FARM AND STATION NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21940, 29 April 1933, Page 3

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Etjstictri.

OTAGO DOG TRIALS Sheep clog trials to be held in Otago under the auspices df the Provincial Sheep Dog Association have been ftr* ranged as follows:-** May 3,4, and s.—Waitaki. May 10. 11, and l2.—Palmerston May 16, .17, 18, and iO.-Wainemo (provincial championships). May 25 and 26.—Miller’s Flat. Britain’* livestock Problem In an article on Britain’s livestock problem, Sir William Haldane said: But reduced imports from Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay since last. November have considerably raised the price of home sheep and lambs. Cattle and pigs also are selling better since import® of bacon came down, . . . The increased import in the past two years of frozen beef ftotn Australia and New Zealand was considerably less than the decrease in chilled and frozen beef from South America, and the quantities imported in all may npt be maintained. The Argentine trade figures show that total exports ef quarters of beef (to all countries) have fallen steadily year by year since 1929, being 20 per cent, less for 1932, and that exports ot canned meat fell considerably more. Brazil’s export Of meat also fell very heaVily last year. ■ ,Slaughtering returns for Argentina snd Uruguay show COntlnuing decrease. 1 * The quota arrangements may reduce Argentine imports to Britain still more, said Sir William Haldahe. ‘ It has been reported that.if quantity is to b« reduced under quota the intention in Argentina )S to improve the quality. This would seem rational in Argentine interests as leading to a -stronger price competition with the British home product—the probable position under almost any. quota system—and tending in result to a higher price here for the more sheltered home product of low value, but possibly to a lower price for higher quality.

Potato Diseases Owing to the high cost of production and, low prices, Victorian potato growers have not been able to make, a profit for the last few years. The decline in values is due to the. lots of interstate trade and An ovef-lUpplied local market. Another factor that the potato grower has to contend against is diseases and insect pests, of which there are a considerable number. These are always present, but in some seasons their incidence is mote prencuheed than in others. . The losl from .these Causes imposes a heavy levy Upon the industry. One of the WOrst diseases is corky or powdery scab, for which ho effective cure has been discovered. Affected tubers have been found in Tasmania and NeW Zealand, and in the interests 6f farmers ih Victoria* where it has not made its appearahee, it i! essential that the importation 6f potatoes ffohi countries where it exists is not allowed. In a letter to the Argus, Mr E. I. Gooch, of Dayleeford, points out the danger of lifting the embargo against NeW Zealand potatoes. “The Contemplated action is viewed by grower! with dismay,’ he. says, “and the retention of the embargo .1! regarded as vital. There are any number of pests at present, and growers are naturally perturbed at the prospect of having to fight more.” Mr Goochs views will be supported by every J ictonan potato grower, and Strenuous efforts will be made to prevent the introduction dt tubers that may eatry the spores of Stlch a malignant disease as corky scab. It is not improbable that if it gains a hold in Victoria the potato-growing industry will be ruined.

British Prices - Prices quoted, at Smithfield for Argentine chilled beef last week were 3|d petlb for 6* foiAS add SJd pri* lb for 0* Iliads, compared with 3|d and 6£d respectively 6)4 November 18 last. Total imports of beef into Great Britain during the last four years were as follow: To p s . 1929 ~ .. 12,685,600 1936 ~ * 12,798i000 1931 • ■ , a 4 4 •• 13(136,666 1932 !. 12,188,000 The London Central Martel’ official figures of supplies Of meat handled there during tile two MOrlthS,. Jahuary-Feb-ruary. 1933, compare as follows with those for the corresponding period of 1932. 1932. 1983. Dee. torts. torts, torts. Beef and veal ~ 39,478 Mutton and lariib.. 24,910 24,1-3 /J 7 Poi'k and bacon .. 9,454 8,680 70u Supplies of home-killed beef and veal (England, Wales, and .Scotland) show no variation. Imports Of beef ftoril Argentina, Uruguay, ahd Brazil at 28,922 tons show a decrease of 1592 tons, compared with 30,514 tons far the first twd months, of 1932.

