THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rtjsttctts

WOOL-SELLING SEASON ROSTER OF SALES The New Zealand Woolbuyers' Association has issued the following list of sales for the 1935-36 "season. The first sale will be held in Auckland on November 26, and the last sale at Wellington on April 5. / 1935 Not. 26—Auckland. Dec. 12—Chrlstchurch. Dec. 2—Napier. / Dec. 16—Tlmaru. Dec. 7—Wellington. Dec. 20—Dunedin. 1936 Jan. 6—Wellington. Mar. 3—Chrlstchurch. Jan. 11 —Napier. Mar. 6—lnvercarglll. Jan. .16—Wanganui. Mar. 11 —Dunedin. Jan. 21—Auckland. Mar. 16—Wellington. Jan. 27—Chrlstchurch. Mar. 20-r-Napler. Jan. 31—Invercargill. Mar. 24—Auckland. Feb. s—Dunedin. Mar. 27—Wanganui. Feb. 10 —Timaru. Mar. 31—Chrlstchurch. Feb. 15—Wellington. Apr. 4 —Dunedin. Feb. 20—Napier. Apr. s—Wellington. Feb. 21 —Wanganui. Commonwealth Wool Turnover Returns issued by the National Council of Wool-selling Brokers of Australia show that the sales of wool in the principal selling centres of the Commonwealth during the year ended June 30 last totalled 2,992,267 bales, which realised £37,927,409 in Australian currency. Compared with the preceding twelve months the quantity sold, showed an increase of 468,591 bales, and the amount realised a decrease of £13,171,508. The greasy and * scoured wool sold averaged £l2 13s 6d per bale x or lO.Old per lb, the average for the preceding year being £2O 4s lid per bale] or 16.22 d per lb. The figures below show the number of bales sold and the averages obtained during seven seasons: —

The amount realised for the wool sold in the principal selling centres of the Commonwealth during the past five years has been as follows:— r 1930-31 .. .. .. f 28,203,633 1931-32 , 29,363,156 1932-33 34,410,327 1933-34 \. .. „ 51.098,717 1934-35 .. .. ..• 37,927,409 Sydney Market Turnover During the year ended June 30 sales of wool on the Sydney market totalled 1,214,525 bales, which realised £15,359,397. Compared with the preceding season, the quantity sold shows an increase of 133,969 bales, but the amount realised a decrease of £6,614,504. The greasy and scoured wool sold made an average of £l2 12s lid per bale, or lOd per lb, compared with £26 6s 8d per bale, or 16.3 d per lb, during the previous season. Figures below show the quantity of wool sold and the average price obtained in Sydney during 10 seasons:—

Values for Ten Years ' The wool sold in Sydney realised the followingjamounta in Australian currency during the past 10 seasons:—

Board of Trade returns show that, from January 1 to April 30, the exports of tops from the United Kingdom amounted to 21,960,0001 b, being 5,704,0001 b higher than a year before. German shipments were 10,060,0001 b. being 137 per cent, larger than in 1934. Worsted yarn exports were 11,449,0001 b, a decrease of 280,0001 b. The shipments of woollen and worsted fabrics were 36,651,000 square yards, an increase of 1,535,000 square yards on the-total from the similar period of the previous year, but 6,479,000 square yards above 1933. Imports of woollen fabrics were 1,703,000 square yards, being 546,000 square yards less than 1934, the reduction providing more internal trade for the English mills. As a whole, the totals show that increased quantities of wool have been consumed on export orders by the home establishments. German purchases in Yorkshire have assisted to keep the raw material position sound in England. Exports of treated and Bkin wool from the United Kingdom to Germanj\ difring the four months totalled 10.059,0001 b, or nearly five times the quantity taken in the period of 1934.

