A New Zealand Fanner Abroad

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 3

A New Zealand Fanner Abroad

IMPRESSIONS OF MR C. G. C. DERMER Some interesting impressions gained on his recent tour abroad were given by Mr C. G. C. Dernier at a meeting yesterday of the executive of the Manawatu and West Coast Dairy Companies’ Association. Speaking first of the island of Jersey, Mr Dernier said cattle were a sideline, the main products being potatoes and tomatoes, of which an enormous amount was sent away. He was conviccd that New Zealand’s classification system was better than that on the island. He had seen the island show, but at New Plymouth a few weeks ago, he had seen a show that was just as good. They did not have tho older cattle on Jersey. After seeing the intensive cultivation on the continent, it was a bit of a disappointment to see the contrast in England. The only place where he had seen good crops was in the Fens district, in Cambridgeshire. The grazing methods were very antiquated in comparison with those in New Zealand; they never thought of keeping the pastures down and very little topdressing seemed to be done. The fanners seemed to have an inferiority complex and to be under the impression that they could not make money even if they tried. At the English shows and on the stud farms could be seen tho best stock in the world, but on the smaller farms there was only rubbish. They seemed to breed for export and apparently would not keep the best stock. The same thing seemed to apply to their sheep, which seemed to have more Junr than wool. They had some fine Jerseys in England, and much more testing was done than on the island. A type of Jersey which gave a large quantity of milk was being developed, for the reason that there was a big market for milk. The English farmer’s attitude was very pessimistic; he had been told by one farmer that the more cattle he kept, the more he would lose. The marketing system was an ideal one, and there was not the slightest doubt that whatever happened to the dairy industry, they would never go back on the system they had. Produce agents at Home were quite satisfied with the system, but they were afraid—and lie thought they had ground for this—that the Marketing Department or the Dairy Board would want to take over their side of the business. He thought this would happen eventually, but if they were wise, it would not be yet. At Smithtield and other places he had learned that New Zealand pigs were quite satisfactory, the only complaint being lack of grading. New Zealand chilled meat was also very popular, but the colour of some of it was uot quite right, owing to gas in connection with the chilling. It looked as if the chilled beef trade was going to be a success. As'far as our lambs were concerned, oue got a feeling by talking to the retailors that the quality was slipping. Smithfield did not say so definitely, but ~ey did not contradict this. New Zealand must see that quality was kept up because Australia and other countries were.trying to catch (is. It had been wonderful to see the English Royal Show. Twenty-two breeds of cattle were shown, but most of them were no use at all. The sheep were very much faked, more so than ours out here. Dozens of the breeds had no value, and he did not know why j they were kept. Speaking in regard to the embargo on stock, Mr Dermer said he had managed, after a great deal of trouble, to have a look at the quarantine station, and he was perfectly satisfied that there was not the slightest danger on the score of foot and mouth disease. Their regulations were very stringent, and there had never been a case in the quarantine station or ono.go through it. In concluding, Mr Dermer said he thought a good farmer from New Zealand would probably make a success of it in England, but he would find there were some things to learn, particularly about the climate. On tho motion of the chairman, Mr S. A. Broadbelt, Mr Dermer was accorded the thanks of the executive.