STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 6

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

By DuovEß.

Weekly Slock Sales : Burn§ide, Wednesdays AnLburtoD. Tuesdays Addington, Wednesdays Folmqhtbj: Balclutba, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays I Oamaru, Tuesdays. I

[Commußicttlous of intere»i oonilally Invited. All ooinmuu! coUater thau Moodi.r oUht.l

Inveicargill, Tuesdays Monthly : Clinton, Palmerstoc and Winton. Pciiodically : Hsiiot.Kelso, and Kyebura.

i# Btocklireeciera and deaieri nr« icMions (o rci\3h \\ line** office

The yarding of cattle at Burnsido was about 160 head, most of which woe only of moderate quality. There being quite a scarcity of prime beef, prices show a considerable advance, in which medium beef participates. Primed beef may, f think, be fairly quoted at 24s (xl per hundred; best bullocks brought up lo £12; medium £3 to £10. There is now a very fair "demand for well bred forward cattle, and it k probable that prices for prime beef will bo well maintained, as the supply is by no means large throughout tho country, and feed will not be plentiful for two months yet. It may be that prices hero will induce shipments from the North f-.land. but I hardly think so. as the result of these- shipments* m the past [*a- not gencially been satisfactory to North lalaiid sl-upix**. Canterbury Afford*

a belter market, and shipments of 20 to 30 head have for some weeks past been sent, pnrei for primost being £12 to £12 10s last week. The yarding of sheep was a large one, about 3500, but quality was very poor. Only for the best of the yarding was there any brisk bidding, and even these were only fair quality, 15s to 16s being top price. Most of the sheep were far from finished, and fortunately graziers were buying, so that a collapse in prices was i prevented. I am glad to note that there ia a | very good inquiry for store sheep of the right sort. Crossbred wethers and maiden ewes in forward condition are much inquired for, and sales have been made at 12s to 13s 6d. Last week at Addington was the usual Grand National week sale, and butchers competed ! strongly on this particular occasion, boom prices resulting. Some Hampshire down wethers brought up to 52 c ; 6d. These were magnificent sheep, but by no means the sort we ore asked for as prime freezers. They were very heavy and decidedly fat mutton. Prime heavy crossbred-s brought up to 30s; best ireoz?rs, 16& to 20*; heavy ewes, 15s to 18s. Tho prices going at the Grand National week sale must not be taken as quite rep re sentalive of values Butchers and buyers annually at this sale lay themselves out to give tall prices, for what reason I don't know, lut they always do. Still, allowing for thi«, the prices going for sheep at Addington and Burnside at present are very different, uvl it is for farmers to look into this matter for themselves. Some reasons for this I hn\e staled before, and there may be others. I cannot see any reason why there should be this discrepancyIn last week's Witness two most interesving articles appeared— one a report, of an interview will) Dr Newman, of Wellington, on the s'lb-

jeet of our frozen meat trade, the other a ieport of tho conference on the frozen ireat trade in Chri&tcliurch, at which, by the v.r.y, Otago and Southland were i.ot represented — a fact which is a matter for regret. In Canterbury matters aro. in my opinion, less unsatisfactory than in Otago, and yet in Otago producers seem quite satisfied, while leading farmers in Canterbury are active in demanding needful reforms. I almost entirely disagree with what Dr Newman stated, and have on my 3ide the opinions of Mr Geo. Jiimicson, Sir John Hall. Mr Orboll, aud the resolutions carried at tho conference in Christchurch by tho leading men of Canterbury— all of vvbicb

completely disagree with all Dr Newman stated. Tho worthy doctor seems perfectly satisfied with the existing stale of matters, j - and it appears to me as regards this matter ' that he is living in a fool's paradise Per- ! bnps Dr Ncivman is perfectly satisfied with J the frozen meat trade as regards the Gear , Meat Company, which pays good dividends | and is one of the best conducted companies ' in New Zealand, but ho v. ould find on inquiry that North Island farmers are by no ' means satisfied with the results in prices , obtained through that company or any other, j The fact that his company pays dividends ' does not by any means prove that Iho meat i trade is properly conducted here, or in Lon- , don, in the interests of producers. He says \ that the statements as regards our New Zea- j land meat being sold as Australian or Argon- ) tine are rubbish. I prefer to accept the statements of the Agent-general and othor ' well-known men that tho meat is so sold. | Ho talks of English mutton being carefully nurtured on English pastures, while ours has often to " hustlo for a living on tho roughest ! country." This statement is really 100 bad, j even for a legislator or an ex-legislalor, who j I have always believed don't generally know much about agricultural matters. Then Dr Newman pooh-poohs all that has been said , about the advisability of our meat being sold ' in shops. T don't think the doctor's opinions will weigh with most men. The discussion at j the conference in Christchurch and the reso- ! lutions there passed practically refute all he said. j The Christchurch Meat Com] any, perhaps the most enterprising and experienced in the , colony, are evidently not of the samo opinion as Dr Newman, for after exhaustive nquiry made in London by men sent Home specially | to consider and inquire into the .natter, they 1 havo decided to open shops in London for Iho ■ sale of New Zealand meat. The conn/Piy 1 ha^/e had experience in meat tetailir:^ in Chrislchurch, and everyone knows they do it well, their shops being,- up-to-da.te in every , respect I feel confident this business will be v. ell done, for the company never stick at t trifles in the v»ay of expense to ensure any of their schemes proving successful. I have, as ' readers know, consistently advocated our meat companies taking this step, and tho com- ! pany deserve the support of producers in ' making what I think will prove a great ad- j vunce in tho improvement of the New Zca- , ! land meat trade in London. Will not our j Olaoo and Southland meat companies do , likewise? Thero is ample room in London , and the provinces, and there need bo no j clashing competition between New Zo>alandcrs. [ The conference was satisfactory in all but 1 one point, and that point is a vital one. t Mr Orbell, Sir John Hall, and others asked, ! begged, and implored the two great companies i in Canterbury lo agree lo a scheme foi selling all meat through certain agents. All producers seem agreed as tc the advisability ; 1 of this course, nml it was recommended by j ' tho London committee, but Mr Waymoulh, ! 1 of the Belfast Company, would not agree, j \ Mr Anderson, of the Islington Company, was , supposed to bo favourable, and wo\ild agree, '. although he did not see the use of a commit- '' tee. This want of unanimity between the ! meat companies is a serious matter, and 1 should bo put right, if possible, by the com- : bincd action of the producers. Mr Tui'nbulJ said : "If the freezing companies could con- j solidate and work with the association they [ would be able to put J,d per lb on all mutton ' leaving New Zealand, which would mean an j increase of £150,000 per annum to pioducevs, ! and they would also be able to regulate the j shipments. The freezing companies h-id no ; right to stand in the way of tho farmers ; getting this increase. Let I hem do the best ( they could for their own company, but let I them also come and help the producer. AH : the growers in New Zealand should join the association, and if the freezing companies did ; not they should bo forced to do so." With j these sentiments I agree, and hope to see ' the Southland and Otago companies and pro- j ducers combine to help one another. C.i.f. buyers seem the stumbling block, and it will not be a ba"d thing for producers when all j agree to send their sheep through the inept [ works undei the scheme suggested by the i conference. j

O.i.f. buyers are very useful at times, but it is not a good thing for pioduocrs to let them have too much say in this mutter. The tendency nowadays is for monopolies, syndicates, etc., and thcso generally are against the interests of producers. To any of my readers who did not see hist week's Witness, I suggest their looking up the report referred to above on pages 14 and 15. Nothing move interesting has appeared on this question for some time, and I shall be glad if any of my readers will favour me with their opinions or suggestions on this subject.