Victorian Marketing Bill Despite the fact that, during the depression, Australia marketed the record weights of wool she produced and has good prospects of selling the ensuing season's production at improved prices, the Dunstan Ministry in Victoria intends to include wool in the scope of the Marketing of Primary Products Bill which it is. introducing, though it is considered improbable that, at present, any plan for wool marketing will be introduced. The staple, however, comes within the scope of the Bill. Orderly marketing of primary products is the objective of the legislation. Could any product be offered for sale under a more orderly procedure than the system under which wool ia submitted? -It is offered it regulated quantities, and commands competition from almost every wool-consuming country in the world. No plan can make it realise higher figures than are warranted by the prices which can be obtained for the goods made from it. In the past 10 years marketing plans have been tried with a host of commodities in many countries, including Australia, and no person, can point with pride to the success achieved. Wheat has provided the classic example of the misguided attempted interference with the law of supply and demand. It is only an attempt because the results ot that natural law are inevitable. No means of controlling production of wool, wheat, and other products exists, and Unless production can be controlled and kept in even quantity with demand, no attempt to fix prices can possibly prove successful. What effect the Dunstan Government can expect from the results of marketing control oft Victoria's clip of about 511,000 bales' is not known. It is in the vicinity of one-sixth of Australia's production, and less than onetwentieth of the world's.annual clip. Approximately 210,000 bates of New South Wales wool from the Riverina and other southern districts are sold in Victoria centres. If a marketing plan in Victoria is instituted it is probable that a great part of that wool will be diverted to Sydney %nd Adelaide, with the result that Victorian railways, carriers, and wool stores will miss the employment which it provides. Even clips grown in Victoria may be sent to other markets for sale, as the Government will surely not dictate to a grower where he is to oiler his clip. The Authorities will be well advised if they leave the sale of wool to the excellent system under which it is marketed. During the past five years £181,000,000 has been realised for the wool sold in Australia. Any at-

Items of interest to those engaged tn agricultural and pastoral pursuits with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to "Rueticus," Otago Dally Times, Donatta*

tempt to interfere, with the sale of a product which is such a large producer of revenue in the Commonwealth is decidedly risky. In any Government control the authorities concerned naturally endeavour to justify the power given to them. Experience shows that they are loth to face facts when conditions are not favourable, but prefer to postpone selling in the hope that prices will improve, neglecting the fact that accumulating supplies are a hindrance on any improvement developing.

TOPICS OF INTEREST OFFICIAL KOTE&

They say that the first time a Scotsman used free air in a garage he blew out four tyres.

Mr R. J. E. Smith was unable to attend the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, so his place waa filled by Mr D. H. Cockburn, Arrowtown. '

The Ngapara Young Farmers' Club's last meeting took the form of a debate, the subject being "Horses versus Tractors." Mr Hood was in the chair and Mr M'Culloch acted as judge.

At the Waikouaiti Young Farmers' Club's meeting a number of papers were read on the club field survey. These were later handed over to a committee of four to make the final survey.

Worry is a thin_ stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. —Arthur S. Roche.

Classical investigation carried out it the Institute for the Study of Animal Nutrition of Cambridge (England) has shown that the dry matter (i.e., the solid materials of which young grass contains on the average about 20 per cent.) of well grazed pasture herbage is a highly nutritious food. | Grass growth up to three or four weeks old, whether from young or old pasture, is practically as digestible as a concentrated food such as linseed cake. Older grass falls "off in digestibility with increasing age.

At the last meeting of the Clinto'i Young Farmers' Club, a debate was held with the Clinton branch of the farmers' Union. The subject chosen was "That Scientific Research in Agriculture is Economic." The Farmers Union, who took the negative, must be congratulated on their debating ability, because they won though advocating an almost hopeless cause.

The Owaka Valley, Tokorahi, and Lawrence Young Farmers' Clubs all report successful meetings held recently, and these clubs have been most successful in finding talent in their own districts. It has been often stated that clubs should look in their own districts for lecturers, either among their own members or among the surrounding farmers. These, lectures" or discussions judiciously mixed with outside lectures give local information which is most valuable.

An entirely new scheme of organisation was propounded by a special committee Which completed its work during the sitting of the recent Dominion Conference of«the Farmers' Union. Later, the scheme was unanimously adopted by the conference. Instead of an unwieldy Dominion executive of over 40 members, the number has been reduced to 15, inclusive of the president and vice-presidents. The Dominion has been divided into 10 districts, each of which will supply one member of the new executive. The man elected must be prepared to attend executive meetings regularly and give the same attention to the work as, say, a member of the Meat Board.

