FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 113, 9 April 1930, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

‘ MILK CONSUMPTION-AND THE GROWTH OF CHILDREN. 1- During the last few years world-wide Hkttention has been given to nutritional Kbrobleins in relation to 6tock production, jliuch as the mineral content of . pastures investigation now proceeding in many EmEjfire countries and centred in the Rowett glßcsearch Institute in Scotland. Such Etock investigations are comparatively Eimplo to cary out because a group of ■animals can be easily controlled; treatKncnts can be simply varied and, if necesBsary, post-mortem examinations can be Eroade. Other fundamental researches infclude the all-important work on vitamins, | those indefinable accessory factors essonEtial to normal life, both animal and hull man. ?' The results of the work on stock have vindicated broadly the necessity of a comSpletely balanced ration of flesh forming Hand health producing materials, mainly p-'prganic; of frame building materials, [j mainly inorganic, and of certain accessory factors in the form of vitamins which essential- for normal life and growth, g These investigations, which could not Shave been carried out on human beings, I ;f ;I have afforded invaluable data for the -i,‘ alleviation of disease and for application S,to the general problems of improved health / in" humans. IRyTests on school children.—During cerl«ta.in investigations on the effect of small ft.idditions of milk to the rations of pigs ®ind poultry remarkably increased • growth if««id vields were obtained. This gave the gfljtowett Institute authorities the . idea of SJjfcarrying out a series of tests on the effect HP a sma H daily ration of milk on the ISieneral health, growth and mentality of :tS ; Schooi -children. Large scale tests organffiised over a period of- three wears in Scotland and Northern Ireland showed that K the addition of milk to the diet of chilerdren in the larger towns was followed f by an increased rate of growth and genet ral physical improvement, i Effect of milk diet, on growth and ; weight.—Arrangements were made to supply milk amounting to from three-quarters to one pint a day to large groups of children in schools. Careful records were kept of weight, growth, health and general alertness in comparison with control groups of children of equal ages and general standard. The following results were ob- • tained over about six monthly periods in three successive years:

0.277 in. 0.3041 b. In the last group the test wis carried out in rural districts where the ordinary milk consumption at home was higher than in the first two groups, being calculated at 3i pints per week as against 2 £ growing child, i.e., ten pints per week. Effect of addition of milk on general condition.—ln addition to the remarkable increase in height and weight shown above, a distinct increase in liveliness and general alertness was shown by the chldren receiving the milk. In addition, the average attendance of children receiving the milk was much higher. The main point to observe in these valuable investigations is that the improvements obtained were based on what is regarded by the highest authorities as being the optimum amount of milk necessary for the growing chidl, i.e., ten pints per week. t Further Developments.—These experiiTrients have aroused such universal intergh'.est that consultations between the health, 3 -agricultural and other authorities have re|Hjtulted in the organisation of experiments ~:.on a scale that is described as being the Msfergest and most comprehensive that has attempted in the history of the Igtsrorld. i|| Another important aspect of a milk diet |#>n addition to its value as a feeding adHKaunct is to be included in this- investiHjgation. - This is to determine the effect of with tuberculin free tested milk ff»s against pasteurised milk. Groups of Mlthree lots of 5000 children are to be work®j«d on for a period of six months and the will be carried on for two ;Aears. This scheme is being financed /purely by the Empire Marketing Board, which realises the importance of the work v/ilrom an Imperial point of view. B/j This experiment will bo watched with IS absorbing interest in all parts of the jfe world, but from the results already obU'i tained there is sufficient indication of the K value of a plentiful supply of raw milk [ to the growing child. In New Zealand, where milk is in more abundant supply , and of much better quality than in the United Kingdom, the . authorities should

do all in their power to ' bring - home to parents the moral of this work. \ Increased consumption of milk in the home will raise the general standard of health and mentality, and will reduce the incidence of many diseases from which children suffer. EXPORT OF WOOL. DECREASE THIS SEASON. With a reduction of 119,536 bales in the offerings of wool for the nine months of the season ended March 31, and a decrease of 160,306 bales in actual sales during the . same period compared with last season, there has been a great falling-off of the export of wool from the Dominion. The decrease in wool shipped overseas for the nine months was 122,426 or 22.33 per cent, as is shown in the following comparative table: 1929-30. 1928-29.