Australian Clydesdale* "In all parts of the State there is strOtig evidence Of a return tp the hors®, in particular, tot farming and utility purposes,” stated the annual report of the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society (New South wales branch) for 1932, which was presented to the annual meeting. Dutittg the year the report continued, 46 rteW breeders, the largest number of flew members in any one year, were enrolled, thus increasing the membership to 183., There had been a promising demand for draught horses, and the Sydney market, which had been depressed for a number of years, had become most active, A gelding weighing 19cwt 2qr Whs sold for *46, being thu highest for- the past 10 years. There had been a steady demand for good quality draught horses in the city. One nrm, the report stated, Made a private purchase of geldings and mares ranging troin £35 to £4O per head. The president (Mr A. D. Coxl breeders to take pr ecautions against; mai* criminate breeding of horses. He regretted having to announce that no legislation had been presented to deal With South Wales will be flooded With inferior Stock, Which will bring down the price of good hotses if this indiscriminate breeding is not prevented, ’ said Mr Co*. ‘‘ With a buoyant demand for stallions to rehabilitate the horse-breeding industry there has been a strong tendency, unfoltnnately, to regard all the eoUs from registered or unregistered parents as worthy of reterttioti as stallions.

Artificial Silk Since wool prices receded less fedr has been expressed regarding the competition Of artificial silk with t ie sheep * staple. Some authorities contend that through its me in conjunction with wool in providing attractive effects in fabrics the popularity of woollen goods has increased. On the other hand, the overwhelming, popularity of artificial silk and silk Hosiery among the women of the world lias unquestionably decreased wool consumption in that branch of the industry. The much increased clip the world has grown during the past five years has, however, passed readily into consumption, except in tnc case of coarse crossbred. wools, the extreme cheapness of which indicates the poor demand for them. Coatse crossbred tops arc being sold in Bradford at art per lb in English currency, or approximately 5d On a gold basis. In 1913 they were .worth 16|d,. , , , The statement has been made that wool is over-produced, but, apart from the grade mentioned, no surplus stocks eXiSt, and the opening of this season disclosed a particularly eager inquiry, which has be-n fairly well maintained during the

{terns of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be redressed to “Rusti chs,” Olago Daily Times, Dunedin,

past seven months. At the same time, world production of artificial silk in 19awas oft record levels, reaching 504,000,(K)01b. In 1924, when wool values Were on boom levels, production of the artificial fibre was 141,104,0001 b. The output of it has therefore increased decidedly, despite the gradual cheapening of wool. Possibly the quantity produced would have Increased at a greater rate had wool been dearer. Prices for the artificial fibre have certainly been reduced in order to keep trade, but, judging by the output quoted, the use of it has been more than maintained, and much larger quantities of wool have been used. On that evidence, except in hosiery goods, artificial silk has not curbed consumption of the sheep’s stable to any decided degree, but the fact of it being available may admittedly haVe been some influence in keeping Wool prices on low levels. Rag Substitutes The low cost Of raw Wool has had a severe effect on the use of. woollen rags, extensive quantities of which were utilised for re-working into fabrics when the sheep’s staple was higher in price. Only 218,871 cwt of woollen rags were imported by Great Britain during 1932. A few years ago the imports were double that quantity, and# in 1913 were 1,098,119 cwt. English exports of rags have dropped 50 per cent. A similar development has occurred in Other textilemaking countries. Growers may take the view that the decreased Utilisation of rags for f«-working has not had apparent effect in increasing the price of wool, but the falling-off in their use has no doubt aided materially in the world being able tO pass its increased clip into consumption during the years of depression. War-time conditions stimulated the rag-working industry. At one period, according to the Textile Mercury Annual, the United Kingdom consumed about 1000 tons of foreign imported rags of all types weekly,, and 500 tons of rags collected in Great Britain. Better Manufacturing Profits

Balance Sheets of fiidst ftiill concerns have during the last two years shown improved results due to the absence of extreme variations in the price of raw material and goods. Kelsall and Kemp, flannel and woollen manufacturer*, of Bochdale, Lancashire, with a subsidiary establishment iri Tasmafiia, Showed a net profit of £43,345 for 1932, an increase of £7748 on the 1931 result. During 1900 a lose of £21,064 was shown. A dividend of 5 per cent, has been declared on. the ordinary Share*) the first paid since an interhh dividehd ,of 2J per ceftt. Was distributed in 1929. The T&srtiaflian.subsidiary company showed a profit to Jutie 30, 1932, of £8262. Thotigh a preference dividend was paid with arrears for two years, arrears extending over 5J years are Still uflpaid. . , = , From 1924-25 to 1928-29, When wdpl sold in Australia averaged frOm loid to 25'd per lb, milliheh Were Showing bad monetary results. The staple, through stul providing good returns for growers, was almost continuously falling in value, and the prices obtained for mill products also decreased, Losses of very meagre profits were theh Shown by mjllmen. That fact Should be borne in mind when viewing the recent improvement in manufacturers’ earnings, whilst returns still remain on a generally unsatisfactory basis. It should also be remembered that a solvent mill industry is necessary to enable wool to find ready buyers, At the game time the htiticipatipli of a gradual improvement in the world parity of wool prices is justified if manufacturers continue to show reasonable profits.