AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14809, 12 October 1911, Page 9

AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

THE MEAT TRADE.

INTERESTS OF DAIRY FARMERS. [Br TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington. Wednesday. The report of the Department of Agriculture was presented to Parliament to-day. The Minister reports a solid advancement in all branches of agricultural activity. Improved methods are being adopted,'and virgin lands are rapidly being made productive. Farmers, adds the report, are evidently realising the essential fact that in these days of keen market rivalry it will only pay to produce the highestpriced articles, and it is quality rather than quantity that must be their objective. , • ,

The meat trade comes in for considerable comment. It is stated that in the early months of this year • prices receded, the reason being disinclination to sell at ruling rates and consequent accumulation of stocks. Some holders of New Zealand meat apparently could not immediately clear at a profit, and stored in anticipation of an improved demand, a doubtful policy, especially with perishable produce. The Argentine people, educated on American principles, allowed their meat to pass automatically into consumption, irrespective of the ruling market values, a policy which enabled them net only to retain their connection, but to extend it to channels where our stored meat formerly had a connection, palpably a good thing for the Argentine shipper &nd a bad one for the New Zealand producer. Increasing competition among freezing concerns in certain sections of the. country has.led to prices practically, above a parity of London values being paid, and has in consequence curtailed the operations of the c.i.f. buyer. Rumours have been freely circulated of late to the effect that the American Meat Trust has been making inquiries in New Zealand with the object of extending its operations to this country. A close watch is being kept for any signs of the trust endeavouring to obtain, a foothold here.

It is stated that a steady advance is being made by the majority of our factories in the "quality of the butter and cheese manufactured. Unsatisfactory work has been noticeable, in a number of cases, but as the sources of this weakness are known I have, says the Minister, every reason to believe that with the assistance of officers of the Department these troubles will be rectified. As to the appointment of an expert to supervise shipments arriving at Home, he says the official's duty will be to examine our butter and cheese as it reaches the Home market, to note exactly how it opens out in London, and to provide an authoritative comparison with grading at this end and the quality of the produce as it reaches the market. Great benefit should accrue, he says, to the butter and cheese makers of the Dominion, and through them to the dairy farmers, as the result of this appointment. The report states that with ' increased attention being paid to longwool sheep in Australia the exportation of stud sheep from New Zealand mu3t increase both in volume and value. The flock book socie-» ties have not as yet instituted any system of inspection of sheep when exported as representatives of the pure breeds, and m view of developing trade with Australia the necessity for , the inspection of stud sheep becomes very great, as the trade must > suffer, and good breeders be handicapped if inferior sheep are sold to Australian farmers as being typical of the pedigree stock of this country.