STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 5

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

J . By Dboveb.

Weekly Stock Sales : \ Fortnightly'! Burnside, -Wednesdays Balclulha, Fridays Invercr rgill, Tuesdays Gore, Tuesdays. Aehburtoa, Tuesdays Oamaru, Junction Addington, Wednead"yß Yards, Tuesdays. Monthly ; Periodically : Clinton, . Palmerston, Heriot, Kelso, and Ky© and Winton. bum. % [Communication! of Interest to stockbreeders md dealer* »r< cordUUy Invited. All communications to re*oh Wltnen oOct not later thau Monday night, l The 94 head of cattle yarded at Burnside last week were, generally speaking, a great improvement in point of quality upon what we have lately seen, although they were still on the small ride. Doubtless the result of abundant feed will now make itself apparent in the general improvement of the cattle yarded foi the town beef supply, and iFyardiDgs are not much too large I think that prices will be wall maintained. The prices ruling for frozen mutton must undoubtedly help to keep matter! fairly right in respect to beef unless there is an over-supply in the yards, when undoubtedly, and as usual, prlcc3 will tome down at once. Good-sized bullocks brought up to £11, medium-s"zed prime quality £9 to £10, good cowa up to £8 10a, medium-quality beef, both cows and bullocks, from £6 to £7 10s. We shall probably hear more of the Gothic's chilled meat shortly, and I should very much like to fee a shipment of prime grass-fed beef from Otago and Southland tried by her as an experiment. February is her sailing date from the colony, and perhaps the end of January from Port Chalmers. I should think that about that time we ought to be able to put a thousand or two of prime quarters of beef on board her as a sample of what we can do, and as an experiment. I commend thin matter to the consideration of Mr Brydone and the Land Company, who in combination with other large graziers could, I should think, easily provide the material for a creditable sample of oar beef, and at a time when the export of a good many head of cattle would help very much to keep down any over-supply of beef forour local trade. I notice that in Canterbury they are considering the advisability of tryiDg an experimental shipment of prime live beef. I don't with tc damp the ardour of any who believe in the live meat trade, but as an Otago man I would prefer that our experiment should be in chilled beef, which I think would have better practical results than any lire cattle, experiment, although I am quite sure that our New Zealand steamers will show more creditable and satisfactory results than the Australian have done, especially in regard to moderate shipments. The sue* cess of the Shire line steamers in landing sheep in prime condition proves this. At the same time, it ie still questionable whether, bated strictly on commercial lines, and allowing proper freight and all other charges, this sheep trade can yet be said to be payable ; and even if that is proved, it can only be with moderate quantities, up to 1000 or ao, as a deck cargo for the exceptionally fine and well-adapted steamers of the Shire line stamp. Although the yarding of sheep at Burnside last week was considerably under 2000, and much less than has been yarded lately, the effect of the temporary closing of the Burneide Freezing Works for the annual overhaul of machinery was at once apparent. The absence of export buyers soon had its effect on the bidding, which, as the sale went on, declined considerably, although good prices were obtained in the earlier part of the day for primeit mutton. Some prime croßsbreds in the wool brought from 19s to 20s, with up to 15s for shorn ones ; prime ewes up to 19a in the wcol, 14b shorn ; medium quality sheep went at from 14s to 17s, with 5s leas for shorn sheep lighter steep were rather neglected. On the whole, the sale was a much better one than I expected, and I think it shows that the fat sheep market is firm, and that it is recognised that values must be maintained for some time to come. This, however, greatly depends upon farmers and graziers themselves, as the long account of the now*celebrated case Southland Frozen Meat Company v. Nelson Brothers will prove to those who read it, and I should strongly advise all farmers to give it their careful attention, as the account given in this and last week's Witnesß of the trial is of great importance to all farmers, quite apart from the result of the trial, for it shows that the price given for mutton may under certain conditions be far below its value, as monopoly is quite practicable, and that we have lately been very near the consummation of such a state ol affairs. I have no intention o£ commenting on the case at its present stage, but I cannot refrain from quoting the -Hon. J. G. Ward's views on the relative con* uection of the proprietary of the Ocean Beach Freezing Works and the farmers who were to supply them with the means of carrying on operations : — " I want to keep entirely clear of farmers in the concern," s»id the hon. gentleman, "as once associated with them as shareholders the works become a lever to enable them to grind down the profits of the works to~ assure additional value to their stock." Could there ba a -stronger argument in favour of co -operation in conducting works of this desctip* tion ? The published correspondence shows much more of the same sentiments, but this quotation is sufficient in the meantime for me. I

