THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22608, 27 June 1935, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

By Rustictjs

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

OFFICIAL NOTES.

Wiee-craeks for the week:—

We act as though comfort and luxurywere the chief requirements of life when all that we need to make us really happy is something to he enthusiastic about. — Charles Kingsley. The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not. —George Bernard Shaw.

There was a good attendance at the Waikouaiti Young Farmers' Club's last meeting. The address for the evening was on "Ensilage," the lecturer being Mr J. E. Davies, of the Department of Agriculture.

During the recent educational week held in' Dunedin, nearly every young farmer was called upon for a minute speech, and about 30 were asked to move votes of thanks or propose and respond to toasts. It ia an interesting fact that every lad asked to speak did so, and in the majority of cases spoke well.

Mr A. G. Cameron left for Wellington on Monday.to:attend a special meeting called by the-Dominion president ot the New Zealand Farmers' Union to discuss the question of organisation. Whilst in Wellington, Mr Cameron will address the annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society on the subject of \oung Farmers' Clubs."

A new member (Mr T. L. Allanton) was elected at the last meeting of the West Taieri Young Farmers Club. A debate has been arranged betwen this club and the South Taieri Young Farmers' Club on the subject of whethei the cultivation of cereals and roots could be improved on the Taieri Plain. The club took the opportunity of congratulating one of its members, Mr, b. K. Bathgate, on his fine performance in™nine the trophy for the beet Young Farmers' Club secretary in the Dominion. Mr J. M. Smith, of the Agricultural Department, has notified the club of his willingness to lecture on "Manures on August 8. '

A simple and concise explanation of the Rural Mortgage Final Adjustment Act (1934-35) and the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Act (1934-35) has been issued by two Wellington solicitors, lhis is obtainable in booklet form, but the Dominion Executive, New Zealand farmers' Union, feel that it is of such importance that members of the union should understand the provisions of the Act that it proposes to have copies ot this booklet sent free to every financial member of the union. Arrangements are now in hand to have these printed

The Portobello. Young Farmers' Club is living up to its reputation of being one of the most active of the recently-formed clubs. It has held two meetings recently, at one of which Mr. D. Tannock lectured on "Forestry." Members of the Portobello branch of the .Women's Division were entertained at this meeting. On Tuesday of last week a very successful concert and dance were held, the concert section of which was kindly supplied by Bege's Concert Party. On July 11 the club intends holding a further dance in the .Portobello Hall.

Some pithy sayings at the Young Farmers' course in Dunedin: — I think there is no doubt that the hard workers are the healthy, happy men, and they are the ones who most often survive to Be happy old people; and to nobody does this apply more truly than to the farmer. —Dr Geoffrey Barnett. Remember that though the body is extraordinarily adaptable and long suffering, : Nature neither forgets nor forgives an injury, and as with the motor car, so with the body—it is not so much" "the mileage that tells as the way you drive it. —Dr Geoffrey Barnett.

WOOL TRADE

Items of Interest to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pwrmfta, With a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to "Rusticus," Otago Dally Times, Dunedha,

The mental equipment of the successful farmer is many-sided—comprising knowledge of facts and application of this knowledge, experience and all that it teaches, far-sighted vision, judgment and initiative.—Mr G. A. Holmes, M.Sc, B.Ag. There is much in my job to make one depressed—every day brings its toll of annoyances and I assure you that at times I wonder if my efforts are worth while. I can, however, recommend a tonic which is calculated to give one fresh impetus and enthusiasm, and that is to come in daily contact with a hundred country lads during one of these educational courses. —Mr A. C. Cameron.

The Minister of Agriculture has replied to a remit from the Dominion Executive as follows: — Remit: " That the Government be asked to redouble the restrictions in the matter of foot-and-mouth disease as regards the destruction of packing and garbage coming from abroad." —Reply: "I am somewhat at a loss to understand just what your executive have in mind, as the existing regulations prohibit the importation of goods packed in hay or straw from countries in which foot-and-mouth disease ia present, save that in the case of goods imported from the United Kingdom such packing may be used provided that it has been sterilised under competent supervision and a certificate to that effect accompanies the goods. It is therefore unnecessary to provide for its being burned on arrival, although thi9 is sometimes done. Goods in prohibited packing are not allowed to land. The supervision at this end is carried out in cooperation with the Customs Department, and instances have occurred where goods have been re-shipped or destroyed owing to non-compliance with the regulations. As regards the question of garbage from overseas ships, I am pleased to be able to assure you that compulsory destruction o£ such material is adequately met by regulations, and there is no evidence that these regulations are being evaded in any way."

