THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24627, 7 June 1941, Page 5

THE RURAL WORLD

YOUNG FARMERS

CLUB NOTES

The following office-bearers were elected at the annual meeting of the Orepuki Club: Advisory president, Mr H. J. Townsend; chairman, Mr M. Young; av;d secretary, Mr 3. Dillon.

The last meeting 01 the Drummond Club was held recently, with a good attendance of members. The business consisted of a discussion of the laying down of experimental plots as outlined by the Department of Agriculture.

The South Taieri Club held its monthly meeting.on May 27, when the question of holding a ploughing match this year was discussed. No finality in the matter, was reached, however. The speaker for the evening was Mr A. Miller, who dealt fully with the question of ploughing and the necessary work that has to be carried out before such work is commenced. Draining, hedge-trimming and similar matters were dealt with. Various types of plough and ploughing were also discussed.'-.'

RABBIT SKINS

SOARING PRICES '] PROSPECTIVE RECORD VALUE AN ATTRACTIVE INDUSTRY Rabbitskins have brought into *the Dominion some substantial returns in the past. but. judging by the exports of the first three months, the present year will create a record in. value if not in number. The price in the past has met with wide fluctuations, but the war has created conditions which are likely to stabilise values. Back in the year 1926-27 (ended June) the value of exported skins was £810,428, and the total number exported in the year 1926 was 17,135,599. Both these figures are; records, and the latter is likely to remain so for a number of years to come, but the value may reach the million mark the way prices are. forging ahead. The Abstract of, Statistics for the first quarter of 1941 shows that exports, both in value and quantity, increased by about. 400 per cent. The increase is due almost entirely to the defection of France from the list of supplying countries to the United States, where the fur is used extensively in hat manufacture. The industry in France was run by small rabbit-farms, in which rabbits were bred especially for export. The disorganisation caused by the German invasion of. France wrecked the industry, and New Zealand and Australia are being called oh to satisfy the demand from the United States. . For the first three months of 1940 a tbtal of 294,303 skins was exported, but the number had lumped in the corresponding three months of 1941 to 1,138,044, The value in monev for the quarter increased from £7826 last year to £29,519 this, year. The March figures jumped from £977 to £10,027. These figures, however, represent the "off "Dart of the season, when fhe skins'are of the summer quality. The much more valuable incoming winter

, ."■ By RUSTICUS.=~ "

skins have now made their appearance, and for the next few months numbers and value should increase largely. At the last Dunedin sale winter bucks 'brought the phenomenally high price of up to 150 d per lb. The price is likely to attract more trappers and poisoners to the industry, and so some of the ground lost in suppressing the pest during the last few years on account of the more attractive public works and the easy relief employment will be recovered.

EXPORT PROBLEMS

MEAT AND BUTTER AUSTRALIA'S POLICY The Australian Government, in consultation with the Meat Board, prohibited the export slaughter of lamb and. mutton from April 22, till July 31, inclusive. It is expected that as from early August, export killing of new •season's lambs will be resumed. In announcing these restrictions the Minister of Commerce declared: "Arrangements have been approved to preserve the security of'the fat lamb industry in face of the heavy reductions in shipping available. Plans have therefore been introduced which will have for their objective the following: ; (a) The clearing of the stores of mutton and lamb before the opening of the season in spring; (b) giving to ; producers a definite undertaking that they will be able to market their mutton and lamb at reasonable prices. In other words, to give them security. In the event of the price of lamb falling to a certain level, the Government will buy lamb at a rate to be decided upon. "With the opening of the season of spring lamb production, the Government will purchase the whole of the permitted export classes of lamb at a price which, while below the United Kingdom contract price, will be such as to give an assured and reasonable return to producers. If the price of mutton does not reach the level to be decided upon, the Government will buy canned mutton at a price permitting the payment by canners of a specified price to producers." It is expected that lower values resulting from the scheme will result in more lamb being eaten, also that certain classes suitable for wool growing will be held in the country. I note that an estimated maximum liability which the Commonwealth Government Will have to assume on account of canning should not exceed £250,000. The strongly declared policy is that Australia must keep the whole of primary industries intact. Mutton ljd Per Lb In a stock market review I note that "canners' limits seem to be round lid lb for mutton." In accordance with Australian custom I presume this means plus skin value. It is noted, however, "but the Government will assist with a subsidy to enable producers to get a payable price for their stock." The review quoted from also states: "plain sheep and cattle, of course, are the most suitable for canning." As Australia's local market consumes 75 per cent, of the meat produced (as against the New Zealand 40 per cent.) local consumption stabilisation is an easier problem there than here. Even so, with an annual slaughtering of 20,000,000 sheep and lambs there are big problems involved; as, for example, that concerning sheepskins, of which great quantities went to Mazamet, in

France, in pre-war days. Now Australia herself must greatly expand facilities for handling these. Dairy Produce

There has been some agitation among sections of Australian dairymen for a higher butter price. As is generally known, Australian dairymen benefit from an artifieally raised home price which is now at 158 s 8d per cwt. Dairy farmers there are apparently receiving a net return of Is 4d per lb of butterfat, from an average of home and export realisations. Two years ago the internal price was raised 9s 4d a cwt (Id a lb) and now responsible leaders of the industry are discouraging any further increase in price. It is felt that such an> increase would lessen home consumption, which normally takes 50 per cent, of the output. Cold storage accommodation for butter will be extended at a cost of about £510,000, of which the Commonwealth Government will bear half. By arrangements with the dairy industry it will itself bear the other half of costs involved in extending the storage. In Victoria the cost will be shared 50 per cent. Commonwealth, 25 per cent. State Government and 25 per cent, by the industry. Early in April it was announced that Australia's meat storage capacity would be increased so as to hold three months' killings at peak rates. This is estimated ■ to cost £260,000, of which the Commonwealth would provide 50 per cent, and the industry 50 per cent. £12,900,000 Overdraft

Bank overdraft on the Nos. 1,2, 3 and 4 pools amounted to £12,900,000, advised the Australian Wheat Board on April 2. This indicates how the Australian Government is standing behind its primary producers.. The chairman of the board said that 62,685,000 bushels of the 1940-41 harvest had been delivered to the board. This, with unsold wheat from last season and estimated deliveries still to come, would give the board 88,500,000 bushels to be placed this year. Less than a quarter of this had ajready been sold, but a large quantity was required for use in Australia and so the quantity available for export would now be reduced to 18,300.000 bushels (twice New Zealand's annual crop), worth £3,750,000.

PROPER USE OF HEADERS

■ A decision to ask the field staff of the Department of Agriculture in Canterbury to investigate the chance of inefficiency in the use of header harvesters causing smaller harvests was made at a meeting of the Canterbury Primary Production Council. Several speakers claimed that the proper use of header harvesters demanded skilled knowledge, and there was a shortage of men qualified to handle the machines. Mr H. S. Lawrence said the position might be better if payment for machine harvesting by contractors was made on a basis of yield—instead of a basis of acreage or at an hourly rate.