", The ports chiefly affected by the do--creased shipments were Wellington with a falling-off of 26,389 bales, Wanganui 20,354 bales, and Napier 35,809 bales. DAIRY, PRODUCE. GRADING FIGURES FOR EIGHT MONTHS'. New Zealand’s butter-fat production shows an increase of 11.24 per cent, for the past eight months when compared with the corresponding period of the 1928-29 season, according to statistics prepared by the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture. The figures show that the salted butter graded for March, 1930, was 9670 tons, and the unsalted 185 tons, a total of 9855 tons, compared witb 6160 tons salted and 313 tons unsalted, a total of 6473 tons for March, 1929 —an increase 0f.52.24 per cent. For the eight months ended,-March, 1930, the respective quantities were 82,039 tons and 1370 tons, a total of 83,410 tons, compared with 69,009 tons and 1997 tons, a total of 71,006 tons and 1997 tons, sponding period of the preceding season—an increase of 17.46 per cent. . The cheese graded for March, 1930, comprised: White, 7371 tons, coloured, 2442 tons; a total of 9814 tons, compared with 1 6045 tons of white and 2613 tons of coloured, a total of 8658 tons, for March, 1929, an increase of 13.35 per cent. The qualities for the eight months ended March, 1930, were: White, 47,473 tons; coloured, 23,548 tons; a total of 71,021 tons, compared with 49,215 tons of. W'hite and 22,373 tons of coloured, a total of 71,588 tons, for the corresponding period of the precoding season, a decrease of 0.79 per cent. / Converting these figures into butter-fat equivalent, there is an increase of 11.23 per cent, in butter-fat production for the eight months as compared with the corresponding period of the 1928-29 season. Stock held in the various grading ports as at March 31, 1930, were: Butter, 14,431 tons; cheese, 13,414 tons, as compared with 3896 tons of butter and 9428.t0ns of chease held on ‘March 31, 1928. METALS MARKET. LONDON, April 7. Metal exchange quotations are as follows, those previously cabled being given for purposes of comparison :

GRADING OF PIGS. FARMERS’ UNION SUPPORT. The Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at their monthly meeting decided to be represented at the conference to consider the compulsory grading of pigs. A letter was received from the New Zealand Pig-breeders’ Association, stating that it was organising a conference for the purpose of discussing the best steps that could be taken towards achieving the compulsory grading of pigs. The conference would be held at Palmerston North. In the afternoon of the same day. the bacon companies’ representatives would be asked to attend, and their co-operation would be sought. The executive was asked if it would be represented at the conference. Mr-A. G. Deere said that a scheme of grading had been in operation in the Waikato and Auckland districts for some years, and had turned out a great success. The chairman (Mr O. P. Lynch) observed that there had been for years a good deal of friction in the industry as applying to the weight and grading of pigs, and it seemed to be interminable. Mr Deere: All the lamb and mutton at the freezing works is graded when it is killed. Why not do the same with pigs ? The chairman: I thought everything was graded for export. Mr Deere: It may be afterwards; but the farmer, is not paid on that grading. Mr C. P. Jensen said he did not think that the step proposed was one that had been taken by any other country. Mr J. *A. McLeavey pointed out that if too many experts were appointed heavy expense would be incurred. Mr Deere: It will cut down the expense, as has been shown in other parts. If this meeting has any suggestions to make, the association will be only too pleased to have them. Mr H. Denton; Where will our pigs be killed ? The chairman: At the local works, and graded on so many days a week. Mr Deere said that - the association did not propose to alter anything in relation to the curing of pigs, but in regard to the slaughtering and weighing, also the breeding. Messrs Deere, Bond and McLeavey were appointed to attend, the conference,.and it was decided to ask the Dominion secretary (Colonel Pow) also to be in attendance. AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN. SOME OF ITS CHIEF NEEDS. Mr E. T. Morris’s remark at Dorchester that the farming industry on many of the big arable farms was “bled white,” writes the London Times’s agricultural correspondent, has a wide and definite application; indeed, in a modified forin, the term might be extended to the agricultural industry as a whole. For some decades past, and especially since the war, the process, of bleeding the land and its. owners ana occupiers has been nroceeding in many parts of the country with disquieting persistency, and, as the president of the National Farmers’ Union implied, a time is approaching when tho consequences' of prolonged drawing upon inherited capital resources, stored up ih the soil, will be seen and felt in their direct forms.

