THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 120, 19 May 1909, Page 3

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

BRIGHTER .OUTLOOK, y A REVIEW OF THE FARMER'S' v MARKETS^ A glance over the markets for our staple products (remarks the Christchurch Press) show that,, generally, speaking, prices are good*, ancl the outlook is satisfactory. When "the slump' in wool set in, about eighteen months ago, it appeared as if< it would take several years before any pronounced recovery could be made, but the sales held in London during the current year have seen a continuous and rapid rise in prices, largely owing to; a revival of the American demand/ With sheep stocks decreasing in some countries or remaining stationary in others, with no large areas of pastoral country awaiting development for sheep raising, and with an evei'-in- j creasing population of wool users and mutton consumers, the sheep industry appears to be on a sound footing. , The frozen meat market is suffering at present from over-supply, but we have seen Hhe\ same thing happen in years gone by. The increased competition from the Argentine may, however, more than make up for ; any permanent increased consumption brought about- by low prices, and there is also the lessened spending power of the people in the United Kingdom to consider. We are afraid that, until trade improves in England, the market for our frozen' meat will continue depressed so far as New Zealand is concerned. •

The'fat lamb trade is the most important and profitable, and, even now, with heavy supplies on hand or going forward for the Home market, our farmers are readily getting 12s to 14s for their lambs. At the same time the sharp rise in wool will materially assist to make up, to the large export companies, the' shortage in profit on meat. The men who. are likely to suffer most are those who took up land on high wool and sheep values. But their outlook has considerably improved through the rise in prices, and renewed confidence in the wool market, and it will be still better when money'becomes easier and interest charges can be reduced. The wheat grower has. now before him encouragement to increase'the area sown in this staple cereal. The world's wheat supply has apparently, for the time being, got vejy close down to consuming' requirements, and prices have reached a highly profitable level. ■ A few years ago all over 2s 6d was looked upon as profit if a good crop was secured; but the higher price of land, higher wages, etc., will necessitate a somewhat larger allowance being made now. If, however, a return of anything like 4s per bushel can be obtained, as at present, wheat growing will be profitable again. Oats are not selling at prices on a par with those for wheat, and exporters, both of wheat and oats, are suffering from the want of shipping space. ■;:••' n ' New Zealand dairy farmers have had a successful season, both for butter and cheese, and they might do better if they set about improving their dairy herds by breeding, testing, and culling. The outlook for New Zealand farmers is, therefore, full of promise.

The N.Z. Times records that a third-class passenger who arrived by the Tainui on Saturday from London had an encounter with a gendarme at Teneriffe. The gentleman with the sabre inflicted a superficial wound on the visitor's arm as a souvenir of the occasion. The same passenger "played up" at Capetown and Hobart, and at the latter port made things so lively that he and his combatant, a fellow traveller, were placed in irons. This is not the sort of immigrant New Zealand wants. Ought he not bo returned whence he came?