping to make a living out of his friends alone. He knows that he must attract, his customers from his surroundings: The colonial cannot live on sentiment. He must attract, and that can only be done by proclaiming his presence. That is' only possible by advertising. If the foodstuffs from the colonies are on all fours with their European, and American competitors, there is a market for them in the country, but it, can only be obtained by building it up by the efforts put forth by the producers. Just as the English tradesman has to advertise if he wishes to succeed, so must the colonial. ” Dairy Produce Control.

Dealing with the view expressed by the representatives of they New Zealand dairy producers, who say they want to see in this country a little less of the “Best Danish” and the “Best Dutch,” and a little more oi the “Best New Zealand,” the Manchester Guardian comments: “It is unfortunate that in pushing ahead with this policy the Dominion dairy farmers have cast certain reflections upon the importers in Tooley Street and Hanging Ditch, whose representatives have told the producers quite plainly that in seeking to control supplies and prices on this side they are playing with fire. There were conferences on the subject at the British Empire Exhibition, but nothing very definite was done. The colonial delegates complained that the prices they receive bear no comparison with the prices at which the goods are sold in this country, but the discussion revealed that they have little knowledge of the. high costs of distribution/ They found the problem worthy of the best Philadelphian lawyer.” ' THE FARM LABOURER IN ■ ’ ; ENGLAND. (By Mr James Parker, C.H., in the Halifax Courier.) I believe it would be true to state that not one person in fifty residing in city, town, or urban industrial areas have any detailed knowledge of the position of agriculture in this country as it affects landowner, farmer, and labourer. If you listen to the casual talk in the lionies, in the ilubs, or wherever men or women assemble, you will hear, sometimes caustic remarks about the price of farm produce, milk, butter, eggs, meat, etc. If you go to a Liberal or Labour meeting you will possibly hear a speaker saying (and no doubt believing) things about our iniquitous land system; and probably the miserable wages paid to- the agricultural labourer. I sht in Parliament for nearly 17 years. During that period this subject was debated every; year in 1 all its phases. Many private bills were introduced dealing withland tenure, wages boards, and every aspect Of the industry. Not in a single instance has any one of these proposals been able to touch the root of the problem. Every proposal has been riddled with criticism, and in the main by honest criticism uttered by men - who are as anxious to help as the promoters of the various proposals. Why then is, it that all these efforts and all this goodwill leaves things much as they were? 1 cannot hope to answer this question fully, but I can possibly clear away a little of the nonsense that is talked for purely party political purposes. Agriculture in England. A hundred years ago the larger , half of England’s population was probably engaged in agriculture, part of the time or fully. To-day not more than one in seven or eight of the population is so engaged. A hundred years ago the average standard of life was much lower. It would lie true to say that the ordinary everyday necessities of the unskilled labourer in the towng today were the luxuries enjoyed only by the well-to-do of a hundred years ago. With the passing of the years and the development of modern industry, the industrial worker in the towns has improved liis economic and social posi-. tion, but the agricultural worker has not been able to keep pace with him. This is not all due, nor is it chiefly due, to the lack of organisation among the agricultural workers, for though it is true that until a few years ago trades unions had no real effective hold of the agricultural labourer, they would still have been poorly paid, even had they been as well organised as the town worker was. Prior to the war, when corn and meat were being imported at very low prices; when New Zealand mutton was coming into this country ai less, than 6d a lb, and Argentine frozen beef at a similar price; when wheat was being delivered at our ports from America, Canada, Argentine, Russia, Rumania, India, Hungary, at a figure round about 22s a quarter; when potatoes could be bought at less than 5s a ewt., neither landowners, farmer, or labourer had much opportunity for a prosperous time. If I quote the wages paid in my boyhood days, more than 50 years ago, and the wages paid twelve years ago in the Eastern counties, it will give some idea of the conditions. My father’s cash wage, 52 years ago, was 12s a week. The wage on the. same farm 12 years ago was 15s; it is about 26s to-day. Who was making the money? I have given the labourer’s wages. Now,' what about the landowner and the farmer? Let me refer to very large landowners and large farms. The land has changed hands more than once. The landowner of my boyhood days died dependent upon a Government pension. The son of the farmer who employed my father, a man about my own age, told me about four years ago that hp had just sold out and retired, not a rich man, but with a comfortable living; but he also told me, and this is important, that it was all made in those three years during the war, when the British farmer had no competition, and when the landowner, I may add, was not getting a 24 per cent, return on his income from land, and all his expenses were up at least 100 per cent. Neither Land Tax or Nationalisation. Neither land tax nor nationalisation will affect this problem, because rent charged is not a sufficiently large factor to change agricultural adversity into prosperity. I do not desire to be too controversial in this, but to me it is clear that the remedy must be found in another direction. Nor is it to be found in the Minister for Agriculture’s Wage Bill, introduced recently. Anyone who knows Mr Noel Buxton knows him to be an extremely conscientious man who has a keen desire to help his