What the land wants more than anything else is suitable cultivation and manuring. There is a reluctance in the present day to acknowledge the full importance of efficiency in the management of land, arable or grass. Above all, the use .of tillage contrivances is needed to restore the average soil to its former prgductivo capacity. The farmer has at his service to-day machinery and implements better than, ‘or at least as good as, were available to his predecessor, but it is doubtful if the land is cultivated as thoroughly now as formerly, particularly in tho forms that are best undertaken by hand labour. In the heavier operations of ploughing and cultivating there has been appreciable improvement because of the ampler equipment procurable for this class of work, but the withdrawal of manual labour ha? discounted much of the benefit from the more -efficient power inventions. The seasons have usually been unfavourable for land" work in recent years, the prolonged frost of 1929 being a notable exception, and altogether circumstances have not been conducive to the maintenance of land in the fine condition that is so effective in promoting growth and health in crops. CONTINENTAL PRACTICE. The “bleeding” process has been proceeding largely ,on account of diminished use of manual labour.; The reasons for the with-holding of manual work may be well understood and intelligible; but, whatever their precise nature, there is nothing to be gained by disregarding them. The great reduction in the number of hands employed on the land in recent years has been a big factor in bringing about the. deterioration in productive farming to-day. The departure of the people from the countryside lias been coincident with the fall in the standard of crop and stock production. Experience during several decades of the results of a variety -of methods designed to make good the deficiency of workers and an attempt to compute accruing benefits or ills, forces the view into prominence that increased manual work, to supplement the basic operations performed so suitably by the modern power contrivances, is one of the most urgent needs of the industry. It is fashionable to turn to .other countries for support for schemes recommended, and to be blind to such abundant proof as usually is to be found at home, and this is one case in which a glance across the North Sea may be helpful to the hesitating or the inexperienced. • If such outstanding examples as are presented in West Middlesex, East Beds, in the Fens, at the estuary of the Mersey, and in other fertile and productive areas, bo to our own people, there are the' cases of Denmark, Southern Sweden, Holland, and particularly of Belgium, to testify--to the unequalled value of skilled manual labour in stimulating bountiful production. The land in most of these countries, and also in parts of France and Germany,, 1 is liberally manured and otherwise freely served in fundamental requirements, but the fertilising element throughout the .whole is the hand of the competent and diligent workman. The human factor is supreme, not in management only, but especially in direct contact with the land itself. The labour is on the spot, and it is through the free and seasonable use that is made of the human agency that several Continental countries have overtaken us, and are even forging ahead of us, in the standard of production. Wo are losing ground; they are rising steadily to higher levels. Investigation will show that tho human element goes far to determine and explain the changes.

