FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 10, 9 December 1932, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

farm notes,

(By “Observer.”) . Phenomenally heavy crops of hay are being grown by most of the dairy farmers in the Manawatu district this year and the harvesting 1 operations aro being carried out much, earlier than in previous years. Owing to the economic stress few farmers are engaging labour for the harvesting operations and the work is being carried out on* community linos. The practice, however, involves the loss of much valuable time as, due to the generally heavy crops, more labour is required to handle the winter fodder than in past seasons when crops were lighter. Again, many farmers have made ensilage this season and will probably mow for hay in the early autumn. As a result of Nature’s generosity, stock should be well provided for next winter both in ensilage and hay. In meet localities the flush period for dairy cows has passed, the peak in production being experienced towards the end of November. However, given favourable weather the present production should be maintained for some . considerable time yet. It is fortunate that most farmers have substantially increased their production as the additional supply has to a degree offset the effects of the depressed prices obtaining. It must be conceded that, despite the improvement in the quantity of supply, the farmer’s income is much lower than in previous years. The position of dairy farmers who have depended entirely upon butterfat as their source of income is unenviable. Although the bacon and pork prices are not as high as one would like, the revenue derived from the rearing of pigs is a material help to the dairy farmer who cannot afford v to neglect any avenue of revenue. A feature which ia causing general comment at present is the difference in value of New Zealand butter and Danish. Earlier in the season there was little difference, but for eomo reason or other the gap has widened considerably of late and a full explanation of the cause would bo most interesting.

FAT EXPORT LAMBS.

COMPETITION AT WOODVILLE.

The competition arranged by the Woodville A. and P. Association to* select export lambs to compete for the New Zealand Meat Board’s competition took place at the Woodville saleyards on Monday, a good number of local farmers being present. There were twelve pens submitted, all being of excellent quality. The judge, Mr T. C. Cornford, of Pahiatua, had difficulty in making his awards, and he complimented the owners upon the splendid condition-of the lambs. The placings were as follow: Woodville Jockey Club 1; Mr J. C. Bolton 2; Mr R. Cunningham’s 3. • * The total entries comprisedMr J. L. Bolton (2 pens); Mr W. C. Cunningham (2); Mr R. Cunningham (1); Mr F. Ormond (2); Woodville Jockey Club (1); Mr R. G. Smith (2); Mr W H. Gaisford (2). The lambs were trucked to Whakatu freezing works, where they will be judged again in the hooks before being exported. LONDON WOOL SALES.

AVERAGE PRICES.

Tho Bank of New Zealand’s produce department has received advice from its London office dated December 7 that current values of wool of fifties quality and below are now fully a halfpenny cheaper. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., and Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report having received cabled advice from their London houso as follows: —Wool sales continued: Wo quote the following averago prices:—Greasy fine crossbred, 46-48’s, yielding 74 per cent., 6d per lb; greasy medium crossbred, 44-46’s yielding "75 per cent., sd; greasy crossbred, 40-44’s, yielding 76 per cent. 4Jd; greasy coarse crossbred, 36-40’s, yielding 77 per cent., 4£d; medium and coarso slipe wool prices, 5 per cent, lower. SYDNEY WOOL SALES.

GOOD CLEARANCES MADE.

SYDNEY, Dec. 8. At the -wool sales to-day 11,078 bales were offered, of which 10,018 were sold at auction, 1832 being disposed of priAll"' sections competed freely, especially the Japanese, for averago fleece lines. The market was firm, and good clearances were made Greasy Merino made up to 16id. ' '

DAIRY PRODUCE.

MARKETS INACTIVE.

Under date December 7, W. Woddel and Co., Ltd., London, report as follows: Danish butter, 119 s to 120 s; New Zealand finest, 82s to 84s; Kangaroo, 81s to 84s. Marke.t weak. New Zealand white cheese, 60s to -61 s; coloured, 60s to 61s. Market weak. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., Ltd., have received the following advice from their London house, dated December 7: —Dairy Produce (last week’s figures in parentheses) : Butter, New Zealand choicest salted, 83s to 84s per cwt. (89s). Market weak. Cheese, white, 60s to 61s per cwt. (64s to 665) ; coloured, 59s to 60s per cwt. Market slow.

