WAIRARAPA AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 17

WAIRARAPA AGRICULTURAL NEWS.

(Feou Otjb Own Corbespondent.) \ understand that the directors of the Mas-ter-ton. Dairy Company have Hastcrton abandoned the proposal to Dairy Co. establish a milk supply busiiess in connection with the factory, owing to one director holding out against the adoption, of the scheme, and threatening to withdraw his guarantee if the proposal was carried into effect. For such a state of things to ensue would have landed the remaining directors or guarantors in an awkward fix, so that the directors adopted the best course open to them by deciding not to go on with the proposal

The annual meeting of members of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society WaircnpaJV was held at Carterton on and A. Socify Thursday, April 23, Mr W. K. Bidwell presiding. There was a large attendance of membc-Ts. The annual report and balance shest was read and adopted. In speaking to the report, the President stated that the members of th© society could congratulate themselves on the fact that it was not now encumbered with indebtedness. He regretted the eery email membership — only 400 — whereas, for a district like the Wairarapa, there should in his opinion be at least 800 members. He referred to the fact that Mr Buchanan's generosity in denoting £500 to the society not only relieved it of debt, but enabled the committee to carry out substantial improvements to the grounds. They had expended £300 on the work, and still had a credit balance. Reference was made to the los 3 sustained by the society by the lamented death of Mr William Booth, who had bean associated witih ttie society for a large number of years, and had been of great assistance in many ways. A resolution was passed placing on record the society's sinjere regret at the death of the late Sir W. Booth. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr W. 0. Buchanan for his donation of £500. It was deoided to affiliate with the National Sheep Breeders' Association of England, and to request Messrs Matthews and Beetham to represent Hie Fpciety at the conference at Guildhall, London. The donation passed <co Mr Murphy of £21 9-9 6d for his work as secretary of | the Dunedin conference was approved. It ■was resolved that sons of members 18 years of age or under would be admitted members at 10s, and be given one ticket, but no vote at meetings. Mr G. Tullv ya« elected president, and Messrs G. W. Deller and A. Gallon vice-presidents.

At the meeting just referred to, the President (Mr W. E. Bidwell) The Stock touched upon the stock marMarket, kets. He said the drought had sent up prices in Sydney, while a trade was op-ened up in Soutli Africa as j, result of the late war, and the consequence was that farmers were getting as much for their half-fats as for prime meat. However, the reaction eventually came. The Sydney market collapsed, and •we had apparently lost the South African market. There were no buyers now operating for that country: h& did not know the reason, but had heard that the freezing companies had secured the market for their second-class mutton. Stiil they had the English market, wliicb was the only one they could rely upon. He at one thne thought it was more profitable to ship on owner's account, but had been disillusioned. There was no combination of shippers at this end, and they had no org-anication at Home. The fluctuations of the market arc considerable. Quantities of meat are suddenly rushed on to the market, a glut is caused, and down come the prices. The speaker 6aid it paid speculators to erearte these gluts. He was pleased to see Mr Seddon had alluded to the matter in oue of his speeches, and had promised to find a remedy. The export of "me at has grown enormously, and last year some four million carcases of sheep and lambs had been *e»t Home. The prices were not affected by the quantity, but a more even distribution of meat would keep the figures steadier. Mr W. C. Buchanan explained that the second-class mutton referred to by the president meant over-fat wethers or aged ewes fattened. This class of mutton did not find permanent favour in the South African markets, whore the people were accustomed to leaner meat — something like halfbrpd merino. _ The Argentine having this halfbred merino got into the market with low^r prices. To New Zealand companies an old! ewe well fattened wa;: more profitable to j Tx>il down for fat ar.d preserving the lean i than to send it to South Africa. The j meat companies were out'j'd by Argentina an their tender 'to supply South Africa with c moderate supply of mutton. London, he thoitght, was the colony's ma'iis'ay. because liOndon took the best, and New Zealand can produce meat 00-cond to none in the •world. Mr Buchanan <hd not think the Premier r-ou'd make a sneers of lu<s proposal to cpr-'i l.ntr'iers' «Vrp= in Fngland, JSfei JLoofcuakeiis i& the puqble being iiliejßMftfc i