DISCRIMINATION IN IMPORTS. Wlwn this aspect of farming is considered* the hours and wages governing employment rise to confront the .inquirer and to cloud the issue. No one would wicli, even if he dare, to 'establish levels that would lower the standards now obtaining in this country, particularly the money payments. Yet the grave fact his to be faced that those working in competition on the Continent pursue their occupations in circumstances less favourable to themselves and correspon.ii lgly more favourable to their employers. That is the central factor in turning conditions against British producers who compete with farmers on the Continent. Tho problem that emerges is difficult of solution Wc nr© “up against it” in a national, as well as in an agricultural, fsense, and it would be futile for the country to attempt to shirk its duty. Either we-must' revert to something like the Continental levels in hours and wages, or the latter will have to be raised to the British standards'. There _is not the . remotest intention of reducing costs in this 1 country in the way indicated, and we can influence those : ; on the Continent by stipulating that imports shall be accepted only from countries where the same hours are worked and the same wages are 'paid. . So long as tho industry continues to be “bled’’ for want of suitable manual labour and equitable prices for its produce in its own markets, other schemes' can>have only a restricted and costly success.

THEFTS OF STOCK. DISCUSSED BY UNION. Reference to thefts of stock was made at the meeting of tho Manawatu Provincial Executive of .the Farmers’ Union when Mr J. T. Kent inquired the fate of a remit, drawing attention to tho subject,. which he had been instrumental in sending to the Dominion executive. Tho chairman (Mr O. P. Lynch) 6ta.tod that the Dominion executive had referred the matter to the police and had asked the Government to introduce legislation this year to forbid the carrying of sheep by motor truck at night unless a permit was given for each load. Intimation had been received that legislation was being framed to cover the terms of the remit. Mr Kent: I would like freezing companies to be included as well as stock and station agents. Two hundred fat lambs from Sandon that were on their way to the freezing works disappeared. The chairman : We are taking action to get all police stations connected up by telephone.. Then we may possibly be able to extend this other matter. Mr H. Bond emphasised the need for linking-up the police stations. He cited the case of a man who met with a fatal accident about fourteen miles from Palm<Kstan North and whose body had to lie on the roadside for two hours because it must not be moved till the police had inspected it. He did not think the man was dead at the time the accident was reported. CANTERBURY MARKETS. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 8. The position of wheat is unaltered. It is offering fairly steadily, and the prolonged period of fine weather is allowing a continuous run of threshing which is more advanced than is usual at this time of the year. In regard to the drop statistics published this week it is the consensus of opinion that the yield per acre will bo fairly close to what was estimated in a recent report—about 23 bushols. Values for wheat remain unaltered, and millers are not buying. Quotations are 5s 8d on trucks for Tuscan, 5s lOd to 5s lid for Hunters, and 6s 2d for Pearl. There is very little demand for fowl wheat. Its value remains firm at 53 9£d to 5s lOd, f.0.b., S.I. The oats market is distinctly firmer today, duo to the fact that the statistics indicate a low proportion of threshings. The weight of threshed oats shows a big reduction on last year. Another element in the firming is that buyers have been operating frooly at recent prices of 3s 9d to 3s 9£d f.0.b., S.I. To-day the quotation is 3s lOd for spread delivery for A Gartons, and there are few or no sellers. The market is a southern One, prompt oats at Lyttelton being practically unprocurable. B Gartons are available at 3s 9d, f.0.b., 5.1., but there is little inquiry. Chaff is quoted at £6 12s 6d a ton, f.0.b., 5.1., equivalent to £4 15s to £5 a ton on trucks. The potato market continues weak with prices unaltered. There are still plenty offering, but the demand is very restricted. Last week the Ivaitoke took 2660 sacks to Auckland and to-morrow the ICaropo takes a similar shipment to the same port. Quotations for prompt are 95s for whites and 97s 6d for Dakotas; April-June, £4 10s; July-Septcinbcr, £5 10 s; and July alone, £5 per ton. Tho price to farmers is £3 104 a ton on trucks. The onion market continues extremely weak and tho qoutation remains at £2 a ton on trucks. There is an all-round dearth of orders. Peas have weakened as a result of advices from England which state that tho crop there has been a particularly good one both in regard to quality and quantity, and it is not anticipated that the Old Country will require peas during the whole of the year. The latest quoiatiou hero is 4s to 4s 2d for No. l’s and to 3s 6d for f.a.q’s. AUCKLAND MARKETS. % Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, - April 8. There' are again abundant supplies of potatoes in Auckland, a very heavy cargo having; just ..--arrived from- Canterbury. Prices have eased accordingly, and met*: ohants’are quoting £7-5s per ton ex wharf, and 53 more through the store. • A year ago the ..prico was £9.' The quality is reported ■ as satisfactory; Onions are still, in over supply, and sell at unusually ’.low prices. • Merchants are quoting £5 per ton ex store, and in the auction marts they can .be bought at from Is fid to' 2s per sugar - bag'. The oats market;is -steady, and firm. Very little chaff is coming from Canterbury. . Local imports are from Blenheim. Despite the reduced ' consumption, there would probably -be an acute shortage accompanied' by very high prices but for the fact that merchants have been able to arrange . for monthly shipments from Tasmania,, the first. ,of which is due next week. At this time of the year, when thc soutHern wheat crop becomes available, merchants look for lower prices,' but prices continue firm. To-day’s quotations aVe 7s 9d per bushel, ex store. The local market is still well supplied with South African maize, and there is a ready demand at fis 9d to 6s lOd per bushel. There is no change in the market for bran, but further orders are not being taken for pollard from Australia. Substantial quantities have been purchased for tho Dominion in recent months, and apparently the surplus has now been absorbed. - The local prico has been increased to £lO per ton. Wholesale current prices are:— Pollard and bran: Mill prices, pollard, £9 ‘los per tori; bran, £3 per ton; merchants’ prices, Australian pollard, £lO per ton. .' . I-' •

