COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19042, 12 December 1923, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

GROWTH OF DAIRYING. INCREASE IN THREE YEARS. The remarkable expansion of the diarying industry in New Zealand is disclosed by the classification of rural holdings given in a report issued by the Government Statistician. Within the last three years, the number of dairy farms has increased by nearly 37 per cent., and their area by over 47 per cent. There has been very little change in we number or extent of agricultural holding©, and only a small increase in the total area, the growth of dairying haring been at the expense of pastoral purposes. The position in regard to dairying at three enumerations is shown as follows; Holdings, Area, Average, Number. Acres. Acres. 1916-17 1919-20 - 29,111 4,244,986 146 1922-23 .. 08,818 6,267,597 161 Agricultural holdings in 1916-17 numbered 12,509, comprising 2,792,761 acres. Three years ago the number had declined to 10,146, comprising 2,220,297 acres. At the last enumeration, the number was 10,489, totalling 2,129,802 acres. Pastoral and other holdings totalled 42,678 of 36,176,286 acres in 1916-17; 42,225 of 37,007,896 acres in 1919-20; and 36,212 of 35,255,764 acres last season. OVER 14 PER CENT. OF TOTAL. Six years ago nearly 9 per cent, of the total occupied area was devoted to dairying. Three years ago, the proportion was nearly 10 per cent. Now it exceeds 14 per cent. The total number of holdings is given as 85,519, showing an increase of 3927 in the last three years and of 5983 in six years. The total area, 43,653,163 acres, has increased by 180,084 acres since 1919-20 and by 908,444 acres since 1916-17. Nearly one-third of the Maori holdings are devoted to dairying, according to a separate classification of their lands, which, exclusive of those held on the communal system, aggregate 730,020 acres. This total shows a decline of 165,570 acres in the last three years while the number of holdings has fallen from 2785 to 21618. Of the latter total 144 (47c9 acres) are agricultural, 947 (143,024 acres) dairying, and 1527 (582,297 acres) pastoral. Both in number, and area dairying by Maori farmers has steadily increased, the’decline being wholly in agricultural and pastoral farming. NORTH AUCKLAND’S LEAD. The largest number of holdings, 13,698, is in the North Auckland district, Canterbury being second with 13,407; Auckland third with 12,095; and Wellington fourth with 11,181. Details are not given of the classification according to use in the land districts. An interesting comparison may he made of the extent to which labour is employed in the various classes of farming. There are no paid employees on 1491 agricultural holdings, 3812 dairying holdings, and 12,317 pastoral holdings. The numbers of employees are as follows, the figures j n parentheses showing the number of holdings employing labour: —Agricultural (8998), 18,417; dairying (35,006), 78,564; pastoral (23,895), 49,399. LONDON MARKETS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Ltd.) have received the following cablegram from their London house, under date December 7: NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT. Quotations are unchanged. There is slow demand. NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCE. Butter: Choicest has advanced 8s per cwt. (The market is quiet. Cheese, 108 sto UOa per cwt. The market Is quie't. Messrs A. S. Paterson and Co. (Ltd.) are in receipt of the following cablegram from Messrs J. and J. Lonsdale and Co. (Ltd.), dated December 10; •Butter is firm at 2205. Cheese is slow ai 108 s.

