FARMING NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1809, 6 May 1921, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

(By "Agricola.") At 11io Westfleld (Auckland) fat stock market, on Wednesday, heavy prime steers sold from £l3 to £ls 10/, and lighter from £l2 to £l3 15/. Latest advices show thai the last consignment of cheese from the Mangahao Co-operative cheese company was graded at 93J points, which is distinctly creditable to the manager of the company.

It is proposed to close the Feilding freezing works to-morrow, unless further stock is offered.

'Considerable quantities of fat stock arc at present being railed from the Manawatu district, for the Auckland and Wellington markets.

The liner Port Victor will, load 31,000 freight carcases of meat from the Waitara freezing works at New Plymouth at the end of the present month.

Dr Cockayne recently visited Central Otago and conducted a series of experiments on several areas in the district. He claims to have had some wonderful results in some of the most arid parts of that country.

"Within a radius of live miles of Matamata, there are no fewer than 15,000 cows. They prove a veritable gold mine to the dhCfict," observed a Matamata farmer to a representative of the "Waikato Times."

In the course of an address at Masterton, Mr A. H. Cockayne, Chief of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, stated that the Department would be prepared to carry a certain quantity of Nauru rock phosphate, and other manures, to the Wairarapa free by rail for experimental purposes. The Department would also supply a quantity of seed, and would do its best to assist the movement.

The farmers of the Wairarapa find their men are amenable to reason. On one station in the Martinborough district the shepherds have consented 'to a reduction of £1 per wpek in their wages—from £2 10/ to £1 10/. Ploughmen have agreed to their wages being reduced from £3 to £2 10/ per week, and anticipate a further cut in the future. Other labourers accept reduced wages without demur to retain their positions.

Asked concerning the prospects of wheat growing in Sandon district, a prominent farmer stated that unfortunately wheat growing is not a good proposition. One great drawback is that there are not enough frosts, and another is the increased cost of production. During the war he said he and a partner had tried a crop at the Government rate of pay. The result was not a success, notwithstanding they put in the crop themselves. It would have paid them much better to, have done outside work with their teams.

The new demands of the Wellington Shearers' and Shed Hands' Union will probably open the eyes of tl-ie farmers if they open nothing else. The shearers are asking for a 44-hour week and 35/ a hundred with rations. Pressers a.re asking £5 per'week or 2/6 per hour. All other shed hands want £4 5/ per week or 2/3 per hour. The wages asked for by cooks are £5 10/ per week for 1.2 hands or under, and by cook's assistants £5 per week. Other demands made arc for i'ree grazing, a ration of not less than two lbs of butter per week, and jam, pickles, sauces and green vegetables twice weekly. These demands will be placed before the Conciliation Council on May. 10 in Wellington, but as it is not likely that an agreement will be come to, they will probably go later to the Arbitration Court. It is understood that the Sheepowners' Federation will conduct the case for the employers. TRUSTS AM) COMBINES. NO GOOD TO NEW ZEALAND. The Gisborne farmers take the lead in many attempts at reform. Lately their activities have, been centred in an -effort to prevent the operation of the big meat trusts against the interests of the farmers in this country. At. a representative public meeting of farmers, held last Saturday, the following resolution was unanimously carried: "That in the opinion of this meeting, the Government; should take immediate and effective steps to absolutely .stop the trust and big- combines from directly or indirectly buying or controlling- any freezing works in New Zealand, or operating in any way with our produce, and in particular to stop Armour and Co. and Vesty Bros, and the latters' various organisations from operating- in New Zealand in any manner howsoever in connection with our freezing- industry." .

The meeting also directed that a copy of tliis resolution be forwarded lo all executives of the Union in New Zealand, with the request that they have the matter considered by their respective blanches with the desire of obtaining their support to the resolution. Branches supporting: the resolution are to be asked to communicate to the Acting-Prime .Minister (Sir Francis Bell), and the Minister tor Agriculture (Hon. \V. Xosworthy) and their respective members for the district.

Jn the course of discussion on the question it was pointed out that the matter was a very serious one to the Dominion as a whole, and the movement deserved the hearty support of farmers. Jt. seemed clear that until the trusts and big combines specially referred to, were stopped from operating In this Dominion, there could be little hope of stabilising the market for products of the Dominion, upon which the prosperity or the whole country so largely depended. Tn this connection it was pointed out that the pastoral industry represented S 7 per cent, of the total exports. A letter embodying: the above report has been received by Mr.W. Hunter, secretary of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union, and the matter will be discussed by that body at its next meeting, and also at the annual provincial conference to be hold at Mnstertou on the 24th inst.