THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21984, 20 June 1933, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Busticus. x

Dairy Produce Market Although dairy produce is reported to be selling on the slow side on the Home market, prices remain firm and there seems to be a fair prospect of further advances in the'near future. The following is a comparison of the prices realised during this week and the preceding one, the mean of the price range being given:

London Movements In their report, dated London, Slay 11, Samuel Page and Son state that Danish and other cask butter has recently found Germany an unexpectedly good customer, thus diverting a considerable quantity that would otherwise have come to our market, and prices of these descriptions advanced in consequence, but with a fading off of such buying Danish is easing somewhat, being to-day 725, f.p.b., as against 77s at the end of April, while Baltic States does , not sell very readily owing to spasmodic supplies. Supplies of Irish are increasing, in spite of a duty of 225, while the effect of the embargo on Russian has yet to be felt.

mile welcoming the advances in butter *nd cheese, and although not wishing to discount the improvement, Messrs Page nevertheless consider that the increased trade •is rather the result of sentiment than of .a definitely sounder position,.for as far as actual supplies here and in sight are concerned, there is not, nor can be, any immediate shortage. Who Pays the BUI? In an effort to save the British dairy industry, which is facing a crisis, the British consulted all the countries supplying the United Kingdom with. butter, cheese, and other milk products with a View to arranging some form of restncParticulars of this announcement, which took the House of Commons by surprise, have been received by mail. Major Walter Elliot,(Minister of Agriculture), in making the announcement said that experts considered that the British butter market would be kept in a healthy state by a restriction of 2,300,000 cwt annually from Denmark, j He; went on to refer to the unrestrained imports of butter and cheese from the dominions, and added: — “ The price' of. butter is falling so rapidly, and stocks of Home produced cheese are'so considerable, that'it is very difficult to say whether we shall be able to save the serious situation in the dairy industry.” Members listened with surprised expectation when Major Elliot went on:— “That means that it is imperative that we should consider whether some rise in the price level should be found by restriction of imports, or, if necessary, by restriction of production. “We intend, if we get the sanction of the House to these agreements (with Denmark and the Argentine) to call into consultation the'countries supplying processed milk products to this country with a view to arranging a restriction of these products.” : . - . Exports to America . New Zealand exports directly to the United States have shown a decided tend- 1 cncy to increase during the past month, and June and Juty returns are expected to show ■ considerable growth when comparison will be made with those months of 1932. Customs returns of the quantities and values in New Zealand currency of the exports of New Zealand produce, during the first five months of this year are set out as follows: — Five months. 1933. Five months. 1032. Item. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.

- The trade for the first five months of this year shows a decline of about £6000; but for the month of May of this year the total was £77,737 in value compared with £41509 for May, 1932; moreover, there is likely to be a much improved export for June, which will bring the total for the full six months of this year well ahead of the like period of 1932. These returns, of course, do not include shipments of New Zealand produce as re-exports from the United Kingdom. Stdbk Prices As well as having been heartened by the rise in wool prices, sheep farmers have

Items 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 addressed to “Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

had the best of the live stock market during the past week. Prices advanced in a pleasing manner and fat lambs in particular were a splendid asset for those who had flocks to sell. Prices soared both at most ‘ metropolitan sale yards, and the average farmer will be quite content to rear lambs if the level reached can be maintained. Part of the advance in Otago was no doubt due to the presence pt a buyer who is operating for a northern firm, but the better tone on the Home market was also responsible in a degree, the schedule of southern buyers being advanced during the week.

Rabbits in Southland As an indication of how rabbits have increased in Southland the experience of one farmer, who fumigated all warrens on his holding, is interesting. This farmer states that the rabbits killed by fumigating were estimated by his neighbours to number over 10,000, but in spite of that wholesale destruction it is not a difficult matter to niake £1 a day out of rabbits on his farm at the present time. If that is the case where rabbits have been exterminated in. thousands, the increase in their numbers where rabbits have been unmolested can be better imagined than described. ' ' \ Fat Lamb Killings

Killings of fat lambs for export during the eight months of the current season ended May 31, show an increase of 469,i85 carcasses, compared with those for tne corresponding-period of last season. The killings actually totalled 8,366,034 lambs, of which the North Island supplied

4,043,518, a decrease of 36,241- On the other hand, the South Island works killed 4,322,516 lambs, an increase of 506,026. ; Killings of sheep, according to the Meat Board’s latest return, totalled 1,965,780 carcasses, compared with 2,774,150 for the eight months of 1931-32, a decrease of 808,370. Killings of pigs at 293,290 carcasses, show an increase of 154,917, or over 100 per cent. Cure for Distemper

