THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21646, 17 May 1932, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

Sydney Wool Sales The figures recently compiled in respect of the 10 months of the wool selling season in Sydney, from July 1 to April 30, provide an interesting analysis of the condition of the Commonwealth market. One of the niost significant features of the market this year in Sydney has been the remarkable clearance of considerably more, than 95 per cent, offerings, even in the face of prices, which since January of the present year, have had a discouraging tendency to weaken with each succeeding week. The percentage of the season’s clip that will remain unsold when the 1932-33 season commences in July will be negligible. Volume of Turnover The volume of turnover for the period of 10 months has shown a considerable increase on last year’s figures. The details are as follow:

Totals 1,066,264 81,034 1,087,298 Value of Turnover The value of the turnover fof the period represents an’appreciable increase on last year's figures, owing in no small degree to the fact that Australian growers have been generally prepared to meet the market, a policy that is in marked contrast to that adopted in the northern centres of New Zealand. The details are as follow:—•

Totals £11,035,992 £786,253 £11,822,245 Per Bale Average# - r. The per bale averages for the 10 months, from July to April are as follows;

Per Pound Average* The per lb averages up to April 30 are as follows. (In considering these figures it should be remembered that regarded from the standpoint of a gold basis they would be reduced by from lid to 2d, The details are:— Greasy & i ' '■ ‘ Greasy. Scoured. Scoured.

More Local Money for Wool ■ Australia’s income from wool is likely to be £3,000,000 greater this season than in 1930-1931, Based on the Australian sellipg average of £ll 3s 9d per bale, 1930-1931 production was worth £31,301,625. The increase is gratifying but the fact should not be forgotten that in 1928-1929 the clip produced £61,800,000. The point should also be borne in mind that wool worth £34,000,000 in Australia only represents £25,500,000 in English money, and the Commonwealth oversea commitments must be paid in Great Britain. This shows that the wool grower benefits through high exchange, but the Commonwealth as a whole has to pay for that benefit. The suspension of the gold standard in England in September had a most stimulating effect on wool prices. Merino tops rose sharply in England, and this caused increased confidence on the Continent. Although the rise in the latter quarter was limited compared with its extent in the United Kingdom. The clean cost of Continental type topmaking wools on the floor in Sydney stores rose 4d per lb, or 25 per cent., within a week. By early November that rise had further extended in Australia, and the market was 36 per cent, above the September basis. Wool averaged in Sydney early in September 6Jd per lb. in October and November it rose to 9d. Sales in the Dominion Messrs Dalgety and Co. report increasing sales and exports for New Zealand for the 10 months ended April 30. Exports for the period were 605,813 bales this year compared with 532,011 bales for 1030-31. Offerings and sales in the Dominion for 10 months were as follow: — • 10 months. 1032. 10 months, 1031. Bales. , Bales.

Totals .. 880,281 470,072 488,231 438.917 Wool offered in April amounted to 66,663 bales, of which 53.072 were sold. The Shorthorn Type The 1932 edition of the Shorthorn Breeders’ Guide provides, as in previous years, a review of the achievements of the breed in the show ring ami at sales. Some excellent photographs depict the animals which won fame during the past year. Shorthorn enthusiasts will be interested in the historical sketch of the breed, in which the main outlines of Shorthorn history are traced. The story of the rise of the breed to a world supremacy can be divided into three periods—that of the Colling brothers, of Thomas Bates and the Booth family, and of Amos Cruickshank. Accordingly, this interesting article gives some account of the work of each of these breeders, witli the addition of a few notes on the more modern developments in Shorthorn breeding. The present-day breeder is advised to adhere to the original Shorthorn, type and not to aim at the extreme either in beef or in milk production. In support of this contention the opinions of two leading breeders are quoted. One, whose interests are hound up largely with the Argentine export trade, draws particular attention to the milking capabilities of his cows. The other, prominent in the dairy world, is cqnallv emphatic about the depth of flesh which his cattle attain. The moral drawn is that it is the combination of beef and milk which ensures the popularity of the Shorthorn. Land for Selection 1 According to the Crown Lands Department’s montlfly map and schedule of lands

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

. By Rtjsticus. Steins of interest to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuit* with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to "Euati cus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunodia.