Otago and North Otago forms one of these districts, and Mr Fred. Waite, M.L.C., was unanimously elected to the executive by the Otago and North Otago delegates to the Dominion Conference. At an early date, these appointments will be open to ratification by the provincial councils concerned.

Humour occasionally lightened the some, what heavy deliberations of the recent Dominion Conference in Wellington. A Hawke's Fay delegate put forward a very hazy scheme for the formation of a hugh farmers' co-operative venture, the main feature of which was that each of the 80,000 farmers in New Zealand should contribute £5 apiece. ■ On being asked to explain certain points, he waved his arms airily and said, "I haven't outlined the complete scheme. I have only given you the shell." " Well, it's a dud shell,"' interjected a southern delegate, and the discussion was drowned with laughter.

*' * * During last week considerable progress has been made with the organising of the Farmers' Union throughout Otago. Meetings have been held and special committees of branches arranged for Clinton, Te Houka, Balclutha, Owaka, Tahatika, Glenomaru, Hillend. Awamangu Pukeawa, Clydevale, Dunback,. and Palmerston branches. During the next fortnight, meetings will be held through all the central branches, and this should make a firm foundation on which the organisation of the union can be built.

During the Dominion Conference, some 20 delegates, representing districts interested in barley growing, met and discussed the knotty problems of marketing. Certain unanimity was reached, and a deputation, headed by Mr G. A. Hamilton, Lumsden, waited upon the Minister of Agriculture and discussed the whole question with him.

As the brewers were also in conference in Wellington, it was decided to ask them to- meet a deputation from the growers, including (if possible) Government representatives. The brewers agreed, and a deputation of six waited upon them and spent two hours in conference. The deputation included two Government representatives—Mr A. H. Cockayne, Assistant Director-general of Agriculture, and Mr R. B. Tennent, director of the fields division, Mr A. C. Cameron put the main case for the growers, all the other delegates taking part in what proved to be a very friendly discussion. The delegates will, in due course, report fully to their respective districts.

The following are culled from Mr G. A. Hamilton's remarks to the Southland Young Farmers' School, which was held in Invercargill recently:— "It is not by our own good management that we are here to inherit all this good fortune, but we should be proud that we are part of the great British Empire and are the sons of those courageous pioneers who have handed down a veritable paradise to us. " Your calling is a noble one, do not be ashamed of it. It is as old as time itself, and will last to the end of time. The farmer is a practical man, and needs a knowledge of about a dozen trades. His work takes him close to Nature, and he must work in harmony with Nature if he is to be at all successful.

" New Zealand is practically the only country, where the farming community is responsible for nearly all the revenue. It depends on the Mother Country to a large extent, and it is time New Zealand started to be loyal to her in the purchase of manufactured goods. We must endeavour to buy her well-made articles instead of importing foreign goods. We sell 80 per cent, of our produce to Britain, yet we buy only 50 per cent, of our imports there. Is it any wonder we get restrictions and quotas against us? I often wonder why Britain has tolerated the unequal balance so long. Britain's trade is vitally necessary to the Dominion, and the farmers have been told to produce more and more to meet the growing demand. They have done their job only too well. « " The slump had unfortunately left many farmers in financial difficulties, and how long the country would remain in the doldrums was a matter of speculation, but present conditions would exist until international tariffs were adjusted. The depression had its compensating side, for it had taught them to value and appreciate their home and home life, to value their friends, and it had also brought town and country closer together." In concluding his address, Mr Hamilton traced the history and progress of Southland, and appealed to the young men to guard and cherish their great heritage. SOUTH CANTERBURY NOTES A MILD WINTER (Special to Daily Times) TIMARU, July 21. A fair amount of rain has fallen in South Canterbury during the last few months, and the' registration for the first half of the year has been up to the average. In some districts farmers state that there ha 3 been sufficient for present requirements, but on the coastal area a further fall woilld not be unwelcome, as most of the dams are far from overflowing. For the last fortnight, however, the weather has been spring-like, and with