fellows. • A landowner and farmer himself, he should know the question. While thisJs so, I cannot get enthusiastic about, his proposals. It cuts no ice tc compare the farm labourer’s lot with that of the town worker, nor does it help in the least to show that the agricultural labourer getting 25s a week required 15s lOd for food, ami leaving only 9s 2d for all other purposes. I daresay it is absolutely true, but citing the fact does not get to the root of the matter.' What the House of Commons and you and I desire Mr Buxon to prove is—how is the farmer to pay a higher wage unless he can do one of two- things, either increase the quantity of produce upon the same acreage, or, if that is not possible (as indeed it is not on some of the best cultivated farms), get a bigger price for the produce of lis farm?__ It- is no use the land reformer talking about less rent. The rent already in most of the farming areas does not return the landowner half what ho could get for his money in, say, War Loan or gilt edged security. What is the Remedy? What, then, is the remedy for British agriculture? I do not claim any cut and dried plan, but I have certain clear ideas upon the question". I fear they will not be popular, but I believe they are' spund.’ In. the first place, I would poipt out that short hours and high wages are impossible for English agriculture unless the industry is subsidised, and that policy is not regarded as economically sound. If, on the other hand, the small holding policy is largely developed, then it certainly means hard work and long hours for the small holders’ family if they are to achieve prosperity. What I saw in Denmark eleven years ago convinces me of that fact. There, with every possible Government facility, with nearly fiveeighths of the whole agricultural land of Denmark cut. up into small holdings, you have a reasonable standard of comfort, efficiency of cultivaton, organised eo-operation among the small holders in buying, in selling, in exportation, etc. I saw there dozens of the 'annual balance sheets .of the small’ holder. 'They were good. They gave a decent standard of life for the family, and a small .saving for provision for old age. But it must lie remembered that they did not work an eight .or a nine-hour day. They told nie.it was work, hard work, long hours for the small holder and his wife, and often the youngsters after school hours. I want the Labour Party and the Liberal Party, too, to realise this, and to state it in their propaganda. Those of tlieir numbers who have gone into the question know it, and in fairness to the agricultural worker they should tell him the whole truth. Railing at the farmer or talking about the 1 cproneted duke’s pheasants eating the young mangel wurzels won’t do. It is throwing dust in the labourers’ eyes. The co-operative so? eieties can tell us something about farming in England. Out-of nearly 180 societies owning farms, less than 30 made a profit; the other 150; lost a total of nearly £350,000. Let us get down to the facts. A Wages Board can fix a wage, but what ifi the use of that if the 1 returns from the farms cannot pay tlie wage when fixed? The Corn Production Act during the war (a temporary pleasure) subsidised the farmer. Wheat >yas then 90s a quarter; at one period it was dearer than that. That was war time. The Argentine crop is a large one, and if the other countries have good harvests wheat will tumble down in price again, and to-day scores of wheat producers in England are in the hands of their bankers. Labour is in office —let.it face, the problem and not lest satisfied .with a vote-catching Wages Boards Bill. STOCK MARKETS. The Farmers’ Co-op. report At Hawera on Thursday, 2nd'inst., we held our usual fortnightly sale, and report a very good sale on a heavy yarding, everything in the store and dairy pens meeting with a ready sale at prices very satisfactory to vendors. Included in the yarding was 100 head Shorthorn, Hereford and P.A. heifers, sold on account of Mr S. C. Tonks, which made up to £6 17s 6d. A pen of fat Hereford Heifers on account of Mr Jas. Stevenson, made £7 11s. We quote: Fat show wether, £2 14s; forward wethers 38s; store ewes, 26s 3d; weaner pigs, 24s 6cl and 245, smaller 18s 6d; fate Hereford heifers, £7 11s down to. £5 12s 6d; fat Shorthorn heifers. £6 17s 6d to £5 10s; fat and forward P.A. heifers, £5 19s; crossbred fat cows, £5 10s to £7; forward' and fresh-conditioned cows, £3 10s to £5 ss. Works and boner cows sold well. Anything young and sound found ready buyers. Yearling heifers: A pen on account of Mr Harry Washer, made £4 18s; also a pen on account of Mr J. G. Douglas, made £4 10s; good Jersey heifers, £4 Is; others, £3 to £3 15s: crossbred yearling heifers, £2 to. £2 15s; smaller, 27s to 37s 6d; Holstein yearling heifers, £2 17s; Holstein yearling steers, £2 13s. In the dairy pens, we had a good yarding, 100 head of which were sold under the hammer. We quote good dairy heifers up to, £l2 10s, £l2 ' down to £lO 10s; others, £8 15s to £10; more backward, £6 to £8 10s; low-conditioned and backward £5 to £5 15s. Buyers present were particularly keen on quality and condition. Five heifers sold on behalf of Mr Percy Clout averaged iusfc .o,n £l2. WESTFIELD MARKETS. AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. At Westfield beef Vas in/ larger numbers and prices were slightly easier. Extra choice ox to. 33s per 1001 b, choice and prime, 27s to 325; ordinary and nlain, 21s to 265; prime young cow and heifer, 25s to 28s; ordinary cow beef, 20s to 245; rough beef, 15s to 19s; heavy prime steers, £l2 to £l3 17s 6d; lighter prime, £lO to £ll 17s 6d; light prime, £7 17s 6d to £9 17s 6d; small and unfinished, £5 10s to £7 15s; extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £8 to £9 15s; heavy prime, £6 17s 6d to £7 17s 6d; lighter prime, £5 to £6 15s; other cows, £2 10s to £4 15s; bulls, £1 5s to £5 17s 6d. Sheep.-— Small numbers and keen competition at late quotations. Heavy prime woolly wethers, £2 7s to £2 9s’; prime woolly wethers, £2 7s to £2 9s; shorn, £1 18s to £1 19s fid; medium woolly, £2 4s to £2 6s 6d; shorn, £1 16s to £1 17s 9d; light (woolly), £2 Is 9d to £3 2s 9d : do., £1 13s 6d to £1 15s 6d; unfinished (woolly), £1 18s to. £2 Is 6d; shorn, £1 11s to £1 13s; heavy nrime (woolly) ewes, £1 17 to £1 19s 6cf; shorn, £l 10s to £1 14's; medium light (woolly), £1 13s to £1 16s 6d; shorn, £1 os to £1 9s; prime hoggets (woolly), £1 13s to £1 19s; shorn, £1 7s to £1 11s 6d.