open for selection in May, there is plenty of land available for the purpose, the amount set out being 44,944 acres. In the North Island the land available is chiefly in the North Auckland, Auckland, : and Wellington districts, most of it being : suitable for grazing, and other sections are for mixed farming and sheep or dairy farming. In the South Island there are sections available in all the provinces, 1 most of them being in Nelson, and practically all the sections are suitable for grazing. Wool Thirty Year# Ago The statement is frequently heard that wool has never realised as low a price as that ruling at the recent New Zealand sales. To show that this statement is not strictly correct, a farmer brought ;n an account sale dated 1901 to the Stratford office of the Taranaki News, wherein it was set out that six bales of his wool brought 3|d per lb, realising £3B 4s Bd. Expenses and' other charges, including i brokerage of i per cent., amounted to £7 ; | 13s 9d, leaving a net return of £3O 10s lid 1 to the grower. That wool, said the farmer, was of the same class as was to-day being produced in the back country of I Taranaki, except that it was free from j seed. He also pointed out that expenses ; to the sale were just about the same as 1 ! have to be met at present. Return of the Horse The comparatively low cost of maintenance of horses on well-kept farms is steadily influencing the greater use of this form of stock where previously they have been * discarded for power outfits. Throughout America this problem of cheap 1 agricultural traction is coming in for a good deal of One writer recently made the computation that inasmuch as work horses are used about 1000 hours a year on well-worked farms, they cost only about 2a Cd a working day. As a six-horse team will plough six acres, disc 30 acres, or harrow 60 acres a day. animal power thus furnishes the cheapest and most efficient farm power available where the teams are wisely handled in large units, and intelligent management prevails as to their feeding. On these : and other figures submitted, he predicts that a steady increase is to he looked for from now onwards. DOMINION’S NEED INCREASED PRODUCTION PLEA TO FARMERS EMPLOYING MORE LABOUR. Attention is drawn to the fanning community generally, in a bulletin issued by the Department of Agriculture last week, of the great need at present for increased production of primary products, provided it is secured on a sound economic basis. It is stated that, because of recent widespread adverse conditions, there is a possibility of decreased rather than increased production, unless measures adopted in the near future are more thorough than those adopted in the past. • While the New Zealand farming community has attained a relatively high standard of efficiency in the use ot material resources, such as machinery, manures, and seeds, it is extremely doubtful whether our available human resources are being exploited with equal efficiency —a matter of paramount national importance in view of current unemployment problems, the bulletin states. There is considerable evidence that many farmers have exercised parsimony rather than economy in regard to their labour utilisation. Two very important classes to which this seems to apply are producers of butter-fat and of fat lambs. QUESTION OF LABOUR COST. It is known for instance that while certain dairy farmers realise they could readily increase their production to a fairly substantial extent, they purposely refrain from attempting to do so principally because any attempt would involve the employment of another farm hand. In view of the present position of the labour market such farmers should ask themselves. seriously and carefully, | whether their attitude can be justified economically'. There is much evidence that without any considerable direct expenditure on material, and as the result merely of the better attention that more labour would make possible, the production of many herds could in the course ’ of one season be materially increased. Often better feeding by means of the growing of suitable arable crops, by means of ensilage, or by means of cognate measures, would directly make possible a 25 per cent, increase, ad valorem, in production. Often the labour cost is practically the, total cost of such measures—a 1 cost which would be recovered with considerable profit at current prices, in the value of the additional produce. Dairyfarmers as a class need to ask themselves frankly are they utilising effectively the fruits of expenditure on such matters ns 1 suitable top-dressing and good herds when they tolerate on tneir farms the winter hardships to stock of all types, the summer unsatisfactory feeding of dairy cows, and the all-the-year-round poor utilisation ot by-products, which extra labour would en • able them almost wholly to avoid. “ SMALL FARM PLAN.” If thoughtful farmers visualise correctly the adequate operation of the “ small farm plan ” in their own district. I they will picture the permanent and convenient location of a supply of labour ■ skilled in the farm operations of the neighbourhood—a supply of labour which , will obviate the necessity of the wasting I of time and money which is involved in the present system of haphazardly drawing upon relatively distant sources of labour of, at times, an unknown standard of skill. It may reasonably be expected that the “small farm plan,” if properly exploited, will result in the provision not only of convenient skilled labour, but also of economical labour, in that a system of mutually advantageous barter oi labour, goods, and iservices will be found | workable. For instance, labour charges may be met at times by the _ supplying of a weaner pig or of breeding services, this resulting in an arrangement satisfactory to both parties. It is confidently believed that if the farming community consider the “small farm plan” in its true position in our farming industry, it will be recognised not merely as a promising means of minimising employment problems 1 in urban areas, but as a fundamentally sound means of remedying a long-felt serious weakness in this farm labour position. SERVICE TO NATION. Important,-measures that often will need attention in the near future and that on many farms not only would lead eventually to increase in the amount of labour I utilised, but also would result quickly in profitable returns, are top-dressing, drainage, the formation of ensilage pits and trendies, and preparatory cultivation for special cropping in excess of the amount previously carried out as a means | to improved feeding and possibly increased numbers of stock. The farming com in unity is being asked to assist in the “ small farm plan ” as a ! matter not of service to the nation, but ! of service to the farmers themselves. In : brief, they are being asked not so much ; to help the other fellow as to help themselves as a community. Of course, in the process of helping themselves they will bo helping the nation in a matter of para- , | mount current importance. j