Oats: Feed B Gartons, 4s lOd per bushol; A Gartons, , ss; clipped Dunns, 6s 9d; clipped Algerians, 6s 6d ; clipped Gartons, 5s 3d. Fowl wheat: 7s 9d per bushel. Maize: 6s 9d, 6s lOd, ex store. Barley: Feed, 5s 9d per bushel; seed Capo barley, 6s 6d per bushel. Maize meal: 14s to 14s 6d per. 1001 b. Barlfcy meal: 13s per 1001 b. . ' Chaff: G. 8.0.5., £lO 15s. per ton. Blenheirn or Canterbury; Tasmanian, £9 15s. Potatoes: £8 ex store. Pukekore, on trucks, £7. Onions: ■ Pukekore, £4 10s per ton; on trucks, ->£s ■ 10s ex store. '

• v AUSTRALIAN LOANS.; . NEW”YORK, April 7. Sales of Australian loans on Wall Street to-day compare with those of a week ago as follow: Mar. 31. April 7.

freezing trouble. NORMAL WORKING AT BURNSIDE Per Press Association. v DUNEDIN, April 8. After two days of “go slow”, the boards gt tho Burnside freezing works are now' working at normal rate, and it is not anticipated that the trouble at • Finegarid, where the men are on strike,' will have any serious effect at Burnside. In' the meantime, the “go slow” policy adopted on Friday, in sympathy with workers at Balclutha works, has ceased. Yesterday, men on the Burnside boards held a stop work meeting from 8.15 a,m-. -to 10.30- a. m.f. and, after the employers’ side was presented to them, they decided to resume work at the normal pace immediatelyThe tactics of the men since Friday caused a reduction in killings of about 3000 sheep. The hold-up at the works, however, was not serious, as when the trouble was first sighted the company necessarily restricted delivers*.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS AND PRICES. Only two sales wore recorded on tho Wellington Stock Exchange yesterday and both were of New Zealand Breweries at 50s. The demand was again good for the preferred- shares, with a scarcity of sellers. Government securities wero firmer. The 4£ per cent, stocks and bonds (1938 and 1939) at £97 7s 6d wero 2s 6d higher, tho 5£ per cent. (1933) were unchanged at £99 ss; tho 5£ per cents. (1936) were also unchanged at £99 2s 6d. Tho 5£ per cent, stocks (1941) wore wanted at £97 7s 6d. Wellington Harbour Board 4i per cents. (1946) wore iri demand at £B3 7s 6d. There wero no sellers of any of these stock. Bank shares wero again in strong demand. Bank of Australasia were firm at £l2, with sellers at £l2 10s. Commercial Bank of Australia at 21s lOd wero 3d higher. English, Scottish and Australian Bank at £6 12s and National Bank of New Zealand at £6 were steady and unchanged. National Bank of Australasia, £lO paid, were up Is at £ls, but tho £5 paid were unchanged at £7 9s. Bank of New South Wales wero 2s 6d better at £39. Bank of Now Zealand were steady, the ordinary at 58s and the long term at 265. Union Bank were wanted at £ll 19s, but sellers asked £l2 4s. Goldsbrough Mort and Co. were 3d down at 31s; Wright, Stephenson ordinary wero 6d bettor at 20 s 9d. Wellington Gas, ordinary, wore 3d higher at 30s, but tho preference wero unchanged at 17s. . National Insurance at 14s, and South