an abundance of feed stock are doing exceptionally well. July is usually our coldest month, with a risk of rough weather, but this year it has been one of the mildest on record, and prospects for high lambing percentages look bright. THE MEAT PARLEY. The apparently satisfactory conclusion of the meat parley in London has been baited with feelings of relief in South Canterbury, not only by farmers, but by firms and individuals who are financing them. The high prices paid at the ewe fairs were justified only by the assumption that payable prices for wool and meat would be obtained next season, and any restriction of output of lamb or mutton would have had serious repercussions. CHAIN SLAUGHTERING. One South Canterbury farmer has pronounced views on the cause of the alleged deterioration in the quality of lamb from this province. This he ascribes, not to inherent defects* in the carcass, but to the chain system of killing, claiming that rouch handlintr by a score of men and boys, instead of by one skilled slaughterman, takes the bloom off the meat. DEAR POTATOES. The predicted shortage of potatoes in the North Island has eventuated, and tuber prices have reached their highest level for some years. The position has been affected by the reluctance of some growers to accept even the present boom values, and it is by no means certain that the market will hold. A renewal of the agitation for the lifting of the Australian embargo has led some holders to believe that there might be an outlet in Sydney, but there is no evidence that this is likely to happen, and it will not be long now before new season's potatoes are available in Australia. In any case. Tasmania is one of the States interested in the maintenance of the embargo, and it does not seem feasible that anvthing will be done in the absence of Mr Lyons. SHOW DATE ALTERED. . After being a mid-week fixture for 69 years, it is probable that the Timaru Show in October next will be held on Friday and Saturday. The reason for the contemplated change is found in the fact that the principal country towns —Waimate, Temukn, and Geraldine—have decided to adopt Saturday afternoon as tfte weekly half-holiday. The only difficulty likelv to be encountered is that a few exhibitors whose stock is brought by rail might not be able to get it home before Monday, but it is not considered that this is insuperable. THE RABBIT PEST.

One of the finest things that could happen just now would be a steep rise in the price of .rabbitskins. The coney community has thriven amazingly during the mild winter in South Canterbury, and. unless _ there is a big flood to clear out' the riverbed warrens they will be a pest later in the year. Bunny is never much concerned with birth control, and this year he seems to have kept right on producing through the winter. Trapping and shooting have gone on steadily, but there is nothing like a boom in fur coats to effect a reduction in the rabbit population. WINTER SHOW. A conference is ' to be held' shortly to discuss the proposal to hold a winter show in Timaru next year. There was a lack of. enthusiasm when the idea was first brought before the Chamber of Commerce by its "president, but at a subsequent meeting more- interest was displayed, and the project now seems to nave good prospects of being carried into effect. No difficulty is anticipated in securing the' use of- a suitable building if the show is decided on. IRRIGATION WORKS. Work has at last commenced on the Levels irrigation scheme, designed to several thousand acres of plains land with water drawn from the Opihi River. The work is expected to take about two years, and will provide employment for a large number of men. A more ambitious project of this nature has been.outlined by Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., who envisages what amounts to a highpressure system to irrigate over 80,000 acres of downs land between Albury in the Mackenzie and Kingsdown south of Timaru. The "headworks" would be situated on the Tengawai River in a limestone gorge above Albury Park homestead, where there is an ample supply of water drawn from as far back as Mackenzie Pass. The gorge is oyer 1000' feet above sea level, and the altitude is sufficient to provide pressure to send branch pipe-lines over the Cave Hill, over Cleland's Hill to near Totara Valley, and further down over the downs to Tycho, Claremont, Gleniti, Fairview, and Kingsdown. A supplementary supply for the Timaru Borough is also included. No indication has been given regarding the financial angle, but Mr Burnett promises to discuss this at a meeting which he intends to convene in September. The scheme is the boldest of its kind yet promulgated in this part of the country.