Greasy. Scoured. Total. Bales. Bales. Bales. July .. .. 964 2,920 3,844 August .. .. 8,796 4,810 13,606 150,484 September .. 138,157 12,327 October 195,596 134,332 10,758 206,352 November .. 8,796 143,128 December .. 42,548 3,323 45,871 1932. January 152,863 4,783 157,646 February 126,998 3,744 130,742 March .. .. 100,545 5,073 105,618 April .. .. 105,465 4,602 109,967

Greasy. 1 Scoured. Total. £ £ f July 6,823 40,80* 47,631 Aueust 84,673 79,280 163,953 September 1,302.313 194,517 1,496,830 October 2,152,062 133,012 2,285,674 November 1,687,218 109,398 1,798,616 December 462,638 37,247 -•499,885 1932. January 1,690,248 52,596 1,742,844 February 1.509,730 42,463 1,552,193 March 1,074,473 53,597 1,128,070 April .. 1,065,814 42,735 1,108,549

Greasy. Scoured. Greasy & Scoured. £ s. d. £ 8. d. £ ,b. d. July .. 7 1 6 13 19 6 12 5., 3 August .. 9 12 6 16 9 7 12 1 0 Sept. .. 9 8 6 15 15 7 9 18 11 Oct. .. 11 0 0 12 8 5 11 1 6 Nov. ,. 12 11 2 12 8 8 12 11 0 Deo. .. 10 17 5 11 4 2 10 17 11 1932. Jan. ..11 1 1 ,10 19 11 11 11 Feb. .. 11 17 9. 11 6 9 11 17 5 March .. 10 13 8 10 11 3 10 13 7 April ... 10 2 1 9 9 11 10 1 7 10 months’ , totals .. 10 19 4 12 17 7 11 I 6

d. d. d. July .. ■ 5,0 14.3 11.3 August 6.9 17.0 9.7 September .. 7.0 -16.3 7.6 October 8.3 ' 13.3 8.4 November 9.6 13.1 9.8 December 1932. 8.3 11.7 8.5 January 8.6 11.3 8.6 February 9.7 11.7 9.7 March .. '. 8.6 9.3 8.0 April .. . 8.1 10.1 8.2 Ten months’ 8.7 totals .. . 8.5 13.3

Centres. Offered. Sold. Offered. Sold. Invercargill 47.701 37,375 20,704 28,744 Dunedin 05.209 84.109 80,612 83,355 Tlmaru . .. 34.028 28,880 32,480 30,321 Christchurch 85,353 80.100 78,737 74.152 Blenheim 43 24 70 62 Wellington .. 100,574 81,000 108,606 00,937 Wanganui 57.438 42,023 60,667 48,300 Napier ... . 80,525 04,345 37,115 •32,400 Gisborne 2,403 2,133 120 120 Auckland 70,007 48,088 66,072 44.428