British Insurance at 61s were steady. Wellington Meat Export, ordinary were again in firm demand at 7s, with no sellers. Huddart-Parker have had another advance of 3d to 37s 3d, but the bid has failed to attract sellers. Westport Coal were 3d easier at 30s 9d.' For Kauri Timber 12s 6d was bid. Crown Brewery were firm at 83 6d, but Now Zealand Breweries at 49s 9d were 9d lower than the previous bid. Burns, Philp and Co. were 6d up at 36s 9d. British Tobacco were wanted at 40s Id. Electrolytic Zinc preference were 5d lower at 27s 6d. There were' bids of 66s for New Zealand Drug, 19s for New Zealand Farmers’ Fertiliser, and 38s 8d for Wilson’s Cement. YESTERDAY’S QUOTATIONS.

YESTERDAY’S ALES. ' The following sales were recorded on the Stock Exchanges <sf the Dominion yesterday : ' Wellington.—New Zealand Breweries (two), £2 10s. • Auckland. —Commercial Bank of Australia, £1 2s; National Bank of New Zealand, £6 ss; National Bank of Australasia, £ls 2s; Bank of New South Wales, £39. Bank of New Zealand, £2 18s 6d, £2 19s. Auckland Gas, £1 3s 6d; National Timber, 8s 3d; British Tobacco, £2; Electrolytic Zinc, £1 7s; Farmers’ Trading, 8s 7d; Waihi, 14s; Mount Lyell, £1 14s 3d; Wilson’s Cement, £1 19s 3d. Christchurch. —Commercial Bank ioi • Australia, £1 Is <lod, £1 Is lid; Bank of New Zealand (cum. div.), £2 18s 6d; ■. United Building Society (2), 14s 3d; New Zealand Breweries (4), £2 10s 3d; British Tobacco (3), £2 Os 3d; Electro Zinc (ord.), £1 6s 9d; Electro Zinc (pref.), £1 7s 6d; Mount Lyell, £1 14s 7d. Sales reported: Australian Bank of Commerce, £1 5s 6d; New Zealand Breweries (late sale "Monday), £2 10s 3d; Commercial Bank of Australia, £1 Is lid; Union Bank (2), £l2 Is. Dunedin.—Sales reported, Melbourne Lime and Cement, £1 14s, £1 14s 3d. AUSTRALIAN WHEAT POOL. f CANBERRA, April 8. A bill to create a compulsory Australian wheat pool, with a guaranteed price for wheat, was debated on the second reading in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister for Markets, Mr Parker Molony, emphasised the need for organisation, otherwise Australian growers would be liable to be squeezed out by world combinations now operating, of which the Government had inside knowledge. The objects of the bill arc to regulate overseas marketing and export, obtain tho best freight terms, apopint overseas agents, and also regulate trade between the States. The debate was not conculdcd. RAW MATERIALS. LONDON, April 7. Friday's closing prices for the following raw materials were as follow, those for Mrach .29 being given in parentheses: . Cotton. —Liverpool quotation, American middling^upland May delivery, 8.53 d per lb (B.iid)., Rubber. —Para, (same); plantation, smoked, 7 9-16 d per lb (7 il-16d). Jute.—April-May shipment, £24 10s per ton (£24 6s 3d). Hemp.—None offering. Copra.—April-May shipment. South Sea, £2O 12s 6d per ton (£2O 10s); plantation, Rabaul, £2O 15e (£2O 17s 6d). _ Linseed oil —£41 per ton (£4O 10s). Turpentine—44s 6d per cwt (43s 9d). Osmiridium—Prices unchanged.

