THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22354, 30 August 1934, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rustictjs

WOOL SALES, 1934-35

Wool galea for the 1934-35 season have been arranged as follows: Not. 27—Auckland. Feb. 18—Napier. Dec. 3—Napier. Feb. 22—Wanganui. Dec. B—Wellington. Mar. X—Christchurch. Dec. 13—Christchurch. Mar. 4—lnvercargill. Dec. 17—Tlraaru. Mar. 9—Dunedin. Dec. 21—Dunedin. Mir. 13—Tlmaru Jan. 7—Wellington. Mar. 20—Wellington. Jan. 12 —Napier. Mar. 25—Napier. Jan. 17—Wanganui. Mar. 29—Auckland. Jan. 22—Auckland. Apr. I—Wanranul. Jan. 28—Christchurch. Apr. s—Christchurch. Feb. I—lnvercargill. Apr. B—Dunedin. Fab. b—Dunedin. Apr. IS—Wellington. Feb. 18—Wellington. 1934-35 SHOW SEASON ROSTER OF t DATES Agricultural and pastoral shows have been arranged as follows for the 1934-35 season:— October 24, 25.—Timara. November l.—Ashburtoiu November 7.—Kelso. November 7, B.—Canterbury Metropolitan, at Christchurch. November 13. —Waimate. November 15. 16.—North _Otago, *t Oamaru. November 17.—Tnieri, at Outram. November 20, 2L— Otago, at Tahunt Park. November 22, 23.—Clutha and Matau,. at Balclutha.December I.—-Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, at .Milton.'.:- .. December 4, s.—Gore. December 7.—Wyndham. December 7—Maniototo, at Hanfurly. December 11. 12, 13.—Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at Invercargill. • . 1935. January 12.—Blueskin, at Waitati. January 19. —Waikonaiti., January 25,—Palmerston and Waihemo County, at Palmerston. April: at Middlemarch. April 22.—Mackenzie County, -at Fairlic. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS “Irrigation” (Earnscleugh)The rccomr mendatiohs of the Irrigation Committee with respect to the Earnscleugh scheme as set out in the report subi mitted on September 6, 1928, may be summarised as follows: —That the water rate and maintenance rate be amalgamated and the maximum charge be 7s 8d per acre per annum, with n ■minimum charge of ss; that the special Walcott Settlement be brought into the scheme on a common basis; and that existing arrangements allowing for a double supply be cancelled by negotiations between the department and the irrigators. No recommendations were made with regard to supplementary sources of supply. f “Grafting” (Alexandra).—The correct season for grafting is determined by the condition of the subjects. The stock should be making first growth and the scion .still, dormant. September or early October are generally the best times for this work.

Wisecracks for the week:—

Otago Clydeadale* Again The reason why Australian breeders and dealers turn again and again to the Otago market for Clydesdales is ' easily . understood by reference to the prize lists ot the principal live ttfock exhibitions in the Commonwealth. Not only do Otago heavy horses command the best’ prices at. State sales, but they generally.,dead the way in the show-ring The. latest instanCß-P| this is the success of New Zealand-bred horses' at the Brisbane'Royal National Show this month. Not .only did an Otagobred stallion secure the championship, but others led their respective rings in some cases in the face of the keenest competition. The quality and breed - character of the importations from the Dominion were the subject of considerable comment. New Zealand-bred horses won the entire championship, the female reserve championship, and several class awards also. Happy Choice’* Championship Mr J. M. Smith (Kakanui) won the entire championship with Happy Choice, got bv the imported sire Fyvie Baronet, out of Glen Ruby. This horse won the championship at the last North Otago show just prior to being shipped to Australia. He is a good useful type of stallion, but by no means in the first flight , of - sires bred in Otago of recent yeart. In spite of the handicap of a severe cold which made it impossible for him to appear at his best, he won the championship from a ring of half a dozen aged stallions, which included three recent importations from Scotland. Happy Choice was first in the aged stallion class, cham-. Eion and winner of. the medal presented y the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain for the best male_ entry in the show. The reserve champion to Happy Choice was Royal Gaiety, by Fyvie Enterprise, who won the championship at the same show in 1931. Other Pomtnion, Prize-winner* Mr J. M. Smith secured second and third prizes in a good field of three-year-old stallions, the largest ring in the show in fact. He was second with Oakflat Chancellor, a nice moving son of Ochtertyre Viceroy out of Heather, bred in New Zealand, who was folldwed in third place by Greenlea, Obligato, got by Windermere Obligation out of Windermere Buchlyvie Girl, a Canterbury bred aire. An Otago bred mare, Jenny Brun■tane, got by Mr John Young’s (Allanton) well-known sire Brunstane Duplicate out of Jenny Bold, wa« second in the aged mare clasa to the champion. Mr J. M, Smith secured another first prize in the three-year-old filly class with Meadowbank Phyllis, a New Zealand importation got by Myroe Footprint out of Beauty of Bath, who also had the distinction of winning the reserve championship for females. The judge remarked that she would have won the championship had she carried her head more attractively.

