The "Prime Canterbury" Controversy.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 15

The "Prime Canterbury" Controversy.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik> — Bncloied I beg to hand you copy of * letter I bavo thii morning posted to The Press, Chris bchurch, in reply to their article of Tuesday last and their correspondent's letter in same issue. — I am, &0., June 7. T. K. Habty. (•• Editor, The Press, Christchurch.) "Sir, — My attention has juet been called to your leader of the 3rd, and also your correspondent's (.Gilbert Anderson) letter in same issue. ' " Both you and your correspondent, intentionally or otherwise, quite overlook the facts, and simply beg the question in regard to term ♦ Prime Canterbury.' " First, as to facts, I would ask if Otsgo Bheep have been shipped from Otago - ports as '.Prime Canterbury ' ?. Shipment acknowledged as having been frozen at Oamaru and shipped from Dunedin by the New Zealand Co-oparative and Agency Company (Limited^, of Dunedin, Oamaru, &c, are said to be, and can be proved tq be, Canterbury bred and fed and brought from Canterbury Province. Wherein! then, comes in the wrong of branding Canterbury meat as Canterbury P "You and your correspondent perversly impute that Otago shippers ship Ofcago grown and fed sheep as ' Prime Canterbury. 7 Herein comet a point : Is • Prims Canterbury ' a term of quality or simply a provincial one ? Shippers here have been publicly informed it is a term of quality, and that* all meat up to a standard is *old as ' Prime Canterbury,' irrespective of where it comeß from in New Zealand. ' "If it is simply a provincial term, there is nothing to charge Otago shippers with, as no Otago meat has ever been shipped under any other than Otago brands. The shipment of ' Prime Canterbury ' referred to does not count, as it was Canterbury meat, although killed and frozen in Oamaru works and shipped at Dunedin. 41 The charges of fraud and dishonesty and commercial immorality levelled against Otago are, in fact, really applicable to Canterbury dealers on your own showing, as they draw on Otago for thousands and thousands of sheep and lambs, and that of tho best quality, and these are classed and graded as the celebrated * Prime Canterbury.' ' "Mr Anderson s*ys- that Otago sheep will only pass the Canterbury factoriss to the extent "of, say (note the say), 10, 20, 30, or even (note the even) 50 per cent., and that it is impossible for any line of Otago sheep to be taken to Christchurch and for all to pass as ' Canterbury.' Ye gods \ Would & draft of all Canterbury sheep pass muster as 'Canterbury' quality even in the Canterbury works ? Mr Anderson's statement is a libel on Otago — simply this and nothing more. " I regret to see that you and Mr Anderson evade (and to my mind purposely) the re»l points at is3ue, seeing the Otago Daily Times gave you facts which you entirely ignore. — I am, &c, - " T. K. Haett." Mr H. Gray's Statements re Dairy Pi'oduce. TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — Mr Henry Gray's statements as given to your own correspondent call for only a few words. Mr J. B. Mscßwan, in an interview with the London shipping companies' officers, told them that in no part of the world he had visited was dairy produce put on board steamers in such good order as in New Zealand. This should satisfy the public that neither our Government department nor our association in its shipping arrangements are far behind what they should be. If Mr Gray is an expert in the stowage of steamships he had better offer his services to the shipping companies, who will, no doubt, accept tbem promptly. This association his done a great deal to secure regular shipments, but many circumstances, over which we have no control, prevent us securing all we want in this respect. I believe even Mr Gray will find ib difficult to do much better at times. Mr Gray asks re butter "Where the rules are that require it to be frozen." As our Government produce surveyor in London, surely he should hare been aware that our Government pay for the freezing of our butter, and see that it goes in frozen chambers in the ships. London buyers have for years approved of this, and I don't think Mr Gray will get shippers here to alter onr present plan. As to cheese being stowed in ship's bunkers I have never seen this done, and fancy Mr Gray is drawing on his imagination for something new to say. — I am, &c, James B. Scorr, Secretary National Dairy Association of New Zealand. Dunedin, Jane 3. The Oat Yield in Southland. TO THE EDITOK. Sir,— l notice in your issue of the 27th iust., in 1 Southland Agricultural Notes," a statement to

the effect that the yield of oats in Southland has been considerably above expectations, having fallen little, if any, below that of previous seasons. If the writer had said that the yield waa a third short he would have been nearer the mark, as it is that at least He also states that most of tho farmers here get their chaff cut by steam power after the threshing is over. The work is usually done twice in the year— during this month and after seed time. This is not correct. Instead of that there are at least a dozen machines regularly at work from May to September. Chaff is not so sweet when kept long in the sacks, so that farmers prefer cutting often. Oats have advanced in price — 2s is now being paid for them at country stations — but a much better price than that ought to be got. Ne»v Zealaud has not to depend upon England for a marktt this season. Australia and New Zealand will require all we have got. and if the severe drought continues a few weeks longer over the most parts of Australia as at present, New Zealand will not ha able to supply the demand. There is a better market at Home for any other country's oats than there is in Australia, even if they were 3s a bushel, as New Zealand oats are worth at least 3d per bushel more than any other oats. Mniza in Sydney all last season was selling at from Is lOd to 2s ; this season it is from 2s 9d to 2a lOd. New Zealand oits last season were from is 9d to 2s ; so that an equal rise in oats would be equivalent to 2s 10d in New Zealand. I think if merchants will ziot speculate and give 2s 6d, the farmers ought to hold them for that themselves. I feel confident that will be got, if not more. There is more inquiry for good wethers now that the lamb season is over, and prices have advanced a shilling or two ; beit freezers bring 12s 6J to 13s. The winter has now set in, but the long spell of fine weather we had in autumn ought to shorten it considerably. — I am. etc., Wright's Bush, May 31. Settler.