NOTES BY THE WAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 April 1927, Page 16

NOTES BY THE WAY.

Some cold .snaps have given indications that the winter is to be long, but round this district these have not been numerous, and generally speaking the grass continues to grow rapidly and) the weather lias on the whole been very mild. Fresh grass may be seen coming through in paddocks that were burnt some time ago, while stock is in the pink of condition, lloot crops and lucerne have done well on the whole, and the latter especially has given great returns. Winter feed does not worry many farmers, except those who were unfortunate enough to lose haystacks by fire, and otherwise they are- looking foward confidently to tlie winter. If it were* not for the position of the produce market, there would not be' much about which to worry. The outcome of the next month or two will be watched with keen interest. Remarking on a bull which was catalogued, but for special reasons not offered at a recent sale*, the o\\ nei said: “He is for sale privately, and if not sold the works is his place.” ' In 1926, 41 head of pedigree cattle went abroad, 14 to Argentina. 23 to Australia, three to Fiji, and one to Tonga. Ninety-three went abroad in 1925. “ . , . The 1Q26 enumeration proved that there were 472,534 pigs in the Dominion, an increase of 32,419 over the preceding year. The large proportion are pigs under a year old, hut _ it is good to see that the number is substantially increasing. The wool-grower is on the hox-seat at present, and the finishing wool sales of the season have left him in a pleasant mood. The demand for wool seems to make it clear that the next sc a son will open up well, and that, the wool men will once again come into their own.

A trial shipment of section honey was dispatched to England recently from Hamilton. The shipment, which is believed to lie the first of its kind sent abroad, consists of cross sections, and the consignee’s design is to ascertain the keeping qualities of this kind of honey and what demand exists for it in England. The honey was sent to the Auckland cool stores, and will be placed in the freezing chambers of the ship. On arrival in England the Honey Control Board will take charge of the consignment and examine its condition before placing it on the market.

PRICE OF BUTTER IN AUSTRALIA At a meeting of the dairying section of the Country party conference it was decided to ask the Federal Ministry to increase the duty on butter imported into Australia from New Zealand. Iho following motion was submitted on behalf of the Nenneella. branch : “That the minimum price of butter, based on the cost or production, tie fixed.” Mr J. W. S. Brewster (Tarwin) said that price-fixing had not proved a success in any country. Dairymen in Canada, the United States, and Denmark were opposed to price-fixing, and had decided that the only way out of their difficulties was free trade, air A. L. N. Walter suggested an increase of duty of 2d. a. lb. on New Zealand butter.' Producers would thus obtain their object more quickly. If a minimum price were fixed it would become also the maximum price. Mr W. B. Hardie (Lardner). —Let us organise ourselves, and wo will be able to achieve our ends as Labour men do. We should go solidly to the Federal Ministry and ask for an increase in duty. If this were granted we could snap our fingers at the Australian consumer.

ANOTHER PROBLEM. Farmers appear to be born for trouble as the sparks fly upwards' (says si Southern writer). If it is not one thing, it is another. Just now some sheepmen are up against a rather unique kind of problem. There has been too much gooct grass, and this has created a situation that rarely exists. The splendid pastures have caused too many fats, and, like the old woman in the shoe, farmers have, more fat sheep than the market can do with. The result is that too many nave come forward, and have so depressed the market that to- day a store sheep is actually worth as much as a prime fat wether. Store sheep are' in good demand. Investigation in Taranaki and other parts of the of the West Coast go to show that there is 1 a shortage in the supply of stores, and that, in consequence, quite a number of farms are not going to winter as many sheep as the growth of grass would allow. The position is rather a serious one, particularly to those in the back country.

DAIRYING- IN SOUTHLAND. One phase of primary production which is showing the effects of the cold snap'in a marked degree is the dairying industry in Southland, (says the Tillies), for although the herds had not been yeilding finite so heavy of late, the rigorous conditions which prevailed during the week played havoc with the cows generally, and returns have gone back rapidly. The dairy farmer is not a very happy individual at the moment, as price prospects are anything but promising, while the fact that**it has been deemed necessary to convene a Dominion conference of factory representatives on the question of taking steps an what is termed a crisis in the industry, shows that those vitally concerned in this phase of farming activity are far from satisfied with the present position. Until lately the season experienced by dairymen in Southland has been a. really good one, and it is reported from responsible quarters that the production lias been a long way ahead of last season’s, but it certainly does not seem likely that early promises of a record back-end season arc to he fulfilled. In some cases cows are already fed on turnips and other supplementry fodder, but this practice will not. he general for some time yet.

In some instances factory managers arc busy making their cheese, for the Winter Show, though the practice is by no means very extensive yet. The Control Board lias also sent out a request that as many factories as possible sTtould compete at the National Dairy Show at Home this year and it is quite likely that some Southland factories will accede to the request. This is quite a new departure, and it is to lie hoped that the suggestion will be taken, up whole-heartedly.