LIVERPOOL AS A MARKET

WORK OF THE DAIRY BOARD (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Bt Am Mail) LONDON, June 1. When the Lord Mayor of Liverpool (Alderman F. T. Richardson) distributed the awards to Liverpool grocers who had entered for the window-dressing competition arranged by the New Zealand Dairy Board, he was agreeably surprised to hear of the increase of direct New Zealand shipments. Mr H. E. Davis, London manager for the board, said that during the past five years New Zealand had spent £70,000,000 in this country on manufactured goods alone, and no other part of the world with an equally small population could approach that figure. "In 1930 our direct shipments of dairy produce to you were 3200 tons," he added, " and in 1934 they had reached 11,500 tons. But still we are not satisfied." The Lord Mayor said the window display competition was not simply "an advertising stunt," otherwise he, in his official capacity, could not have supported it. It was an effort by a partner ia the Empire to improve its trade. He suggested that, as only 12 of the 320 entrants had won awards, the remaining 308 might be informed, possibly by circulars, what were the points on which they had failed.— ("Hear, hear," and applause.) " It has occurred to me," went on the Lord Mayor, "that the pushing of New Zealand' produce would be a good thing for shipping —and God knows we want it in Liverpool. I hope I shan't be told that the produce goes to London. If a letter from me to the New Zealand High Commissioner to that effect would do any good it shall go within 24 hourii." Mr Davis remarked that when the board first came to Liverpool, some 10 or 12 years ago, they were told that Liverpool was " a Danish area." But the city now bought over 11,000 tons of New Zealand dairy produce in a year. The Lord Mayor: But where do you ship it to? —(Laughter and applause.) Mr Davis: To Liverpool, sir—Liverpool.— (Applause.)

OFFICIAL REPORT (From Our Own Correspondent.) (By Air Mail) LONDON, June 1. According to the Imperial Economic Committee's Wool Intelligence Notes for May, shipments of wool from Australia during 10 months (July-April) of the current season aggregated 750,000,0001 b, as compared with 796,000,0001 b during the corresponding period of 1933-34 and 850,000,0001 b in 1932-33. • Shipments during April, 1935, were 63,000,0001 b higher than during the same month last year. Disposals of current clip wool during that month aggregated 81,000,0001 b, as compared with 3,000,0001 b in April, 1934, and about 50,000,0001 b in April, 1933. The abnormally low level in 1934 was caused by the disorganisation in the market consequent upon Germany's withdrawal, and the rapidity with which available stocks had been sold in previous months. It is now anticipated that end-of-season stocks are not likely to be higher than those at the end of June, 1934, and, if the present good demand continues, they may be substantially less. Shipments from New Zealand, although 9,000,0001 b higher in April, 1935. than in April, 1934, were still nearly 80,000,0001 b lower for the 10 months of the current season than in the corresponding period in 1933-34. Receipts at South African ports during the 10 months of the current season aggregated 192,000,0001 b, as compared with 256,000,0001 b during the 1933-34 season. Shipments during the same period aggregated 195.000,0001 b, as compared with 211,000,0001 b last year. Shipments this year to Germany amounted to 63,000,0001 b, as against 50,000,0001 b in 1933-34, while shipments to France and the United Kingdom show decreases of 10,000,0001 b and 15,000,0001 b respectively. Shipments from Argentina during the first seven months of the current season (October-April) were about 10 per cent, less than in the 1933-34 season. Germany has taken the largest share of the Argentine shipments to date. UPWARD TREND OF VALUES. Raw wool stocks in reporting warehouses and depots in the United Kingdom at the end of April were about 23 per cent, less than on the same date a year earlier. Stocks of tops in Continental combing establishments aggregated 53,000,0001 b, as compared with 64,000,0001 b at the end of April, 1934. i The general rise In raw wool price*

on primary markets, which commenced in April, was confirmed at the series in London which has just closed. This trend, combined with the relative soundness of the raw material supply position, has led to an improved tone in the wool textile industries in most conntries. Foreign trade restrictions and exchange difficulties, however, are still proving a limiting factor to increased activity, although there is a definite improvement, particularly in Franco and Belgium, in the output of goods for home consumption. In the United Kingdom it is, as yet, proving difficult to pass on the increases iu raw wool prices, and only a limited amount of new business is'being done at the higher rates. Yarn prices are gradually coming into line, however, and prices of tops are firm at higher levels in sympathy with the trend of raw wool values.