MEAT QUOTAS WHAT AGREEMENTS- INVOLVE FULL SIGNIFICANCE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE RECOGNISED As a fuller significance of the effects of the meat agreements just concluded in London becomes evident to those people in New Zealand more directly in touch with the industry, the fact emerges that the Dominion has gained not only satisfactory terms as far as actual export figures are concerned, but also a recognition of the wider and more important principle of Empire preference in trade. When the Ottawa Conference of 1932 was concluded, a principle emerged which embodied a gradual reduction of restrictions on imports to the United Kingdom from the dominions, corresponding to an increase of restrictions—if found necessary—on supplies from foreign countries. Authorities have stressed the fact that in the last few days that this question of principle will react to New Zealand's benefit in the long run to a greater extent than may yet be realised. SHIPMENTS DEFINED.

For the immediate future, the agreereached give exporters an assurance that their shipments until the end of 1936 are defined, in the case of mutton and lamb, on a basis which should easily meet requirements, considering the figures of the last few years. For the remaining six months of this year, for example, Now Zealand may export 1,578,000cvrt

of mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom. This compares with 1,240,639 cwt for the corresponding period of 1934, and with 1.209,817 cwt in 1933. For the whole of 1936, the quota has been fixed at 3,900,000 cwt; this representing an allowed increase of 413,657 cwt on 1934, and of 83.984 cwt on 1933 The question of beef and veal, which is still under consideration by the Governments concerned, has not been settled beyond 1935. In the last six months of this year, New Zealand's supply will not exceed 478,000 cwt, of which 66,000 cwt will be chilled in the Dominion. Comments on the agreements have not included reference to the beef export trade. OUTPUT IN DOMINION FALL OF sfc PER CENT The fall in the output of dairy produce in New Zealand this season was again checked slightly last month, when gradings of butter for export were higher than in June, 1934, although less cheese was graded. The output for the 11 months of the current season ended June shows a reduction of 5.5 per cent., compared with the previous season. On the same basis, the butter-fat yield calculated on export gradings of produce, the fall to the end of May was 5.8 per cent, and to the end of March over 8 per cent. A comparison of grading returns to the end of June is as follows: —

In view of the slightly higher production of butter-fat this winter it is probable that the output to the end of the curren season, July 31, will be about 5 per cent, lower than in the previous season.

Average Average per bale. per lb. Bales. £ s. d. d. 1928-29 , . 2,625,061 21 12 2 16.7 1929-30 . . 2,471.596 13 5 6 10.4 1930-31 . . 2.521,361 11 3 9 8.7 1931-32. . . 2,682,115 . 3,000,075 10 18 11 8.6 1932-33 . 11 9 5 '8.9 1933-34 . ..* 2,523,676 20 4 11 16.2 1934-35 . . 2,992,267 12 13 6 10.01

Average Average ' •« per bale. per lb. % Bake. £ s. d. d. 1925-26 . . 1,067,922 22 2 0 17 1926-27 . . 1,124.931 23 3 5 17.9 1927-28 . . 1,052.285 25 4 6 20.1 1928-29 . . 1,142.369 21 16 9 16.8 1929-30 . . 1,084,489" 13 11 6 10.7 1930-31 . . 1,040,815 11 6 4 8.9 1931-32 . . 1,190.537 10 16 3 8.5 1932-33 . . 1,272,555 11 5 7 8.8 1933-34 . . 1,080,556 20 6 8 16.3 1934-35 . . 1,214,525 12 12 11 10

1925-26, .. £23,775,843 .. £26,376,987 .. £26,885,408 .. £25,113,041 .. £14,888,098 .. £11,743,360 .. £12,726,626 1932-33 .. .. .. .. £14,357,939 .. £21,973,901 .. f 15,359,397 English Export* •' * -

BUTTER. 1934-35 1933-34 Tons. Tons August-December 72 293 74,910 January . 17,675 19,919 February .. . . 10,825 13,425 March . 11,050 11,825 April May . 9,285 8,525 . 6,975 5,075 June . 1,800 1,375 Tdtal tons .. . . 129,903 135,054 CHEESE. 1934-35 1933-34 Tons. Tons. August-December 44.085 47,995 13,665 15,385 February .. . S,957 11,083 7,941 9,968 April .... . 7,136 8,950 May 6,778 6,179 June 1,826 1.867 Total Tons 90,988 101,427