PROPERTY SALE. Messrs Park, Reynolds report having sold yesterday, on behalf of Mrs Margaret Shadford, at Port Chalmers, allotment 140, Hansford Town, containing 28 poles, on which was a four-roomed cottage. Bidding started at £2OO, and Mr John Annan purchased for £2BO. CANTERBURY MARKETS. (Pbb Uniteo Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 11. , The rain which fell over Canterbury yesterday was .very welcome to farmers, and although it has come too late to save the crops ol oats where the stock had already been turned on them, it should freshen up late-sown crops of wheat, barley, and peas. It is stated in the Lceaton district that peas have been greatly benefited. Fowl wheat is scarce, and prices have touched 5s 8d for prompt sales. Oafs are firm at late rates, although there i.? no excitement, and it is hard to get quotations for forward delivery under 3s 7id. To-day the inquiry from Australia was renewed, which should result in fresh impetus boing given to oats. Cartons are not held hero or at Lyttelton to any extent, and prices for prompt B’s are not easy to obtain. Partiidge peas are not altered, and it is possible to obtain quotations now whereas before the rain sellers would not take any offer. The inquiry for white clover and oowgrass has also been renewed, especially for the former, and aalea have taken place at 190 s. The rain has had the effect of steadying the market for chaff, and wires from Auckland state that the reports of rain in the South Island have resulted in the cessation of inquiries for the time being. Good bright chaff is hard to get, and there is little demand for f.a.q. During the last day or two there has been an increased demand for cocksfoot, the wholesale price of which is now from 9id to 10d, good quality seed being worth 6d to the grower. The latest advices from Home state that Danish seed is very firm and active, and cannot bo bought under 100 s to land here, which is equivalent to about 10Jd. Except for stock on hand there is not much likelihood of any further business being don© in Danish seed here until the price of it recedes. LONDON METAL MARKET, Ptbou Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 10. (Received Dec. 11, at 10.10 p.m.) Copper: Spot, £62 16s 3d; forward, £63 11s 3d. Lead: Spot, £3l 2s 6d; forward, £29 6s 3d. Spelter: Spot, £32 ss; forward, £32 15s. Tin; Spot, £230 12s 6d; forward, £231 17s 6d. Silver, 33 l-16d per oz.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ‘ LONDON WOOL SALES. Proas Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 10. (Received Dec. 11, at 8.15 p.m.) At the wool sales there was a good offering of the new clip of Australian merinos and a poor selection of crossbreds. AH prices were firm. Bradford is quiet, but the tone of the market is confident.—A and N.Z. Cable. DAIRY PRODUCE SHIPMENTS. Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Co. supply the following figures showing the statistical position of New Zealand butter and cheese as compared with the last two years:— 1 BUTTER. 1921. 1923. 1923. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Shipments from K.Z., Nov. 89,000 193,500 176,5C0 Shipments 4 months to Nov. 30 172,000 371,000 326,500 Gradings November 151,000 192,000 182,080 Graiiings 4 montlis to Nov. 30 337,000 518,000 432,000 Butter awaiting shipment, Nov. 30 70,000 102,000 77,429 CHEESE. Crates. Orates. Crates. Shipments from N.Z. Nov. 64,000 65,000 120,01 Shipments 4 months to Nov. 30 - ... 129,000 110,000 177,000 Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Gradings November 173,000 162,000 223,020 Gradings 4 months to _ . Nov. 30 , 315,000 235,000 438,000 Cheese awaiting shipment, Nov. 30 ... ... 66,000 141,060 The most striking point in the above comparison is the heavy increase in cheese production. As a matter of fact, tho gradings to the end of November this year (438,000 cwt) almost equal the gradings to the end of December last year (448,000 cwt), Scott Bros., produce merchants and commission agents. Please note that our store will remain closed from Monday, 24th inst. until Thursday, January 3, 1924. We report as follows:—Eggs; The market is steady at preserving rates. Butter: Dairy pats, Is 2d to Is 3d per lb. Honey: Slow; prime clover, bulk, 4d to 4id per lb, 10lb tins, 6s 6d each. Beeswax, la 6d to Is 7d per Id. Fat, 20s to 23s per cwt. Poultry: Hens, 2s 6d to 3s fid per pair; roosters, 2s 6d to 4s per pair; ducks, 5s to per pair. Geese, nominally 8s per pair. Turkeys. Hens, lOd per lb; gobblers, lid per lb. Pigs; Baooners, 7Ri per lb; porkers, 7£d per lb; over-weights, 4d pef lb. Potatoes: Old season’s, market easing; best tables nominally £7 per ton; new season’s, local, 3d per lb. Onions; New season’s Melbourne (to arrive), 16s per cwt; old season’s, lls per cwt. Chaff (wanted); prime oaten sheaf, £5 10s to £5 12s 6d per ton, sacks extra; medium quality, in over supply. Oats, 3s 2d per- bushel, sacks extra. Whole fowl wheat, 5s 5d per bushel, sacks extra. Straw: Pressed wheaten, £3 15s; oaten, £4 10s per ton, ex store. Note; Pigs and poultry must not arrive later than Thursday mornings. We can supply petrol, motor lubricating oils and greases, lucerne and poultry meal, hulled oats, shell grit, Pareora moat meal, leg rings, toe punches, charcoal, wire netting, Star brand chicken food and egg crates.