LEVIN COMPANY’S MONTHLY ADVANCE.

The directors of the Levin Co-operative Dairy Company have fixed the advance for November supplies of butterfat at Bid per lb. The peak of production for the Levin factory was reached at tho end of November, and has now been passed. The need, for rain bus been felt throughout the district, as the prevalence of westerly winds, mostly unaccompanied by moisture, has had a drying effect on -the pastures.

DAIRY PRODUCTION.

LARGE INCREASE FOR NOVEMBER.

WELLINGTON, Deo. 8. Tho marked increases in the production of butter and cheese revealed by the November grading returns are evidence of the unusually favourable spring this year; but unfortunately tho growth of production is coincident with record low prices for butter on the London market.

The butter graded last month showed an increase of nearly 30 per cent, on November of last year. Cheese was up by well over 21 per cent. For the four months of the current season butter gradings havo increased by 23.58 per cent., and cheese by 17.39 pjor cent., the equivalent in butterfat being an increase of well over 22 per cent., compared with the corresponding period of last year. The figures of the Dairy Division, Department of Agriculture, show that tho salted butter graded for November, 1932, was 18,188 tons, and the unsaltcd 734 tons, a total of 18,922 tons, compared with 14,331 tons salted and 254 tons unsalted, a total of 14,585 tons for November of last year; an increase of .29.74 per cent. For tho four months ended November, 1932, the respective quantities were 45,670 tons and 1422 tons, a total of 47,092 tons, compared with 37,294 tons and 812 tons, a total of 38,106 tons for the corresponding period of tho preceding season, an increase of 23.58 per cent.

Tho cheese graded for November, 1932, comprised: White 11,385 tons, coloured 3710 tons, a total of 15,095 tons, compared with 8589 tons white and 3852 tons coloured, a total of 12,441 tons for November, 1931, an increase of 21.33 per cent. The quantities for the four- months ended November, 1932, were white 21,825 tons, coloured 7557 tons, a total of 29,382 tons, compared with 16,421 tons white and 8607 tons coloured, a total of 25,028 tons for tho corresponding period of the preceding season, an increase of 17.39 per cent. Converting these figures into butterfat equivalent there is an increase of 22.143 per cent, in butterfat production for the four months compared with the corresponding period of tho 1931-32 season. Stocks of dairy produce held in store at Dominion grading ports at November 30 compare as follow: — 30-11-32 30-11-31 Inc. Tons. Tons. Tons. ; Butter 10.876 8,812 2,064 j Cheese 9,825 7.738 2,087

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS.

When the Ottawa Agreements Bill was under discussion in the House of Commons, Mr D. Grenfell, a Labour member, moved an amendment to exclude from tariff protection, butter, cheese, eggs and milk. Ho said these duties could not be justified on the grounds of necessity. If the object was to encourage homo production of these commodities and diminish imports, how could that help the Dominion producer, who was, in the main, responsible for the large volume of the imports of these commodities? Protection for the home and Dominion producer would be a premium upon inefiiciency, and the cost would have paid by people who received no protection at all. Mr Batey (Labour— Spennymoor) said people wore being told in effect that they must use Dominion butter instead of Danish, unless they paid more for the latter. During the recess Dominion butter was used in his household, but only once. Mrs Ward (Unionist—Stafford, Cannock) : We always use New Zealand butter, and it is perfectly good and wholeMr Batey: It is all a matter of taste. Mr E Evans (Liberal— University of Wales) said the Government was putting a duty on commodities which entered every household, without any good either to the cosumer or producer of the commodities in this country. There was no doubt that ultimately the duty must raise the price to the consumers. As for the 1 home producer of such commodities, he would derive no benefit from the duty, aa he suffered more from Dominion than ! from foreign competition. Mr Perkins . (Unionist—Stroud) said that, under the shelter of these tariffs the British farmer, within threp or . , OU J years, would bo able, without the aid of any Empire farmer, to provide the needs of the British market for eggs and milk. Another speaker said that if the Goverment was honest it would say ' that prices must be raised for a considerable time as the result of duties on these commodities.