Spring Lambs. —Large numbers and improved values. Heavy, £1 15s to £1 17s; medium, £1 10s’to. £1 14s 9d; light. £1 5s to £1 9s. Calves ; —Average numbers. Steady competition at late quotations. Runners, £4 to £5; heavy vealers, £3 6s to £4 4s; medium vealers. £2 10s to £3 4s: light vealers, £1 16s to £2 8s: smaller, £1 4s to £1 14s; small and fresh dropped, 3s to £1 2s; rough calves, £1 5s to £ 110 s.

Pigs.—Average number yarded and sold at late quotations. Choppers,

£3 to £3 16s; heavy medium baconers, £3 12s to £4; light baconers and heavy porkers, £3 3s to £3 10s; medium liaht porkers, £2 10s to £3 Is. Store pigs sold readilv at late quotations- Large stores, £1 16s to £2 7s; slips, £1 10s to £1 15s; weaners, 16s to £1 10s: sows in young, 3gns to 7 gns.; boars, ,3gns. to ogns." . ADDINGTON MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 1. At Addington the market was very firm, with an advance in all principal sections of stock. Particularly was this the case in the fat cattle section, the advance, howeyer, being largely due in this ease to smaller entries. Store sheep firmed up as a consequence of the good rains of the week-end, ewes and lambs being seven shillings per head better. Spring lambs.—There was a good sale at from 28s to 35s 6d. Fat sheep.—On an average values were up on last week 2s per head. Extra prime wethers ’ 60s, prime 52s 6d to 57s 6d, medium 48s 6d~to 51s 6d, light 41s to 46s 6d; extra prime ewes 5/s 10d, prime 46s 6d to- 51s, medium 42s 6d to 46s 6d, light 37s 6d to 41s 6d, aged 22s 6d to 38s 6d. Fat cattle. —There was a “hot” sale, values being up by 5 S per 1001 b. In some cases up to 52s 6d per 1001 b was realised. Prime medium weights made 44s to 48s per IQOlb, prime heavy weights 42s to 465, ordinary medium weights 41s to 435, light 36s to 40s, and rough down to 255. Extra prime heavy-weight bullocks £l9'los to £2O 155,; prime steers £l6 10s to £l9 55, ! medium £ls to £l7 ss, light £l2 15s to £l4 15s, rough £8 10s to £l2, extra prime heifers £l4. 5s to £ls 10s, a few special £l6 to £lB 15s, prime £l2 to £l7,' ordinary £8 IDs to £ll 10s, extra prime cows £l4 to £l6 17s 6d, prime £ll-3s to £l3 15s, medium £9 to ; £ll, aged £5 ! to £B.' Dairy cattle.—Best heifers £8 to £lO 10s, third and' fourth calvers £8 to £9 10s, medium heifers £5 to. £7 10s. Fat pigs.—A medium entry, but market' scarcely so good as last week. Choppers £3 10s to £6, light baconers £4 10s to £5 ss, heavy £5 10s to £6 (average price per lb 8d to 9d), light porkers £2 10s to £2 15s, heavy £3 to £3 14s (average price per lb 8d to 9Jd).