MARKETING LEGISLATION

AUSTRALIA'S PROBLEM TO BE TESTED BEFORE PRIVY COUNCIL (From Oue Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 20. Australia's marketing legislation, elaborately built up over a period of years, is in the melting pot. Many high legal authorities believe that it is invalid, because it infringes section 92 of the Federal Constitution, providing that trade between the States must be absolutely free. Within the next few months an appeal will go before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, and upon that decision will rest the fate of the marketing laws. The kernel of these Jaws is the regulation of marketing, of certain products, including, up to the present, dried and canned fruits, butter and cheese, while plans are being made to bring wheat within their scope. Under the legislation, producers of these goods are compelled to market specified proportions of their production on world markets before they can obtain the benefits oi participation in the higher-priced domestic market, where prices are fixed and controlled by boards. The power to forbid placing all the products on the home market is given to the Commonwealth by laws of the States. This power is now being challenged. The High Court of Australia, the highest tribunal in interpreting the Federal Constitution, has held in earlier years that the States have no power to pass such legislation as that affecting marketing, on the ground that their action would infringe section 92 because it interferes with Freetrade between States. But in a later decision, on the casting vote of the Chief Justice, the court held that the Commonwealth, as distinct from each individual State, or all six of them, is not bound by section 92. That decision has always been a matter of dispute among lawyers, and the present High Court showed recently that it itself doubts the decision. The court had before it an appeal by a South Australian dried fruits merchant, who wanted to fulfil orders received from another State, but was not permitted by the Dried Fruits Export Control Board to do eo because he had refused to export overseas a certain proportion of his production. The point at issue was whether the board (that is, the Federal Government) has power to require a merchant to market a proportion of his dried fruit output overseas when he desired to place it on the Australian market. The merchant, Frederick Alexander James, of Adelaide, claimed that the Fried Fruits Act under which the board was set up was beyond the powers of the Federal Parliament and therefore invalid. He claimed that it was not necessary for him to hold a license under the Act before delivering dried fruits to any person for carriage into or through another State, and that he should be allowed to send his dried fruits from South Australia to any other State. The Commonwealth demurred to the claim, and, stating that the Act was valid, submitted that under the Act the Minister for Commerce fixed from to time a percentage of the total output of dried fruits which each holder of a license under the Act was required to market outside Australia. The five judges of the High Court unanimously dismissed James's appeal and upheld the Commonwealth's demurrer, but all of them indicated that they were merely following a precedent judgment of the court, and that the present court would grant leave for an appeal to the Privy Council in order that the law might be further tested. As a fact, no fewer than three of the judges said they were giving a decision against their personal opinion, so that the process of taking the appeal to the Privy Council could be expedited and a matter of urgency to Australia settled for all time. The Commonwealth Government itself is not sanguine that the Privy Council will uphold the validity of the marketing legislation. This was made clear by a recent statement by the Acting Prime Minister (Dr Earle Page) that steps were being taken to prepare for a referendum of the people to seek sanction for an alteration of Section 92 in case the appeal to the Privy Council went against the Government.

AUSTRALIAN WOOL CLIP

ESTIMATE FOR NEXT YEAR BIG REDUCTION EXPECTED (From Odr Own Correspondent.! SYDNEY, June 20. The Australian wool clip for the 1035-36 season is expected to be 2,930,000 bales, and of this total production it is estimated that 2,005,000 bales will be received through the brokers' stores for offering in Australia. The latest estimate of production in the season now closing is 3,140,000 bales. There will be no carry-over on June 30, whereas on June 30, 1934, there was a carry-over of about 150,000 bales. It is considered that 18 per cent, of the new clip will be crossbred and all strong-wool breeds, and that the balance will be merino wool. , The estimate of the new clip was given after the annual meeting in Melbourne this week of the joint conference of the Australian Woolgrowers' Council and the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia. It was stated that, owing to the droughty conditions prevailing in many parts of Australia, delegates were faced with some difficulty in arriving at a reliable estimate, and provision was made for a review of the estimate, to be made in November. The enormous drop in wool production in Queensland had most effect on the reduction of the estimated clip, but dry conditions in Northern New South Wales affected the clip : <i *he State, and similar conditions in Ravenna affected the Victorian estimate. Reductions were shown in each of these States, while estimates from South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia were higher than those for 1934-35.

The main selling season in the coming year will extend from September 2, when the opening sale will be held in Sydney, until April, with winter sales in May and June. It was agreed that the quantity of wool to be offered before Christmas should not exceed 1,420,000 bales, it being understood that action would be taken to review this amount from time to time in the light of prevailing market conditions.