FROZEN MEAT.

MARKET quiet.

M. A. Eliott, Ltd., havo reccivod cablo advico from Gordon, Woodroffo and Co., Ltd., London, of tho following Smithfiold prices for tho week oiiding December 8, 1932, these prices aro on tho “delivered’’ basis, that is, including storage charges, cartago, etc.:—Best North Island prime lambs, undor 3ff 36-42 42-50, not quoted; ordinary North Island lambs, under 42, second quality under 42, not quotod; best North Island wothers and/or maidon ewes, 48-56 and 56-64 4£d, 64-72 and over 72 4id; ordinary North Island wethers and/oi maiden cwos 48-56 and 56-64 48d, 64-72 and over 72 4^d; North Island ewes, undor 64 3pd, 64-72 and over 72 2Jd. Prices aro nominally unchanged. Tho market is quiot owing to thero being no improvement in tho demand.

LEVIN SALE,

Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report good yardings in all sections at their weekly Levin sale on Tuesday. There was a bettor demand at late rates: —Sheep: Fat wethers 11s 9d, fat ewes 6s. 7d, light b.f. lambs 8s 4d. Cattle: Fat cows £2 10s, £2 15s, £3 ss, light fat bullocks, £5, forward cows 235, 265, 30s, store cows 14s, 16s, 17s, 19s, heifers r.w.b. £2, £2 ss, cow in milk £3, cow at drop £5.- Pigs: Weaners 10s, 11s, 12s 6d, slips 14s,- 15s 6d, 16s fid, stores 17s, 18s, 18s 6d, light pork 20s 6d, 225, 235. 255, medium do. 265, 275, 27s 6d, heavy do. 28s, 295, 30s, 31s, choppers 20s, 295, 30s, 335, sow and litter £2 7s 6d.

WELLINGTON MARKETS.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 'B. The following prices of grain and other produce are quoted : Wheat: GAV.F. wheat, 5s 4d to 5s lOd a bushel. Flour: F.o.b. South Island ports, 200 lb sacks £l3 12s a ton, 100’s bags £l4 12s, 50’s bags £l4 17a, 25’s bags £ls 7s; ox store, Wellington, sacks £l6 2s 6d, 100’s £l7 2s 6d, 50’s £l7 7s 6d, 25’s £l7 17s 6d. Pollard: i-ton lots or over, £6 5a a ton. Bran: 1-ton lots or over, £5 7s 6d. Chaff: Prime Blenheim, £6 7s 6d per ton. Oats: Machine-dressed and clipped Algerians, 3s 9d a bushel; Dues, 4s 3d and 5s 2d a bushel; Gartons, 3s 9d to 4s a bushel; black seed oats, 4s 6d. Peas : Partridge. 7s to 7s 6d a bushel; Prussian Blue, 7s 3d a bushel. Barley, hulled, 4s 9d a bushel; clipped English feed barley, 3s 9d a bushel. Maize: South African, crushed, 4s lOd bushel; whole, 5s 9d bushel. New potatoes: 5s to 6s per cwt. Canadian onions: 13s per orate; ip bags, 12s a bag.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES,

Prices of fruit, vegetables and other produce sold in the Wellington markets are also reported as follow: Apples: Sturmers, 8s 6d to 10s 6d ; Delicious, 5s fid to 9s 6d ; Dohertys, 4s 6d to 6s fid. Winter Cole pears, 8s fid to 10s. Local lemons,. 9s to 10s. All these per bushel. Californian grapes, 28s a barrel. Gooseberries, l£d to 2d per lb. Red Currants, 3s 4d to 3s 6d per tin. Cherries, 8s to 12s a box. Hot house tomatoes : Red, 7d to 7Jd; coloured, 53d to 6jd per lb. Cherry and bronze plums, 3s 6d to 4s a half-case.

Pukekohe new potatoes : 2s 6d to 2s 9d per bag. Canadian onions: 9s per bag and 11s per crate. Nelson peas: 5s to 6s per bag. Local potatoes: 4s 6d to 5s 6d per bag. New-laid eggs; Is: storekeepers’ and second-grade lines, lid per dozen. Separator butter: Pats, 61d; bulk, to fid per lb. Californian oranges (arriving Monday), 41s a case.