Mr M, 0. Butcher, New Plymouth, has written to the Taranaki Herald stating that he uses a treatment' (his own formula) for distemper that has not been known to fail, and has pulled through some most, hopeless cases of distemper. Mr Butcher, writes: — /. V j “ Take equal parts neat’s-foot' oil and pure pine tree turpentine (not mineral turpentine), mix and shake well, then saturate ’ the dog’s neck, chest, and body to the end of the ribs. Take an old woollen singlet, pass the front legs through the armholes and button up the neck and fold the slack material around the body and fasten with strong safety pins. Put the dog in a. shed free from draughts and on a soft bed. If he is beyond’ taking food, give as much'Bovril as will lie on a threepenny piece every two hours for small dogs, and enough to cover, a sixpence for large dogs. Place Bovril with chip on back of tongue. If the dog is not relieved in 24 hours renew oil and turpentine treatment, and continue giving Bovril until the dog feeds itself. From those who try this treatment I shall be pleased to hear what results they get. An excellent tonic for any dog is Areca nut, once monthly, from the size of a grain of wheat to the size of a seed pea, according to the size of the dog. All dogs require some raw meat.”. . . '• . . : , WOOL MARKETING 1 IMPROVING THE METHODS No. 2. ■ The following is the second of the series of articles supplied by Mr L. Whittingham Bagley, of Dunedin. The first appeared on Saturday, June 17RATIONALISATION. This word rationalisation has been subjected to much abuse and misunderstanding ..because of a wrong knowledge of its true meaning. , It means something more than common sense in business; rather does it mean economy, wisdom, unity in business and industry, and in the mutual relationships of employers,' employees, producers, and consumers. The old order is constantly, giving place to the new. The continual flow of progress cannot be stemmed. So in the application of rationalisation to wool marketing, The workers, growers, brokers, and the various manufacturing and retailing parties all have a duty to each other as well as to themselves. The whole have one aim,, that is to give the ultimate consumer the most attractive article possible, in price, quality, and suitability to his needs. Education, industry, commerce and science have placed in our hands the means to achieve greater efficiency, resulting in shorter working hours, and providing the incentive to study greater possibilities. Our duty is to promote this progressive state of affairs. Perhaps these lessons of great depressions will tench us how to start to do this. The word Rationalisation is very apt when used with true understanding of its fuller meaning.

APPLICATION TO WOOL MARKET . ING.

In applying rationalisation methods to wool marketing, we will discover that there are many phases of marketing in which the services can bo improved. In doing this, however, some labour will be displayed by mechanical means, the output of work will be increased, the presentation

of the product will be bettered, and a greater net return to the producer is the result, then the workers engaged in the improved system should be compensated for higher efficiency, and, in justice, encouraged to their best effort by shorter hours, better real wages, and the best “tools” and condition of work. t This treatment is vital to the real success of true Rationalisation practice. The benefits must be spread to all sections, otherwise progress and prosperity are impaired. The buyers receive the product under better conditions and with their needs met as far as practicable. This state of affairs has in the past been called idealistic. However, through the breakdown of the past policy of grabbing the fruits of iew methods for the sole benefit of a few. true rationalsation is now known and recognised to be the only practical step to real progress. This general and progressive practice is not limited in scope merely to the marketing of wool. Wool production can be improved by similar steps. Culling and breeding of the flock with a higher appreciation of uniformity, quality, and character in the wool produced, can be advanced indefinitely with the aid of the assistance of scientific research now operative. Better pasture management and stock management will also require further attention. SHEARING SHED INFLUENCES. Whatever the breeding of quality in wool, the- shearing shed can be takqn as the starting point in marketing wool, whether it is inferior, medium, or good. It is at this point that the wool grower loses a certain amount of control of his product in delegating the shearing, classing, packing, and Jater, the selling arrangements to the care of others. This is both inevitable and desirable, as long as every effort is made by those outside agencies to improve their services to the grower. Every operation in the shearing shed, 'such as skirting, rolling, classing, and pressing, if performed in expert manner, will have good effect on the purchaser, and assist the grower in getting full market prices for his cup. Having given his careful attention to all the factors likely to affect the better presentation of his wool clip while it is still in his care, the grower then has every right to expect that the services ot his broker, to whom he consigns! his clip, are progressive and efficient. TRANSPORT. In the marketing of wool, transport, both internal and overseas, is one of the main direct charges in every instance. The first main charge for transport on