Items of Interest to these engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuits. With ,a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to “Hueticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunodl*.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

OFFICIAL NOTES

“The highest price that we ever pay for anything is for low living."—Dr O. S. Davis.

“ A smooth sea can never make a skilful mariner.”

Business ability would seem to depend on a sense of balance, or is, _ perhaps, equivalent to a right frame of mind about business things.—Sir Ernest Benn.

The provincial secretary has been instructed to draw, the attention of all branches and members to the following remit which was carried at the last Dominion Executive meeting:—“ That all branches be asked to assist wives and families of local unemployed, particularly during the next few months.”

# .* * On Tuesday evening last Mr J. E. Davies (of the Department of Agriculture) addressed a gathering of youths at Portobello, when a Young Farmers’ Club was formed. After explaining the aims and objects of the Young Farmers' Club movement, Mr Davies gave a brief talk on “ Some Principles of Plant Selection."

“The war caused many derangements, but the major one is too obvious to be disputed. More than one half of the people of the world obtain their living and all the purchasing power they possess by the production of primary igoods. It is generally known that the fall of the prices of farm products and loss of purchasing power to the farmer has been largely responsible for the general depression, but it is not generally recognised that the failure of other prices to decline in company with the prices of farm products has been the principal cause of unemployment.”—National City Bank of New York Bulletin.

* * * The annual meeting of the Pine Hill* Waitati branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the Mount Cargill School, when there was a good attendance of members. The secretary (Mr J. H. Scott) presented the accounts, which were duly adopted. The election of the officebearers resulted in the unanimous reelection of Mr A. Spoor as president. Mr J. H. Scott was re-elected secretary, and Mr W. Morton vice-president. Messrs Spoor, Scott, and Morton returned thanks for their re-election, afer which Mr Spoor spoke on several of the important matters which had cropped* up at the recent Provincial Council meeting. Later a discussion took place upon the milk question, and it. was. decided to hold the next meeting at Purakanui.

It is a matter of great satisfaction to report that a Stock Remedies Act has now been passed by Parliament making provision for controlling the sale of stock remedies. Under the Act, which comes into force on June 1, 1935, provision is made for compulsory analysis and registration, of any stock remedy sold, and for penalties for selling any remedy unless the approval, etc., of the Registration Board has been obtained.

The board to be-appointed consists of: — (a) One veterinary surgeon in the service of the Department of Agriculture, (b) One person; to be appointed by the, New Zealand veterinary Association (Inc.). (c)‘ One person to be appointed by the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand.

A draft of proposals formulated by the Transport Department has been received containing amendments to the Motor \ chicles Act, 1924, dealing with the regulation of motor i traffic. The important point as far as farmers are concerned is that agricultural tractors are recommended for exemption from pyament of license fees, under the following clause:— “ Any motor vehicle being a tractor which is used_ solely for agricultural purposes, and which is used or driven on any road or street only while proceeding to or from a farm.”

These vehicles will, nevertheless, be bound by the road safety provisions of the Act.

The matter of the exemption of farmers’ lorries from payment of heavy traffic license fees is not. actually mentioned in the draft proposals referred to above, but the commissioner of transport informed the Dominion president that it is under consideration at the present time. Further information will be supplied in due course.