New Zealand Fowl Wheat: 5s 6d per bushel, sacks in. Blenheim chaff, . £6 15s per ton.

FARMING NEWS.

RURAL RAKINGS.

Tho recent announcement by the Prime Minister of his intention bo discuss with the Cabinet the question of investigating the problom of rates on native land ' has brlought a gleam of hope to the Waitomo County Council, which loses approximately £SOOO per annum through non-payment of nativo rates. Tho King Country natives were exempt from rates for a period of three years under the consolidated scheme, but rates became again due in March, 1931, when the natives defaulted. A simple device for determining the exact temperature inside a bale of wool, and thus eliminating fire risks when wool is stored in ships’ holds, has been invented by an Auckland engineer. The device consists of a special wire which is threaded through tho centre of the bale and when each end of the wire is attached to a pyrometer, a measuring instrument registering in degrees Fahrenheit, the interior temperature of tho bale is immediately indicated. „ ' ~ Through the courtesy of Mr J. T. May, Mayfield, Lochiel, the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture intends to carry out an experiment on lamb feed. With that end in view there has already been sown an area of each of the following:—(1) Buda kale rape type; (2) Buda kale cabbage type; (3) Rape kale early typo; (4) Maori cabbage. When the trial is ready for feeding it is hoped to start with the same number of lambs on each block, eliminating the fat lambs as they are ready, and ultimately finding out the carrying capacity of the various types under trial, says the Otago Daily Times. . m How ragwort was introduced into lnranaki was recently explained. An Inglewood lady, innocent that she was about to make very bad history, cultivated one of the plants, which was considered choice enough to havo a flower pot all to itself and a favoured position. Visitors admired the plant, and as it multiplied were favoured with plants to take home, and soon the ragwort was disseminated far and wide. Now it is one of the worst pests the farmers havo to deal with. The variegated thistle, which is becoming a nuisanco in parts of Hawke’s Day, no doubt made its start from a flower garden. “All sheep have been shorn with tho exception of tho white faced lambs,” stated the principal of Massey College (Professor G. s. Peren) in his report to the governing council yesterday. They came out of the wooL in excellent condition and the clip itself shows a marked improvement. The total number .of bales is fortysevon to which will be added the lambs wool and several bales which were used for tho wool classing course last winter. The staff and students shore approximateIv one thousand 6lieop ; the remainder some seven hundred, were shorn with professional labour.”

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS AND PRICES.

Little or no improvement was shown m the stock and share market yesterday and thero was a marked scarcifi/ of buyers. Seven sales were rocorded, but five of theso wore made late on Wednesday. There were, however, numerous sellers, many of whom showed a disposition to lower their prices. The gilt-ecigod market continued in the doldrums. Sales of the 4j per cent., 1938, bonds and stock at £93 were made late on Wednesday. Yesterday buyers raised their bids 5s to £92 15s for tho stock, sellers asking £93 10s. Bids for the. 5i per cents., February and September, 1937, improved 10s to £9/ 10s. Thero was again no demand for local body debentures. Wellington Gas 6£ per cents. were steady at £99 ss. Banks were very inactive with an easing tendency. New Zealands sold lato on Wednesday at 435, were wantod yesterday at 42s lOd, cum. dividond. Sellers of Australasias eased 2s 6d to £9 ss, Commonwealth of Australian wore available at 13s lid, and Union of Australia 4s lower at £7 Bs. Investors showed no interest in tho financial section. New Zenlandlnvestment, Mortgage and Deposit were sought at 7s 3d, scllors asking 8s Now Zealand Guarantee Corporations were offering more cheaply at 4s lOd and New Zealand Loon and Mercantiles £1 lower at £52. Christchurch Gas, fully paid, were 3d easier at 245. A feature of tho insurance section was the easing tendency of South British. A sale was reported at 52s 3d, compared with 57s a month ago. Late buyers were offering 51s 6d, sellers at 53s 6d. Queensland Insurance were available at 48s. A.P.A.’s firmed 3d to 5s 3d, sellers staying at 6s 9d. Westport Coals were easier at 10s, sellers 11? 6d. Colonial Sugars had a sale at £46 12s 6d late on Wednesday, and nioro wero wanted yesterday at £46 ss. Wilson’s Cement wero in rtftjuest at 295, sellers 30s 6d. A month ago they changed hands ut 32s 6d to 32s 9d. Woolworth’s (N.Z.) preference were steady at 27s 6d.