have said above that a great deal depends upon farmers and graziers as to whether sheep values are to be maintained, and of course I take a quite different view to that of Mr Ward in this connection, v I em only concerned that all freezing works should be so conducted as to maintain the bssb possible prices for farmers, and if practicable " additional value to their stock." In view of such expressions of opinion as to their connection with the freezing industry, farmers must sec the danger they have run in the past, and it is to , be. hoped they will guard against handing over *he frczen meab indusbry to any party of would,be monopolists, whose sole object is "dollarhunting" pure and simple, with no consideration for the welfare of the country. Tho question is, Will farmers generally profit by what we have seen P I have always advocated co-operation in this business. I don't mind a monopoly so long as all farmers and graziers ire in it. At present I shall not deal with how 3uch co-operation can be effectively worked. Mr J, D. Nathan's scheme was, perhaps natiually, not approved of on account of its huge proportion?. It was cetla ; nly rather a large order ; still it wi'l be seen that some of these who strongly opposed it. were actuated by motives distinctly tbe reverse or! "patriotic. I still think Ihnb wise and disinterested men might arrange a scheme of co operation to the great bane-fib of

the frczen meab industry, and it is doubtful whether, instead of deluging the schemes of Messrs Nathan and Orbcll with cold wafcar, pro- ' ducers would not have done Letter for themselves if they had considered what modifications were practicable and advisable with a view to patting on fcot a project really worthy of earnest consideration. In tho meantime I would just say to farmers, support by all means in your power your local works, and keep them from becoming at any time the victims of monopoly. ' This can ba done in many ways, and one is by giving guarantees of sheep to be frozen during the season. I would just say here that it is to be hoped that our great semi-State bank, supported ss it is by cash drained from every settler in the coactry, will not lend itself in any way to the support of any attempted monopoly, bat will rather proffer its aid to the farmers and seltki'3 in keeping the frozen meat trade free and in their own hands 'and for their own, henefifc. Whatever may have been the policy' and. practice of the bank in the pasb, as the institution is now supported by the Statethat 10, the people — it is rightly expected that monopolies against the interests of the farmers And settlers shall not be supported. * The following extract from the circular issued by the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Boroside and Oamuu, is of general interest. All should do what is possible in the direction indicated. It is directed to all growers and ihippers, and the invitation extends to them »Bd not to shareholders .only. Farmers can, I think, confidently give guarantees for the different months. Buyers seem fairly plentiful, »nd to those who think that the f.o.b. prices offered at the time are not enough I would just •ay that liberal cash advances on consignments are freely offered by many firms, so that there is no danger of monopoly if growers of mutton will only do EomethiDg to help themselves and Dot hang back expecting something to turn up, besause what may in such a case turn up will be a strong monopoly with a decided downward rate of price 3. This, however, will surely not be the ca?e now after all the enlightenment

have had "as to* the rocks we have come through already, and which should be steered clear of in future. The following is the porlion of the circular which should receive special attention :—: — ■ As usual at this season of the year, the directors invite applications for space duriDg 1895, in order that they may be in a position to engage freight and have some idea as to the probable chances of employment for their works. Shipping clients will be pleased to learn that a reduction in freight has been obtained by the company, and the rate 3 for the ensuing season will be :— Summer Months. — December to May, inclusive: Mutton, Id per lb ; lamb, IJd. Winter Months.— June to November, inclusive: Mutton, J<l per lb ; lamb, gd. All with 5 per cent, primage if freight is paid in London. There are always purchasers of good quality Jnutton, who give a fair price, based on English values, and in order that growers may know . exactly liow. much it costs to ship and sell on Iheir own account, and be in a position to calculate what is an adequate price on the spot, the following figures are appended, which may be taken as being as nejuhi eattfist aa jfl-ftOSaible., viz. (?£

A discount of 10 percent; on the freezing charge will be allowed to shippers of 2000 carcases ot mutton or over dining the year. During the past season the works have been fairly well employed, and the directors confidently appeal to all growers and shippers, whether shareholders or not, to support the company, and put it in a position to do_ even better work in the future ihan it has done in the past. Kindly give this circular your careful consideration, and should you resolve to support the company pleaae sign and return the attached schedule on or before Tuesday, December 17, 1895. It ia, of course, understood that axjplications from growers of sheep for fi-.ez'ng and shipping space made in response to this circular will have preference over any wb.ich.may be made later on.

Mm PTON. Lai kIB. tt) co S5 COS .11 i-i . Is £a per lb 0 37 0 0!) 0-87 Freezing, H per lb ... Sacks, 3d each Freight Insurance, all lisks art 55s 3-1 per cent, net ... London charges per lb 1 037 005 100 per lb 0 37 0-C5 075 per lb 0-37 0-09 1-12 009 025 0 09 0-25 012 0 25 012 025 | ' 170 d: i 1-51 til i I 1-P5 3. ) 170 d