The Lawrence Young Farmers’ Club reports an enthusiastic meeting held on Saturday. A good attendance listened to a very interesting address by Mr K. Crawford on his impressions of the young farmers’ Week held in Dunedin. i Mr D. J, Ross was the lecturer at the ■ last meeting of the Waikouaiti Young Farmers’ Club, the subject of his address being “ Sheep Breeding.” Attendances at meetings of this club are being maintained at a good average. At a recent well-attended meeting of the Hilderthorpe Young Farmers’ Club, Mr T. A. Selwood gave an interesting and much-appreciated address on “Certified Ryegrass and Clover." Early next month - a meeting of the young farmers in the Stirling district will be held to discuss the formation ois a Young Farmers’ Club. Arrangements are noW being made for one of ;the officials of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs to attend from Dunedin, and indications are that a most successful meeting will result.

At a recent Dominion executive meeting the Dominion secretary wag instructed to obtain particulars regarding the best type of horseshoe for use on tar-sealed and bitumenised roads. The following report has been received from the Department of Agriculture:— “The question of devising a horseshoe, or some system of shoeing, which will meet the conditions on slippery roads, is one which has exercised the minds of horse owners and horseshoers in England during recent years. Although it must be admitted that np entirely satisfactory method of shoeing in this respect has as yet been introduced, nevertheless there are on the market in England, several varieties of shoes, devised with the object of preventing horses slipping on bitumenised or macadamised roads. The main principle involved is the use of rubber on the ground surface of the shoe, one of the earlier types being a leather pad to which was affixed a rubber frog or bar, the pad being affixed by the farrier under the shoe when shoeing the horse. Later improvements consist of a flexible steel bridge connecting the heels of the shoe, the steel carrying a piece of inset rubber. Another method is a rubber stud affixed to the shoe by a vacuum rivet; this is used with calkin shoes. Naturally, such methods arc expensive, and the cost is probably the greatest objection Involved in anti-slipping devices for horseshoes.” 4

The report states that rubber horseshoes are now obtainable from local hardware firms at from 13e 6d to 15s per set.

At the last meeting of directors of Otago Farmers’ Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association, the resignation of Mr J. D. Hall, who during the past 10 years ha g been the Canterbury director of the association, was received with the utmost regret. The chairman (Mr John Clarke) stated that be had written to Mr Hall urging him to remain on the board, and suggesting that be be given leave of absence whilst he was abroad, but that Mr Hall felt that the time bad arrived when another man should be appointed. The following resolution was recorded in the minutes: —"That this meeting acceptswith reluctance and regret the resignation of Mr J. ,D. Hall, and records its warm appreciation of the long and valued

service given by him in the interests of the association. His appointment coincided with the opening of the Christchurch branch, and since then the Nelson branch has been opened. As member of the board for Canterbury, a great deal of work has devolved on Mr Hall, to he has attended with meticulous care. His sound judgment and wide knowledge of Canterbury conditions have contributed in no small measure to the present flourishing state of the association’s business in Canterbury. During the 10 years in which he has been on the board he hag attended meetings i-e----gularly,' frequently at considerable sacrifice and inconvenience to himself. His keen < interest for the prosperity of the association, and wide knowledge have been of invaluable assistance to his codirectors.” Mr ■ Colin MTntosh, of West Eyreton, Canterbury, was appointed to fill the vacanacy. GERMAN WOOL EFFECT ON TRADE HOW LONG WILL STOCKS LAST? WHOLESALE AND RETAIL POSITION At the present moment the position in the German textile industry is of the greatest importance to Australia and to New Zealand, as a consequence of the embargo which has been imposed by the German Government upon all imports of raw material. Such materials tor the industry may now only be imported under license, the granting of which so far IfUs been rare. The following report on the position of the textile industry in Germany has been supplied to “ Commercial Australia " from authentic trade and official sources in Hamburg and Berlin, and, according to that journal may be relied uppu as an authoritative statement of the position and the prospects. It was at the end of March that the embargo was imposed, the intention being that manufacturers, from the end of that month, should rely on their stocks and the internal supply of raw material to carry on. At June 1 some modification was made, but the number of licenses issued for the purchase of wool, cotton, and jute has been very small. Up till the end of May there had been no reduction in production. The index figures of mill and factory production in the textile industry had continued to rise, until, at the end of that month, they were only 7 per cent, below the peak of production in the autumn of 1927, at which period the textile industry of Germany was producing more than at any time since the war. The deduction which wag drawn in Germany from this continuation of high production and of consumption,' was that it proved the possibility of stopping imports of raw material for at; least two months in the year without affecting production of consumption. This deduction, however, takes no account of the fear of shortage and of higher prices for products, which encouraged the placing of orders to forestall such eventualities. To that point this report refers later. GERMAN STOCKS.