difficulty. Meat was rushed in from all parts to secure high prices, which caused a_ re-action. In 1901, when the price of New Zealand meat dropped l£d, the price of Scotch mutton, which it might be assumed would be steadier, dropped to a greater extent, thus showing the difficulties of irregular supply. They all knew that, especially in the North Island, the principal part of the mutton is grass fed, and it suited the producers to send the bulk of their stock in the first few months of the year. It may be contended that the excess should be stored, and held back till the market was suitable. However, they would have to pay for such storage, and the meat would not be so good in condition after long storing. In 1901, when the freezing companies were blocked, they did 6tore, and doled out the mutton during the balance of the year to prevent a glut.. Some of the meat was mot shipped for six months, and then there were complaints of deterioration of quality, which it took some tame to overcome. It was very difficult to regulate supplies, and if the Government or any other source could devise a means of doing so they would all be most pleased to welcome it. In some further remarks, the President said he /thought that .fche irregular supply might to a large extent be done away with if stores were erected at this end aaid not in London. There all the dealers knew just what meat was available, and worked accordingly. If th© meat was retained here, no one need know except the companies, who could send a regular supply all the year round. He had sheep stored from May to the end of August, and they had brought tin, highest prices he ever had. Mr Buchanan explained that he did not object to storage, he merely pointed out the risk they ram of deterioration. Of course, it would be & fallacy to fail to provide for increased storage. Accident to steamers and 50 other things might crop up, and make storage of great palue. Should a blook in prices occur again the companies would withhold supplies as long as possible.

The quantity of grain 6owm during last season in the South Wairarapa Grain was considerably in excess of tiroiring, that sown in preceding years. It is gratifying to find that the average yield is also larger in comparison. It is computed that for the whole of the district the average yields per acre are : Oafc3, 65 bushels ; wheat, 5C bushelst ; barley, 50 bushels; peas, 40 bushels Potatoes hare been cultivated extensively, and some of the crops have yielded a return of 12 tons to the acre.

The annual meeting of the Greytown branch was held recently. The reFnrmers' port does not disclose a very Union satisfactory state of affairs. Hatters. Out of 58 membe-rs, two

have died, two have left the district, and 17 are in arrears. The income for the past year amounted to £9 10s 7d, of whioh £7 6s 2d was paid to the Provincial Council. Reference is made to members and producers generally taking up shares in the Co-operative Distributing Company. Mr H. Morrison was re-elected chairman of the branch. The annual subscription v. as fixed at ss, ?<nd the secretary was voted a bonus of 2g«.

"Amongst the important matters concerning landowners is that of treeTree planting," stated the PrciPlantiug. , dent at the annual meeting

of the Wairarapa P. and A. Society held recently. Ho said nil tho native Hmber was fast disappearing, and very shortly they would have none c\en for firewood purpcoes. Reference was made by him to the excellent qualities of the Pinus insignis as a sheltei and ornamental tree ne well as a timber tree, and he spoke of the importance of planting this and the -various eucalypti and othei trees. From a commercial standpoint, the President stated that the question is of importance. A district in Sweden had in. the course of a generation sold £1,500.000 worth of trees, and by mea.is of judicious replanting had provided for a 6imilar income every 30 or 40 years. In consequence of this commercial wealth there are no taxes, and railways, telephones, etc.. are free, and so are schools, teaohing, and many other things. Pinus insignia has a commercial value in 14 or 15 years, especially with the jreosotimg plants now in use. Tree-planting Is desirable from every point of view. Mr Buchanan, M.H R., endorsed the President's remarks in regard to this important question. They would find the importance of the vanishing timber supply pressing upon them very soon. If oach settler put in only a small plantation of trees he would benefit hkr-self and his district.