CANADIAN WHEAT CROP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19721, 22 August 1927, Page 7

CANADIAN WHEAT CROP.

LOSSES BY FROST AND RUST.

LESS THAN WAS ESTIMATED. (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. WINNIPEG, Aug. 20. Steady sunshine in the prairie provinces is dissipating fears of damage to the wheat crops by the recent frosts. Wheat cutting generally has been resumed. Scores of correspondents report that the Chicago estimate of damage by the frosts in Saskatchewan as one-fifth of the total crop is not confirmed. The losses through frost and rust will actually bo confined to a few scattered fields in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. DISEASE' IN POTATOES, TUBERS FROM TASMANIA. CLOSE INSPECTION SYSTEM. The Victorian Under-Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. G. D. Ross, in a recent statement regarding the recent reports of the discovery of corky scab disease in Victoria in a consignment of potatoes from Tasmania, said the position was being watched. Potato growers in the Goul burn and Crookwell districts had appealed to the department for all necessary steps to be taken to protect the industry in the State from possible disease infection from Tasmania. The potatoes arriving here from the island State have been carefully inspected all through the season as far as possible, and nothing to arouse the slightest suspicion. has been detected, the tubers being prime, clean samples generally. For a month past potatoes have not been admitted from Tasmania to Vjftoria, although actually prohibition has not been acclaimed. "That precautionary action was taken by the Victorian Government following the discovery of corky scab disease in a consignment of 40 tons of seed potatoes, which went td the Western districts, and part of which were planted before they were traced. The plant pathologist of the Victorian Department of Agriculture was deputed to make investigations before further action, if any, was taken. New South Wales, said Mr. Ross, was awaiting that report before moving in the matter beyond exercising the greatest care in the inspection of shipments from Tasmania. The biologists of the department were -uncertain as to the identity of a corky scab disease. THE MATCH INDUSTRY. AUSTRALIAN DEPRESSION. EFFECT OF THE IMPORTS. An analysis of the importations of wooden matches over a period of three years reveals how overseas competition is gradually, but effectively, retarding the Australian match industry, says the Melbourne Age. In 1925 1,265,387 gross of wooden matches, valued at £227,279, were imported into the Commonwealth The value per gross was 3s 7d. In 1926 the imports were 1,562,725 gross,' valued at £260,822, the value per gross being 3s 4d. In the eleven months ended May, 1927, the importations were 1,192,566 gross, valued at £183,216, the value per gross being 3s Id. The significance of these figures, Mr., F. J. Riley, secretary of the Manufacturing Grocers' Union, states, is that while foreign made snatches continue to pour into the Commonwealth, the value per gross has fallen sixpence. This indicates that the foreign match maker is determined to control the Australian match market by reducing the cost per gross landed in Australia. Gener ally speaking, the public have not benefited by the reduction in the wholesale prices of the foreign made matches, but there is no doubt that the importers and middlemen have -reaped extensively in this price cutting war and that it is this reduced price that is causing some retailers to push the foreign articles in preference to the Australian [t would be interesting to know, Mr. Riley says, the rebates and commissions paid on these imported matches. At the present time the match industry is stagnating. One match factory, it is reported, will cease operations this month, and will not open again. Another factory has dispensed with more than half the employees, while the largest match factory in the Commonwealth has its machinery working at half capacity. At the present time fewer than 600 workers are engaged and at least three times the number should be working in the industry. The Age says: —"As the Australian match and match box are made almost wholly from Australian-made materials, a definite policy should be determined upon to protect the industry from the competition of countries where the wages and .conditions are not comparable with those obtaining in Australia. There is little doubt that the match combine of Central Europe has begun a determined campaign to smash the Australian industry. This is proved by the lack of trade and the figures showing the importations." AUSTRALIAN GASLIGHT CO. DIVIDEND OF 8 PER CENT. The annual report of the Australian Gaslight Company reveals a profit of £291,914, compared with £259,168 for the previous year. .In the interval capital, has advanced by £240,000, and is now the full amount authorised, £3,600,000. A dividend of 8 peVlfcent., terim dividend, accounts for £282,756, and against £27,112 brought into the account a sum,of £36,270 is carried forward. This year profits shown exceed the distribution, whereas the two previous years the dividends slightly exceeded the net profits. AMERICAN COTTON CROP. ESTIM ATES OF THE YIELD.

A message from Washington, dated Bth inst.., reports that the United States Department of Agriculture predicts that the present cotton crop will give a yield of 13,492.000 bales. The yield last year was 17,977,347 bales. An earlier report stated that rains had occurred in many areas in Texas, and that the drought had been partially relieved, but that further rains in the Mississippi and Arkansas and cold showers in the Atlantics, where also an increased boll weevil menace was expected, had occasioned an increase in prices. It was thought in some quarters that the rainfall in Texas had aecurred when the season was too far advanced. and that an acreage which last year produced nearly 2.000."000 bales of cotton might this year produce not more than 30 to 50 per cent, of this quantity. On the "subsidence of the first flood in the Mississippi Valley about 1,000.000 acres were replanted, but these were again flooded, and it might be too late to obtain a crop, from that district. In the Atlantics the crop was fairly satisfactory.