FARMERS' FREEZING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23773, 28 September 1940, Page 7

FARMERS' FREEZING

GOOD SEASON EXPERIENCED NEXT YEAR'S PROSPECTS VALUE OF NEW COLD STORE "One can hardly expect that last season's records in cattle and sheep killings will be maintained, although we hope to sustain the lamb figure and to improve on the pig killing in the coining season," said Mr. 11. E. Worsp, chairman of directors of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Limited, at the annual meeting yesterday. "A particularly good lambing season has been experienced, and with reasonably good weather fat lambs will again be available in largo numbers," added the chairman. "Indications point to a larger production of pigs. Farmers are using their best endeavours to increase numbers by the provision of supplementary foods, and we can anticipate an increase in killings." Dealing with the past season, Mr. Worsp said it was a particularly good one as i'ar as climatic and feed conditions were concerned. On account of the good fattening conditions it was possible to kill a considerable number of cattle which normally would, have been carried into the following year. Also, dairy farmers culled their herds more freely. Old ewes fattened well and were killed in very large numbers. Referring to the new cold store Mr. Worsp said it had proved a most valuable addition. The large total of 650,000 boxes of butter were stored there in the peak of the season. In previous years it had been necessary to store a considerable quantity of butter at Horotiu and Southdown, and had the new store not been available for the past season killings would have been • seriously restricted. Votes of thanks to the directors and to the staff were carried. The report and# balance-sheet, as published in the. Herald on August 19, were adopted. The retiring directors. Messrs. E. M. Edkins and J. G. Ritchie, were re-elected. POTATO EXPORTS SHIPMENTS FOR AUSTRALIA CANTERBURY MARKET QUIET [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHKISTCHURCH, Friday Another shipment of approximately 1000 tons of potatoes was sent from Lyttelton to Sydney this week. This completes the Lyttelton quota under the arrangement reached some months ago to export 5000 tons to Australia this season. The final shipment of approximately 600 tons will be from Timaru early next month. New Zealand potatoes ( are selling in Sydney now at £l3 a ton and on this price the Government should be clearing between £2 and £3 a ton where it was more or less only balancing accounts on earlier shipments. The successful conclusion to negotiations with the Federal Government for further shipments is still hoped for, although prices for Australian potatoes, which now range up to £ls 10s a ton, have gone higher in other seasons without the Federal Government considering it necessary to lift the embargo on imports from New Zealand. It does seem, however, on information available, that prices in Australia this season would be higher than they are if it were not for control being exercised over them. In the meantime the local market is in a peculiar position. There is still a substantial surplus of potatoes and very few are required, hut buyers who have been making inquiries have found that if they want potatoes they have to pay a higher price than that which has been ruling for some time. Growers have reached the stage where they are not prepared to bother with their potatoes unless a reasonably payable price is obtainable. SOUTH SEA TRADE COPRA MARKET DIFFICULTIES Burns, Philp (South Sea) Company, Limited, has reduced the interim dividend to Od a share. Last year the interim dividend was 7d a share and the ! final 8d a share, the total being equal to 61 per cent. The directors' half-yearly report; states that, with the British Government holding about a year's supplies of copra and the over-supplied Mexican market the only other market available, the value of copra has been below cost of production for some time. Many ' plantations and trading stations have either curtailed production or closed. Several of the company's inter-island ships have been laid up. _ Tn the sugar and mining districts, merchandise operations have been satisfactory and sundry island products continue to find, a moderate market in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Revenue from the company's investments remains steady. THE CITY MARKETS HEAVY SUPPLY 1 OF CARROTS Carrots were in over-supply at tho City Markets yesterday and prices were considerably lower than last week. Pumpkins were marketed in good quantities with rates remaining high. Cab- ] bages, cauliflowers and onions were j plentiful and mot with a good demand, i Heavier supplies of new potatoes sold at recent rates. In tho fruit, section, there was a fair demand for apples and Winter Nelis pears. Prices were:— Fruit.—Apples, Granny Smith, Us to 10s a case; Delicious, 9s to I.os (id; Stunner, 9s to 1 os; Tasma, Sis to 12s; Pears, Winter Xelis, ISs to '-'Ms; Tomatoes, hothouse, Is 6d to 2s 5d lb; oranges, Australian, 10s yd to 27s a case; tree tomatoes, New Black, Ts to 12s; Yellow, 6s to !)s (Id; marmalade oranges, (is to 7s; small, Is to r>s; grapefruit, Xew Zealalid, 7s to Os; lemons, according to grade and count, Ss to 17s (id three-quarters bushel. Field Produce. —Asparagus, V 2 \b bundles, 5d to Sd a bundle; lib bundles, 10(1 to Is 0(1; beet, .Is (id to 2s a dozen; broad beans, (id to 8d lb; celery, cooking, (id to Ski a bundle; dessert, Is to -Is; ciirrots, Is (id to Ms (id a bag, or (id to Od a dozen; cauliflowers, ■ls to 7s (id a sack; on benches, 2s to -Is a dozen; cabbages, 2s (id to (is a sack; on benches. Is (id to 3s a dozen; cucumbers, hothouse, 13s to iris; beans, hothouse, Is to 2s :id lb; green peas, 8s to Is 3d; kumaras, Island. Id to 4%d; Taurnngu, 7s to 0s a bag; leeks, 3d to 5d a bundle; lettuce, 2s (id to iss (id ii case; onions, choice, firm, (is to 8s a bag; medium, 4s to 5s (id; potatoes, southern, r>s to (is a cwt.; Ohakune, 3s (id to -Is (id a bag; new, 2d to 5d lb; pumpkins, choice Triunible, ISs to 2Ss a sack; medium, 8s to 12s; parsnips, 2s (id to 5s a bag. or Is to Is 3d a dozen; radish, 9d to Is 3d; rhubarb, 2s (id to ss; spinach. Is to Is (id; spring onions, 8d to Is (id a bundle; swedes. Is (id to 3s n bag; turnips. Is to Is (id a dozen. Poultry.—Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, r»s to Os onch; not prime, 3s (id to Is (id; light, prime, 4s to ss; not prime, 2s to 3s; Hit hens, heavy breeds, Is to (is; light, ,3s to Is; drakes, young, prime, Is fid to ss; ducks, young, 3s to -is; day-old chicks, 8.0., 2d; li., unsaleable. Eggs and Butter. —Eggs, hen and duck, standard grade, Is o%d a dozen. Farmers' butter, Is to Is 3d per lb. MARTHA DIVIDEND Cabled ndviee has been received from Loudon by Mr. J. FL G. Banks, local director and attorney for tho_ Martha Gold Mining Company (Waihi), Limited, that directors have declared an unchanged interim dividend of 6d a share, free of British incomo tax. payable on November 1.