FARM AND STATION NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 3

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

B;v Rusttctts.

WOOL SALES, 1934-35 Wool gales for the 1934-35 season have been arranged as follows: Not. 27—Auckland Feb. 18—Napier. Dec. B—Napier. Feb 22 Wanganui. I)3C. B—Wellington. Mar. I—Christchurch Dec. 13—Christchurch Mar. 4—lnvercargill. Dec. 17—Tlmaru. Mar. 9—-Dunedin. Dec. 21—Dunedin. Mar 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—Wanganui. Jan. 28—Christchurch. Apr. s—Christchurch. Feb. I—lnvercargill. Apr. B—Dunedin. Feb. &—Dunedin. Apr. 13—Wellington. Feb. 13—Wellington; 1934-35 SHOW SEASON ROSTER OF DATES Agricultural and * pastoral shows have been arranged as follows for the 1934-35 season:— November 17.—Taien, at Outram. t November 20, 21,—Otago, at Tahuna Park. November 22, 23.—Clutha and Matau, at Balclutha. November 24.—Winton. December I.—Tokomairiro Farmers’ Club, at Milton. December 4, 6. —Gore. December 6.—Central Otago at Omakau. December 6. —Owaka. December 7.—Wyndbam. December 7. —Maniototo, at Ranfurly. December 11, 12, 13.—Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at Invercargill. December 15.—Otago Peninsula, at Portobello. >935. January 12.—Blueskin, at Waitati. January 18.—Waikouaiti. January 25. —Palmerston- and Wathemo County, at Palmerston. March 13—Lake County, at Arrowtown. April 22.—Strath-Taieri, at Middlemarch. April 22.—Mackenzie County, at Fairhe. Encouraging Wool Signs There have lately been remarked encouraging signs in the wool market which have had tneir origin in an improved Continental inquiry, and these will hearten growers greatly notwithstanding the opinion expressed this week by a visiting German operator that the Argentine > will secure the bulk of the German business this season as a reward for consistent trading with Germany. Bradford manufacturers have now withdrawn their embargo on export of tops and yarns to Germany—an important customer for these semi-manufactures. Since then the sales in Geelong, Victoria, have shown the market to be stronger than for some weeks past, with an Australian record price of 20Jd established for merino and 17id paid for comebacks. , , „ The Bradford tops market closed very firm” last week for all business for delivery early in next year, and a rise on the week of id per lb for 70’s, id for 64 a, but prices of other and lower counts unchanged. New Zealand Auctions The prospects for, the coming New Zealand sales, beginning with Auckland on November 27, followed by Napier on December 3, and Wellington on December 8, are fair. London sales beginning a week earlier than the New Zealand offerings will reveal the condition of the market. But the buying of Japan in Australia and New Zealand is an element lacking in the London majket. It remains to be seen what bearing it will have on the New Zealand series of sales when they begin. Sales to Date Dalgety and Co. report that sales of wool in New Zealand for the past four months, compared, with the corresponding period of 1933, have been as follows: 4 mos., 1934. 4 mos., 1933. Bales. Bales. Offered. Sold. Offered. Sold

Offerings in October last were 2137, of which 1933 were sold. , . Exports of wool for the four months in review were 47,089 bales, compared with 85,036 bales for the corresponding months of 1933. Japanese Support Japan’s consumption of raw wool Increases year by year and it is expected that for 1934-35 it may reach to between 700.000 and 800,000 bales. On the other hand Japanese domestic buying power for woollen goods remains low at manufacturers’ latest quotations. If the Japanese themselves are in a position to meet those prices and export of woollen goods by Japan is nqt increased, then Japan may not be so conspicuous a figure in the New Zealand wool gales as formerly. With respect to the New Zealand sales the present sensitive condition of the world’s market for the coarser wools does not appear to warrant such reserves being placed on tbe wool as to retard business. The New Zealand Wool Committee, representative of all interests—growers, brokers, and buyers—has fixed the maximum offerings for the first six sales, No-vember-December, at 145,000 bales. This is a fairly .heavy weight of wool in present circumstances to put on to the market in a period of 22 to 23 days. But if buyers are keen and growers are prepared to send in to the limit and to meet the market then the quantity may not appear so formidable as it does at the moment with the outlook for disposal of our New Zealand coarser wools still rather uncertain. England’s Exports The effects of the German embargo were noticeable in the English export figures for August. Board of Trade returns show that the shipments of tops from the United Kingdom in that month were 2,650,0001 b. being 1,072,0001 b less than in August, 1933. The export to Germany was 425,0001 b, being 48 per cent, less than a year before. Increased quantities sent to other quarters offset that reduction to some extent. The exports of worsted yarns were 2.527,0001 b, being 1,364,0001 b below August, 1933, the German total showing a decrease of 73 per cent. Exports of woollen and worsted fabrics were 11.014.000 square yards, the total being slightly higher than 12 months before. During the eight months ended August shipments of tops were 27,795,0001 b, being 2,213,0001 b less than a year previously, but nearly 3,000,0001 b greater than in 1932. The exports of worsted yarns were 23,088,8001 b, showing an increase of