IMPORTATION OF STOCK. REMOVAL OF EMBARGO OPPOSED. Opposition to the movement on foot to lift the embargo on the importation of. stock was voiced at the monthly meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. Mr H. Bond' brought to tho notice of the meeting tho criticism of New Zealand beef cattle by Mr J. C. Cridland, a member of the Empire farmers’ touring party, who had urged the importation of fresh stock for breeding. Though he would like to import stock, he would not care to do so while they ran the risk of bringing in foot and mouth disease. Tho chairman (Mr 0. P. Lynch) stated that he had been in communication with Mr W. E. Crump, of Sussex, one of the visiting farmers, and that gentleman expressed surpri6o at Mr Cridland’s criticism, and said, in reference to the embargo : “Whatever you do, don’t relax your hold. If you had had foot-and-mouth disease here, nobody would have fought you harder than Mr Cridland.” Ho had seen Dr. Reakes, Chief Government Veterinarian, who said that all the stud stock that the Dominion wanted at present was Southdown sheep and Shorthorn cattle, the country being short in those respects. Mr Crump had told the chairman that ho had seen as good stock in New Zealand as anywhere in England, and that all that was necessary was to select and cull. Mr Crump had also asked where was the need of continually importing stock, and pointed out that the Isle of' Jersey had not imported a beast for a great many j’ears, yet the whole world drew upon its 6tock. On the motion of Mr Bond, seconded by Mr H. Denton, a motion objecting to the lifting of the embargo was carried. BRITISH CATTLE. NEW ZEALAND IMPORT ATIONS.Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April S. There is still no intention on the part of the Government to remove the present prohibition on the importation of cattle from Great Britain. Considerable criticism of the Government’s policy in this respect was made by members of the Empire farmers’ delegation during their recent visit, the contention being that . ample precautions .were taken in England to prevent the-spread' of - foot 'and mouth disease to New Zealand. The. attitude of the Government was defended yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. G.‘ W. Forbes.

Average increase in Height. Weight. 1927—Milk groups 1.470in. 3.6171b. Non-milk groups 1.212in. 2.9741b. 0.258in. 0.6431b. 1928 —Milk groups 1.459in. 3.5781b. Non-milk groups 1.181in. 2.4611b. * - 0.278in. 1.1171b. 1929 —Milk groups 1.402irtr 4.3041b. Non-milk groups 1.125in. 4.0001b.

Bales. Bales. Invercargill 20.377 27,694 Dunedin 43,702 47,542 Oamaru 3,475 2,372 Timaru 30,316 38.517 Christchurch . ....l..r 71,684 78,244 Blenheim .....* 3,752 3,930 Nelson 193 1,321 Wellington 82,519 108,908 Wanganui 28,969 49,323 New Plymouth, Waitara 1,066 1,060 Napier, Wairoa 71,167 106,976 Gisborne, Tokomaru Bay 28,484 29,020 Auckland, Opua 39; 963 53,186 Total, 9 months 425,667 548,093

April 3. Per ton. April 7. Per ton. Copper— £ s.'d. £ s. d. ■ Standard, spot ... 70 3 9 69 1 6 Standard forward 68 6 3 67 1 6 Electrolytic 83 10 0 85 10 U to 84 0 0 83 15 0 Wire bars 84 0 0 83 15 0 Lead — Spot ;...; 18 15 0 18 3 9 forward 18 16 10A 18 8 9 Spelter— Spot 18 5 0 17 6 3 Forward 18 17 6 18 17 6 Tin- - Spot ..... 164 12 6 162 6 3 Forward 166 3 9 164 3 9 Silver — Tune, per oz 19 3-16d 19|d Standard, per oz. . v20 15-16d

