AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 17

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

The South African wool clip for the 1932-33 season is estimated at 301,000,0001b. Practically all old stocks having been cleared, the current season opened with a clean slate. A mid-Canterbury farmer states that for nine, bales of C'orriedale wool, passed in at 9|d at tho first Christchurch sale in December he received per lb. at the second sale. The pay-out of 7d mado for the December supply and the November pay-out of 8d are the lowest payments ever received in the memory of South Canterbury dairy farmers. The highest pay-out was 2s 7d. Returns prepared by the International Institute of Agriculture show that the aggregate shipments of wool from the principal exporting countries during the year ended August 31, 1932, amounted to 2,126,000,000ib. compared with 2,146,000,0001b. in the previous season. A Parewanui (Rangitikei) farmer recently consigned several trucks to the freezing works but by some mischance the trucks were delayed on their way to the works. When the lambs finally reached their destination the price of the stock had gone up to sd, the net result of the day bringing in £6O extra to the owner of the lambs. The Crown Tenants' Association recently wrote to the Canterbury Sheepfarmers' Federation suggesting the compulsory grading of all wool by expert classers at main shipping points, with a view to tho wool boing sold on grade instead of auctioned as at present. In discussion on the matter, the opinion was expressed that tho proposal was impracticable under present conditions in New Zealand, and it was decided to take no action. On account of thn prolific growth of grass in Canterbury this season precautionary measures against fires are being taken. Some weeks ago the Ashburton County Council ploughed fire breaks alongside the railway line from the saleyards to Chestsey and along the most dangerous Sections of tho line from Tinwald to Ealing. In addition large drums of water have been placed at regular intervals over certain sections of the line and arrangements are being made for men to carry out patrol work after each train passes. Since the small-farm and share-milking schemes for the relief of unemployment were introduced in June last, 54 married unemployed men have been placed in employment in the North Taranaki district, which extends from Mokau to Opunake and inland beyond Inglewood. Ten of them had been placed on small farms, ranging up to 30 acres, and (averaging about 10 acres. Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Agricultural Department, who had charge of the scheme, considers that anticipations regarding its success had been fully realised. Tho new and the larger holdings had already made such progress that they were practically self-supporting. There were 50 or 60 applications frOni married unemployed in excess of the farmlets available, and he with the approach of a new milking season, further subdivisions of farms and herds would be made, so that it would bo possible to place more of these men. Sharemilking agreements had proved more popular with farmers than the provision of small holdings.