The problem which now faces the industry in Germany, and also the wool industry in Australia, is the extent to which Germany can carry on her textile operations upon stocks in hand from overseas and her internal production. Generally speaking, raw material stocks in hand in Germany at the end of March were higher than at any period since the middle of 1927. Stocks from overseas in the hands of spinners and warehousemen totalled five to six months’ supply, and were valued at one milliard marks. In addition,, there is 12 months supply of raw materials produced in Germany, valued at 1.2 to 1.4 milliard marks, to be reckoned upon. These two sources of raw material at the end of March were in a position_ to provide two-thirds of the annual requirements. During the months from April to June, however, considerable inroads were made upon the imported stocks, about two-thirds of which were - consumed. On the other hand, the embargo imposed at the end of March was ineffective during, March, April, and May, and imj&rts Germany, during the month of April'were the heaviest of the year. It is anticipated that the embargo will only be really effective during the second six months of 1934. It is calculated that the balance Of the, March stocks, plus internal supplies, plus imports, during the second quarter of the year, will provide ample raw material stocks to last for five months from the end of June. HALF AND FINISHED GOODS.

The above, however, does not exhaust the stocks in the industry. There are those semi and finished goods in factories, wholesale house s and retail stores. In spite of the strong boom in consumption during the last quarter of 1933 and the first quarter of 1934, the German retail trade has been behind production by one and a-half to two months since the middle of 1932. At the end of 1931 retail trade stocks were valued at two milliard marks, which was 25 to 33 per cent, of the total turnover of the year. During 1932 stocks were somewhat reduced. In 1933 politico-economic action gave a great impetus to production, which was considerably increased. It Was not, however, until the end of the year that retail sales made any considerable advance, and at the end of the year the carryover of stocks had increased and was higher than it was at the end of 1931. It is estimated that retail stores are carrying four months’ stocks as at the end of May last. The stock of finished goods in wholesale houses and in factories is estimated at from two to three months’ supply. Yarn factories are estimated to have one to one and a-half months’ production in stock, the weaving and finishing factories from one to three months’ production, the wholesale houses between three and four months’ supply. On the basis of normal requirements, therefore, two-thirds of the above stocks could be drawn on without interference with consumer activity; that is to say that there are three months’ requirements of finished goods fully covered without the necessity of importing any further supplies of raw material. During 1933 production in the textile industry rose through all branches except wool. The index figure for the industry in 1932 had dropped to 30 per cent, of the 1928 figure, but in January, 1934, it had risen to 115, and at the end of March stood at 110. The industry was in an extremely favourable position. Large orders had been placed for new machinery, the volume of orders in hand at the end of March being higher than during the peak period of 1927-28. Factories were being extended and expansion taking place in every direction. RETAIL TRADE. The boom Christinas trade of 1933 dug into all stocks of raw materials. Production was increased, stocks in factories and warehouses. were reduced by 50 per cent., but by March they had been replaced by increased production at the peak level. For the four months from January to April, 1934, the volume of retail trade was 13 per cent, above the level at the C9rresponding period of 1033, whilst the price level of goods had n.-cn 10 per cent. This was due to better purchasing powgr amongst the masses, to a very considerable “ uniform ” trade, and to the fears of wholesalers and retailers of a shortage of raw material, and increases in prices. The amount of forestalling has been very considerable. It is generally understood that the bulk of winter stocks for the winter 1934-35 arc already in hand, except for fashion goods. On the other hand, the export trade has receded badly. The hopes expressed during the last quarter of 1933 of a revival of this trade have been entirely unfulfilled. April exports were the lowest since the stabilisation of the mark in 1924. Particularly severely has this export collapse been noticeable in the woollen and jute trades. * Summing up the position, our correspondent states the entire future of the textile industry—woollen, cotton, silk, etc.—in Germany depends upon the ability to import raw material. Unless Germany can obtain better retail prices internally, and a better export surplus, so as to be able to provide the transfers of foreign exchange necessary for payment of i-a wmaterials, the industry must gradually decline to stagnation. All other problems—marketing, price spreads, costs, interest —fall far into the background as compared with this vital question.