Dol. Dol. Commonwealth— 5 d.c. Jan.July, 1955 . 91 91* 5 n.c., Mar.-Sopt., 1957 . . 911 91* 4i p.c., May-Nov., 1925 . * 83£ New South Wales — 5 p.'c.:, Feb.-Aug., 1957 . . 88 881 5 p.c., Apr.-Oct., 1958 .. 87 J 88 Queensland— 6 n.c., Feb.-Aug., 1947 . . 101 * 7 p.c., Apr. Oct., 1942 . 1074 *No sale.

Buying and selling quotations at the final call on the • Wellington Stock hxchange yesterday were as follow: Buyers. Sellers. N.Z. GOVT. LOANS- £ s. d. £ f. d. 4i p.c. Stock and Bonds, 1939 and 1938 97 7 6 — 55 p.c. ditto, 1933 99 5 0 — 5A p.c. ditto, 1936 99 2 6 — 5i- p.c. Ins. Stk., 1941 97. 7 6 — 4£ p.c. Bonds, 1941 ... 97 7 6 — p.c. ditto, 1930 99 0 0 — DEBENTURES— Wellington Harbour Bd. , 4i p.c., 1946 7 6 —. Ditto 5£ p.c., 1940 — 99 0 0 Golden Buy Cement .. 0 14 10 — BANKS— Australasia 12 0 0 *12 10 0 Commercial of Aust. (ord.) 1 1 10 1 2 0 English, Scottish and Australian 6 12 0 — National of N.Z 6 0 0 — National ot Auatralama (£10) 15 0 0 15 5 0 Ditto (£5) 7 9 0 — New South Wales 39 0 0 — New Zealand 2 18 0 — Ditto (long tern]) 1 6 0 — Union of Australia ... 11 19 0 12 4 0 FINANCIAL— Goldsbrough Miort ... 1 11 0 1 12 0 Well. Invest., T. & A. — 0 11 6 Well. Trust and Loan — 7 4 0 Wright, Stephenson (ord.) 1 0 9 — Ditto ipref.) 0 15 6 — GAS— Wellington (ord.) 1 10 0 — Ditto (pref.) 0 17 0 — INSURANCE— National 0 14 0 — South British 3 1 0 3 2 6 MEAT PRESERVING— Well. Meat Ex. (ord.) 0 7 0 -• - N.Z. Refrigerat. (10s) — 0 5 3 TRANSPORT — Huddart-Parker (ord.) 1 17 3 — P. and O. stock 2 13 0 WOOLLEN— Wellington (ord.) — 6 0 0 Ditto (pref.) — 6 3 0 COAL— Westport . 1 10 9 — Westport-Stockhon (ord.) . 0 3 0 Ditto (pref.) 0 1 9 0 4 0 W aipa . — 0 14 0 TIMBER— Kauri 0 12 6 — Leyland-O’Brien — 1 10 0 National — 0 9 0 BREWERIES— Crown 0 3 6 — New Zealand 2 9 9 2 11 0 Tui — 3 15 0 MISCELLANEOUSBurns, Philp and Co. 1 16 9 — British Tobacco (Aust.) , (ord.) 2 0 1 2 0 b Dental and, Medical . — 0 13 6 Electro. Zinc (pref.) . 1 7 6 1 8 0 Holden’s Motor Bldrs. — 0 15 0 Howard Smith (ord.) — 0 17 9 N.Z. Drug 3 6. 0 *3 9 6 N.Z. Fanners’ Fertiliser 0 19 0 1 0 0 Sharland and Co. 1* (ord.) '• ’ 1 0 6 Wilson’s Cement 1 18 8 1 19 3 MINING— Mount Lyell 1 14 0 — Waihi 0 13 8 — *Ex dividend.