wool comes from the railway or road charges for bringing the wool to the selling or shipping centre. As figures are not available tor the -quantity of wool carried by road, one is at a lose to compute either the direct or indirect costs on woo!.. On the railways the cost per bale for average distances between 70 and 80 miles, might be estimated at 4s 3d approximately. It is impossible to reduce the railway charges on wool unless the State-owned railways are running at a profit, as it only saddles the taxpayer with a further load. Ocean freights are of great concern to the wool growers, and with the fall in imports, and the increase in smaller oneway cargoes since 1928, it is idle to suggest that freight charges on, wool should be reduced. As with the Railways yßoard, the shipping interests will have to see either an increased turnover both inwards and outwards, or lower working and terminal costs, before any reduction in freights can be expected on wool. In spite of these facts we can do something to ease transport costs. At thq outset, we are driven to the acknowledgment that most of the possible reforms in marketing are based on the selling of our wool graded' to a practical and national standard. Practical international steps are already being taken to /standardise the descriptions and qualities of wool. The Central Wool Committee and B.A.W.R.A. proved conclusively the practicability by appraisement to different standards, including 848 different types all told.,While awaiting further international standards, it-remains for each producing country to inaugurate a national standard of grading for wool, and reap the indisputable advantges to be derived from this innovation.

AN EXTENDED SELLING SEASON. An extended selling season, or the spread of the selling season over a longer period would only be possible by making the purchasing easier for overseas buyers. This, of course, means selling to a standard of classing, and probably a guaranteed vield,. although there is nothing novel in this idea. An extended selling season has the great advantage that through the combined efforts of the selling brokers, the shipping requirementscould be gauged, and forward arrangements made to utilise the available space, both inwards and outwards, to the best advantage. The New Zealand Meat Board and the New Zealand Dairy Board have effected savings to their .in-, dustries in freight rates, through similar orderlv marketing arrangements. It' is to be hoped that the woo! brokers, voluntarily, will rationalise their services

and take all practical steps to improve wool marketing, otherwise the only other alternative would be a Wool Marketing Board. This would obviously entail more Government interference in business. ELIMINATE HANDLING COSTS.

It has been pointed out that railage and haulage are incurred ip transit to the wool stores and from the stores to the ship in moat cases. Selling to a standard would eliminate quite a lot of this handling. With station clips, sample bales, could be forwarded for display, the bulk of the clip being railed direct to the ship later. With re-classed wool apart from sample bales, the wool after being classed in the stores bs dumped instead of pressed, and stored in the shipping stores. Improved unloading facilities are possible at many of the wool stores, thus freeing the trucks for use again. These measures would reduce land transport charges, and it is to be hoped with the Railways Board in control, efficiency measures will enable a reduction in railway charges at an early date. Road haulage charges are governed in the long run by competition, and with the Transport Act as a background, the economic use of road services should eventually be encouraged, mainly as feeders to the main transport agency, the. railways. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IMPORTANCE OF HERD-TESTING PRONOUNCEMENT BY DOMINION FEDERATION The Centra! Executive of the Dominion Group Herd-Testing federation at its annual meeting in Hamilton, will make the following pronouncement with regard to herd-testing and its importance to the dairy industry in an endeavour to impress upon farmers the necessity for using every possible avenue of improving the industry:— . ■ , , The New Zealand Herd-Testing Central Executive is unanimously of the opinion that at all times, and especially in this period of low prices, it is essential that herd-testing should be adopted by every daity farmer. The evidence in this country, and indeed in all dairying countries, is that the adoption of consistent

