AGRICULTURAL JOTTINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL JOTTINGS.

f“ Canterbury Times.”! NEW ZEALAND WOOL SALES,

A very interesting statement of the business done at the various wool sales in New Zealand, during the past season, has been compiled by Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. It shows that the practice of selling locally continues to gain in favour, the quantity offered being 9000 bales greater than in the previous season, while 80 per cent of tho offerings were sold. In the North Island 38,913 bales were offered and 28,260 bales sold; in the South Island 77,930 hales were offered and 66,346 bales sold. The following are the comparative figures for the past and the previous season:—

The need for better skirting of many of the Canterbury clips, particularly the smaller lines, is pointed out. The Canterbury wools were considerably heavier in condition than last year. The Otago and Southland wools were light and sound, the effects of a favourable season. The North Island clip was fairly light, but a considerable quantity was bush .stained. The influence of the local mills upon the market is noted. The destination of the wool sold at the sales, always an interesting matter, is estimated approximately as follows : —For Yorkshire! 45,550 bales; .for Continent, 1500 bales; for America, 500 bales; for local factories,- 14,500 bales; for sale in London, 13,500 bales; for scouring (ultimate sale in London), 19,056 bales; total, 94,606 bales. As usual, the hulk of crossbred wool went to Yorkshire, also a failquantity of half-bred. Local manufacturers took nearly all the merino and alarge portion of good half-breds, the balance of which went to America. Tho purchases for the . Continent comprised chiefly merino and a few fine half-breds. The local f oilmen gers did not buy _so heavily as in previous years, keeping mostly to the inferior fleece wools and pieces. THE SALE OF FROZEN MEAT. Mr H. C. Cameron, the .New Zealand produce commissioner in England, in his report by last week’s mail, speaks his mind very plainly on the necessity for improving the markets for our frozen meat. After mentioning the reduced supply, he.says : “ It would naturally be expected that this unusually small quantity of mutton coming forward would have materiallyhelped to firm the prices, especially as only very light shipments are looked for for some time. Instead, however, trade is exceptionally dull, with low prices. This is all the more remarkable as, at this time of the year, with favourable weather such as we are now experiencing, prices in former years could be generally counted upon to harden, and it is difficult to account for the unsatisfactory state of things at present prevailing. There certainly is not, as there should be, any increasing demand for New Zealand mutton, and I can only again urge that the producers in New Zealand should seriously consider the best means to be taken by them to materially improve the markets for their meat in this country. It is deplorable to think that such a great industry should have to remain almost stationary, as it has done during the past few years, or at all events that what increase in consumption has been gained should only be attained by the acceptance of reduced prices, when it is undoubted that by energetic measures being taken by the producers themselves, there is a large field ready for development.”

CATTLE DISEASES. The report of Mr Reakea upon his testing of the Kinloeh herd, a note of which is given elsewhere, shows most emphatically that something must be done, and that promptly, to assure the soundness of the meat and milk for ordinary consumption. The importance of skilled examination will be understood from the fact that the cows which reacted and were destroyed would readily have found a place in any dairy herd were appearance only to he taken into consideration. Exactly the same thing has taken place in Victoria, where Mr S, S. Cameron, the veterinary inspector of the Health Department, invited dairymen to see some reacting cattle from one of the best herds in the colony. All the animals were young, apparently healthy, and in good condition, and such remarks as “ a shame to kill such cows” were frequently heard. Yet each was found on post-mortem examination to be tuberculous, and the dairymen were profoundly impressed with the result. Returning to New Zealand, few dairymen or farmers are in Mr Buchanan’s position to totally destroy the affected cattle, and many have no facilities for isolating them. A small grant was voted last session for compensation in such cases, hut it is altogether inadequate to meet the demands which will be made upon it as the system of examination and testing is extended. The public must he aroused to the gravity of the situation, and must compel their representatives to support the legislation which is absolutely necessary to enable the matter to be thoroughly dealt with. Compensation to the extent of one-half, or more, of the value of the cattle destroyed will enable much to be done. Prevention of the most fertile cause of infection can be secured by enacting that all skim-milk from dairy factories and creameries, or the whole milk from which it is derived, shall he pasteurised. The question is also of importance as affecting our export trade; for, as we have already asserted, the foreign consumer will not believe in the wholesomeness of our products unless they are established by qualified examination to he sound and free from disease.

INSPECTION AND INSPECTORS.

In adopting a complete system of inspection of animals and their products used as food, an essential point is that it shall be carried out by Government officers. At present the law provides for the appointment of inspectors by the various local authorities individually, his authority not extending beyond his own district. The cost of such a system would be prohibitive, and, besides, the inspection could not possibly be efficient. The Slaughtering and- Inspection Bill of last session met this difficulty by providing for the formation of boroughs, road districts, &c., into districts for the purposes of the Act, hut a general system of inspection which will reach all meat and milk, wherever produced and wherever sold, can alone be effectual. The inspectors would also be free from local influences and enabled to perform their duties without fear or favour. Their qualification must be such as is recognised in other countries—a certificate by an unqualified inspector would he worse than valueless in the case of produce exported to any continental country—-and a continental trade must be kept in view. Of the evil of localism an example is provided by Wanganui, where, if wo are correctly informed, the services of a qualified veterinary surgeon as inspector have been dispensed with, and tho appointment conferred upon a gentlemen, no doubt well learned in his profession, but whose qualification is not recognised in any country but that in which it was obtained, and whose certificate received in England or any other European country, would create a feeling that the whole veterinary inspection system of New Zealand was a farce. Under a general system there would be no difficulty in obtaining inspectors possessing a recognised qualification and paying such a remuneration as would secure the services of good men.

' 1857-98. ' 1896-97.' Offered. Sold. Offered. Sold. Christchurch Dunedin Invercargill Timaru Auckland ... Napier • Wellington... Gisborne 32,558 24,818 9,953 10.G01 11,103 15,601 10,847 1,362 27,730 21,530 , 9,634 7,550 9,868 11,241 6,452 699 31,387 24,907 9,003 8,493 8,515 11,730 13,727 25,262 20,467 7,721 6,540 ■ 7,085 8.339 8.340 Total 116,843 94,606 107,852 83,752