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789,1001 bon the 1933 total. Shipments of woollen and worsted fabrics for the period were 70,001,000 square yards, an increase of 8,242,000 square yards on the 1933 total. Imports of fabrics for the eight months were 1,046,000 square yards below the 1933 level. British overseas trade in textiles must, therefore, be regarded as satisfactory, the United Kingdom being one of the few countries which showed expansion in that regard. Considering the loss of business with Germany, English millmen have done well to show as satisfactory figures in tops, yarns, and manufactures generally. If the market mentioned had been normal a gratifying turnover in foreign sales would have been recorded. Despite the decreased exports of tops and yarns Yorkshire has bought wool very freely this season. The statistical position of the raw material is sound in the United Kingdom from the woolsellers’ viewpoint. From January to July the quantity of imported wool retained in the country was 160,000 bales less than in 1933, crossbreds showing a slight increase, but merinos a decided reduction. Wool and Reciprocal Trade The deputation of graziers’ representatives which interviewed the Prime Minister regarding revision of the tariff in order to encourage a revival in wool buying orders from various countries gave emphasis to a needed change in policy, the necessity of which has been evident for some time. Australia lives by exports, of which wool is the most important. Consuming countries have exercised great patience in respect to Australia’s attitude probably because the sheep’s staple grown was the most suitable raw material for their purposes, but financial stress has compelled them to seek supplies in quarters which provide them with a reasonable amount of reciprocal trade. Wool representatives who have recently visited countries overseas have had evidence of the keen resentment felt at Australia’s heavy tariff. None of the nations interested expects Australia, with her small population, to supply completely balancing business, but they do desire a volume of orders for goods which will give an indication that the Commonwealth does not almost completely prohibit compensating trade with those who purchase her primary products. Australian Sales Commenting on the previous week’s sales on November 3 the Sydney Morning Herald said:—“Yorkshire competition displayed outstanding strength, buyers for that quarter securing liberal quantities of the choicer, spinners' wools offered. France also bought a number of the higher grade lines, her competition generally proving a good market influence. Buyers usually operating on direct buying orders from Germany were also active. Japan did not secure the staple as freely as in previous weeks of the season, partially owing to the fact that her purchasing limits in some cases were not as high as those from elsewhere, but. good weights were bought for that country. The selections as a whole were not as suitable for Japanese needs as those of previous weeks. Bidding was also experienced from Belgian, Australian, and Italian, manufacturers. The extended range of orders generally at the slightly advanced values must be regarded ns a favourable development which should inspire increased confidence among millmen and buyers of tops, yarns, and fabrics. Market weakness a short time ago tended to check the placing of orders for manufacturers owing to the fear of a further reduction in prices. It also tempted millmen to cut prices for their products in an endeavour to secure business to keep their machinery employed. The rising cost of wool will discourage that action. The position, at least for the present, is clearer, and should enable orders for goods to be placed with greater confidence. Trading conditions in Europe are by no means normal, but the outlook is somewhat more favourable. Ensilage The present season promises to be a good one for ensilage and hay-making. It to save as much grass as possible, as one cannot tell what conditions will have to be faced as the season advances. The food value of silage is determined by the material from which it has been made, and that the best silage—milk-pro-ducing silage—is made from grass when ■it is about six inches high, before the seedstalks have formed. Another advantage of making silage early is that a good aftermath is thereby secured and a pasture that, given some moisture in summer and proper control, will provide feed throughout the season. World’s Exports of Chilled Beef

The world’s exports of chilled beef in 1933, which exceeded 400,000 tons, come almost entirely from Argentina, which furnished about 85 per cent, of the whole in that year,.the bulk of the balance being supplied by Uruguay (7 per cent.) and Brazil (6 per cent.). British Empire countries, mainly Southern Rhodesia, exported 7000 tons of chilled beef in 1933, or nearly 2 per cent, of the world’s exports. Smaller Crop# EverywhereA New York banking authority says that “harvests are smaller everywhere, especially in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Acreages planted in Australia and Argentina are less, and conditions none too favourable. The northern hemisphere crops, excluding Russia and China, are about 350,000,000 bushels, or 11 per cent. less than last year, and southern hemisphere prospects suggest a world total 400 to 450 million bushels smaller than two years ago. This will permit the first reduction, outside the United States, in the surplus accumulated since 1927. Moreover, the world crop of rye, a competing grain, is 260.000,000 bushels or 25 per cent, smaller. These changes will put the wheat situation on a sounder basis, and relieve most markets of the surpluses which have been plaguing them.” Royal Show The Royal (N.Z.), Agricultural Show will be held this year on December 11, 12, and 13, in the Southland A. and P. Showgrounds, Invercargill. Schedules are now available and are obtainable from all A. and P. Associations and secretaries of breed societies. For the convenience of exhibitors a special show train carrying passengers and stock will leave Christchurch for Invercargill on Saturday, December 8, arriving in Invercargill early on Sunday morning. A billeting committee has been formed to arrange accommodation, and exhibitors and visitors are advised to communicate at once with the secretary, Mr A. L. Adamson, ox 219, Invercargill.

Invercargill . ' —* — — Dunedin .. .. 1,161 964 4,296 3,963 Timaru .. .. 600 494 1,377 1,377 Christchurch .. 931 873 3,245 3,200 Blenheim : 7 7 28 25 Wellington .. 1,167 1,051 5,263 5,089 Wanganui 295 295 5,150 4,810 Napier .. .. 638 620 1,894 1,853 Gisborne .. 547 540 1,434 1,400 Auckland 1,296 1,296 2,899 2,826 Totals 6,542 6,140 25,586 24,543