YESTERDAY’S QUOTATIONS.

Buying and selling quotations at yesterday’s final call on the Wellington Stock Exchange were as follow :

NATIONAL BANK. 4 PER CENT. TAX FREE DIVIDEND. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. The general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand has received a cablegram from his London office, stating that the Board of Directors have authorised tho payment of an interim dividond for the half-year ended September 30, at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum free of tax, and payable in Now Zealand on January 7, 1933.

Buy ors Sellers. N.Z. GOVT. LOANS— £ s d. £ s. d. 4j, p.c. Bond3, 1938 ... — 93 10 0 Si p.c. ditto, Feb, 1937 97 10 0 . 5£ p.c. ditto, Sop, 1937 97 10 0 — p.o. Stock, 1938 92 15 0 93 10 0 5i p.c. ditto, 1933 — 99 5 0 5i p.c. ditto, 1937 — 96 0 0 DEBENTURES— Palmerston N.. 6 p.c.. 1945 Makerua Drainage, 6 p.c 99 10 0 1946 — 96 0 0 Christchurch Drainage, 5i p.c., 1965 — Waitomo E.P. Bd., 6 p.c.. 97 10 (T 1961 • 99 10 0 Wellington Gas Co. ... 99 5 0 — BANKS— Australasia — 9 5 0 Comm, of Aust., ord. — 0 13 11 Nat. of Australasia. £10 paid tlO 5 0 — New South Wales ... • 27 10 0 New Zealand *2 2 10 — Ditto, long term *1 9 0 — Union of Aust — 7 8 0 FINANCIAL— Equitable Building ... — 4 10 .0 Goldsbrough, Mort. ... — 1 1 0 National Mortgage ... — 1 15 0 N.Z. Guar. Gorp., ord. — 0 4 10 N.Z. Invest., Mort. and Deposit 0 7 3 0 8 0 N.Z. Loan and Merc. — 52 0 0 Well. Invest., T. & A. — 0 7 9 Well. Dep. and Mort. — 0 8 0 GAS— Christchurch 1 4 0 — Ditto, contrib 0 11 0 — Wellington, ord — 1 10 0 INSURANCE— Aust. Prov. Asece 0 5 3 0 6 9 Queensland — 2 8 0 South British 2 11 6 2 13 6 MEAT PRESERVING— Gear — 1 9 6 N.Z. Refrig., 10s paid 0 2 11 — WOOLLEN— Wellington, ord — 5 6 6 COAL— Westport 0 10 0 0 11 6 TIMBER— Kauri 0 11 0 — National — 0 7 0 Taringamutu — 0 5 0 BREWERIES— Carlton — 1 13 9 N.Z. Breweries »I 5 0 1 6 0 Staples and Co • ■1 3 0 Tooth and Co. — 1 12 6 MISCELLANEOUS— British Tobacco, ord. — *1 10 6 Burns. Philp — 2 5 0 Colonial Sugar 46 5 0 — Dominion Investments 1 1 0 — Electro. Zinc, pref. . — 1 5 6 N.Z. Drug — 3 0 0 National Electric N 3 0 0 Well. Queen’s Theatre — 1 1 6 Wilson’s Cement 1 9 0 1 10 6 Woolworths, pref 1 7 6 — OIL— Moturoa — 0 4 3 T'aranaki 0 2 0 — MINING— Blackwater — *1 3 6 Consol. Goldfields .... *0 9 0 0. 9 6 Golden Dawn U 5 0 — King Solomon 0 2 3 . Mount Lyell — *1 0 0 Paddv’s Point Waihi 0 4 8 — 0 19 0 0 19 4 Waihi Grand Junction 0 3 4 — Big River 0 0 *Cum. dividend. 9 0 1 1