CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1929, Page 5

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

THE NEED NEAR TAIHAPE. Mr J. T. Hogan, M.P. for Rangiti-; kei, who has returned to Wanganui from Taihape, after meeting the Min-1 ister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) . and the Minister of Marino (Hon. J. | G. Cobbe) in that centre, and accomp-; anying them on a brief tour of the surrounding district, expresses himself | as satisfied that closer settlement is an urgent need in that locality. He told a Wanganui nowspaper representative that Taihape would flourish considerably if closer settlement were carried out. The leasehold system and group settlement were, in his opinion, to bo preferred. Blocks should be secured close to the cities and inland towns, and should be of inalienable tenure. By that he meant that they should revert to the Crown, and bo stepping stones by which struggling farmers could secure other properties. Mr Hogan instanced 89,000 acres, lying between Huntervillc and the Wangaeliu Valley, which were held by 12 persqns. That state of affairs could not continue, he said. It was imperative that an aggressive policy of closer settlement be pursued. Mr Hogan paid a tribute to the efforts of the Taihape Closer Settlement League.

NEW ZEALAND LAMB. LIGHT WEIGHTS PREFERRED. In a report on the produce market, dated London, March 20, a London firm makes the following reference to New Zealand lamb : The outstanding feature of the New Zealand lamb trade has been the abnormal amount of attention concentrated on the light-weights. The whole trade has been complaining of the difficulty in selling weights over 361 b., and the difference in price between twos and eights occasionally reached 3d per lb., and between twos and fours Id to lid per lb. Generally, for the time of the year, the trade has been good. The early part of the month registered a further weakness in prices to the extent of Jd per lb. on the lightweights and 3d per lb. on the heavyweights. Secondary lambs remain firm, with an occasional improvement of Id for extreme light-weights. There have been more Canterbury lambs offering. They finished the period with twos at 9Jd to 9gd and eights at 81d to Bfd. Seconds are selling at 83d to 9d. according to weight. North Island selected and ordinary lambs have been keeping the same parity with Canterbury selecteds on the same level of prices, “Downs” occasionally a fraction moro, with North Islands about id less. Heavy lambs are beginning to be a very slow sale, the best brands are being pushed at 83d without finding buyers.

CHILLED MUTTON. ARGENTINE EXPERIMENT. In an annual survey of the meat trade in 1928, a London firm states: “A few experimental shipments of chilled mutton from Argentine were made during the year. These arrived in satisfactory condition and fair prices were generally obtained, but it is doubtful if, in view of the extra freight, etc., any great net increase in price l-esulted as compared with frozen mutton values. It is also an open question whether the enhanced values would be readily obtainable if the trade became a regular one.” DOMINION WOOL S3ALES. SEVEN MONTHS’ BUSINESS. Messrs. Dalgoty and Co. report offerings and sales of wool for the soven months ended May 31:

Wool offered in May was 191 bales, of which 144 bales were sold. Exports of wool during the periods were 681,699 for 1928-29, and 647,407 bales for 1927-28. Wellington was the largest exporter, with 142,275 bales this season; Napier, including Wairoa, 118,404 bales; Christchurch, 94,890; Wanganui, 61,812; Auckland and Opua, 57.140.

FROZEN MEAT. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, June 8. Sheep.—Argentine: Light, 5Jd; medium, ,43d; Patagonian: Light, 53d; ewes, sd. Lambs. —Canterbury: Light, 9Jd; Victorian: Seconds, none offering; Patagonian: Light, 8R1; medium, 7|d. Gulled Beef —Argentine: Fores, 4|d hinds, 63d. Others unchanged.

Levin and Co., Ltd., have received the following cable from their London agents, dated 7th June, 1929:—Frozen meat quotations (prices on a delivered basis, i.e., including storage charges, cartage, tolls, etc.) :, As compared with last week’s quotations, values ,are unchanged. There is a better demand for lambs, and the market for mutton is qyiet, except for heavy weights which are temporarily in short supply. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following cable from its London office, dated 7th June. 1929, advising Smithfield delivered prices averaged for week ending that date as follow, prices for the two previous weeks being also shown in parentheses :—N.Z. wethers and maiden ewes: Canterbury quality, selected brands, 56-under, 7d (7d, 7d); 57-C4, 6d (6d, 6id); 65-72, s}d (5Jd, sfd); other brands, 56-under, 6|d (6|d, 6Jd) ; 57-64 5Jd (5Jd, 6d) ; 65-72 53d (53d, 53d). N.Z. ewes: 64-under, 5d (sd, sd). N.Z. lambs: Canterbury quality, 36-under 93d (93d, 9|d) ; 37-42 BJd (BJd, 9d); 43-50 BJd (B£d, 83d); seconds, BJd (BJd, 8Jd); selected brands, 36-under 9fd (9}d, 9)d) ; 37-42 83d (83d, 8Jd); other brands, first quality, 36-under, 9Jd (93d, 93d) ; 37-42 BJd (B§d, 83d) ; second quality, 30-32 average, 9Jd (9Jd, 9d). Australian lambs: Victorian, first quality, 36-under, 83d (83d, 83d); 37-42, 83d (83d, B|d). Argentine lambs: First quality, 36-under, 8d (Bd, 8d) ; 37-42 7id (7id, 7id). N.Z. beef: Not quoted. Argentine chilled beef: Ox fores, 4fd (43d, 4id); hinds, 63d' (6Jd, 63d)., Argentine frozen beef: Not quoted. N.Z. frozen pork: Porkers, 60-801 b, 83d (9d, 9fd) ; 81-991 b, B*d (83d, 9d); 100-1201 b, Bid (Bid, 9d) ; baconers, 121-1801 b, BJd (BJd, 83d). Lamb market: Consumption is improving; prices remaining unaltered; market firm. Mutton market: Unchanged and trade very slow. N.Z. porker pigs: Small trade; nominal prices. N'.Z. baconer pigs: Market quiet.

Corresponding 1929. 1928. Bales. Bales. Towns. Offered. Sold. Offered. Sold. Invercargill 37,592 35,187 30,906 30,755 Dunedin 90,784 86,800 79,614 78,895 Timaru 37,360 34,240 31,813 31,521 Christchurch 81,442 77,443 75,401 74,986 Blenheim ... 144 95 163 156 Wellington . 125,846 116,941 113,803 112,292 Wanganui .. 69,894 61,845 59,480 58,038 Napier 90,476 85,801 100,466 98,833 Gisborne 1,757 1,475 1,336 1,305 Auckland ... 53,693 52,097 47,756 47,416 588,988 551,924 540,738 534,197