herd-testing is the greatest factor, in improving farm management generally. _ ine monthly visit of the testing officer ■is to the farmer what the accountant’s monthly trial balance is to the city business man. It indicates definitely whether the herd sire is good, bad, or indifferent. It also shows if the cows are thoroughly milked. It creates an interest to the owner, his family, and the milkers, and mak6s for a "herd of cows” instead of "a collection of cattle.” It provides a goal to work for. Herd-testing should be regarded as the first plank in dairy farm management. To the mortgagee or to the holder or a bill of sale, we say unhesitatingly that the herd-testing returns will show if the herd is at fault, or if the management of the farm is responsible for low returns. Money spent on fertiliser when the herd is going back through the retention of cows which are unprofitable, or through the use of poor herd sires, is money misspent. In fact, many phases of management can be correctly interpreted if the herd is under test. Mortgagees and the like would therefore be protecting their own interests and strengthening their securitties by bringing about tbe adoption of consistent herd-testing on the part of their clients. Experience has shown that a herd under test will give a better aggregate yield than one not under test, owing to the owner exercising greater care in management and greater effort in obtaining the highest yield possible. To factory directors, we submit that the best way to/ increase supply to the factory is by the general adoption or herd-testing. This will give increased returns and a better quality product from the present suppliers. To the dairy farmer we say that finance will .be easier if herd-testing returns are produced which indicate definitely that the herd is being improved by breeding and selection. Such returns are definite evidence that the management is on business lines, not on guess work. ■ The Dominion generally is largely dependent on a prosperous dairying industry, With our present knowledge it would seem that there is no better purpose to which dairying lands can be put. It is therefore essential that the industry be placed in the position that butter-fat can be produced at a lower cost here than in any other country. We are convinced that this can be done. Herd-testing with its resultant better feeding and better management generally is the greatest factor in reaching this objective. We therefore ' appeal to factory directors, and to the commercial community, to encourage the adoption of systematic herd-testing. Fortunately the machinery is at hand. The whole of the Dominion is now catered for by the 28 co-operative group herd-testing associations comprising the Dominion Group Herd-testing Federation. , .

The federation has evolved a Dominion system of calf-marking,'and, by the coordination of methods, the work is on uniform lines which are so essential to sue* Owing to the low price of butter-fat this season many farmers will be faced next season with arrears of payments on orders given by them against their factory cheques. Clients, therefore, in many cases, must be assisted if they are to test next season. We urge that wherever possible this assistance be given for the ultimate benefit of all concerned. Though the number of cows under test this season is a record, probably 285,000, that number represents not more than 10 per cent, of the dairy cows in the Dominion. We have no hesitation in saying that the percentage should be at least doubled if the dairying industry is to be placed in an unassailable position. The importance which the New Zealand Herd Testing Central Executive attaches to the subject of herd testing is strongly indicated by the following resolution which was carried unanimously at its last meeting held in Wellington on June 5, 1933:

That a letter signed by the chairman of the Herd Testing Central Executive be sent to the Government lending departments and various financial institutions throughout the Dominion expressing a realisation of their difficulties in these trying days, but urging upon them not only the advantages of herd testing even from their point of view, but of the necessity of the farmer improving his returns, and urging such lending departments and financial institutions to give favourable considera- ■ tion to requests from farmers for assistance to enable them to pay their herd testing fees; and that in placing this request before the persons concerned a suggestion be made that if necessary the requests be considered by the directors of dairy companies or herd testing organisations for approval before submission; this resolution to be placed before the departments and

financial institutions concerned by a deputation from the Central Executive consisting of the chairman of the Central Executive, the federation supervisor of herd testing, and the Department of Agriculture. The personnel of the executive comprises Dr Reakes, Director-general of Agriculture; Mr Singleton, director of the Dairy Division; Professor Kiddet, of Massey Agricultural College; the president of the Dairy Breeds Federation; the chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board; and four members of the Management Committee of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation.

Butter — June 8. June 15, Danish 04/93/- • New Zealand 82/6 81/6 (finest salted) Australian (finest unsalted) 82/6 82/6 (finest salted) Cheese — 81/80/6 New Zealand • (white) New Zealand 49/48/9 (coloured) .. .. 54/6 53/9 Canadian (white) 66/Canadian (coloured) 68/68/-

Butter, cwt. .. ,514 £ 2,217 £ Frozen meat, cirt. 679 674 4 6 Sausage casings* lb .... .. 778.614 74,752 679,475 . 63,930 Calfskins, number 12,276 2,137 54,602 6.915 Hides, no. 5,418 3.508 — ' — liabbltsklna. no. 139,152 700 62.298 638 Woolled sheepskins, no. .. , •_. 69,095 8.157 Sheep pelts, no. 2.559.14S 92.381 1,616,494 83.01,7 Greasy wool, lb 311,333 10,779 110.694 2,916 Slips wool, lb 61,103 2,006 206.606 8,345 Hemp,' tons .. 25 322 25 372 4,683 7,405 3,766 15.209 Tallow, tons .. — — 73 1,090 Kauri gum. tons 154 5,484 195 7.5 0 8,409 55.030 8,419 46,174 Manures, tons .. 1,057 6,119 1,075 7.475 4 ' £283,720 £280.717