MELBORNE DRAUGHT HOUSE SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 17

MELBORNE DRAUGHT HOUSE SALES.

■ SUGGESTION TO DEAL WITH RUB BISII FROM NEW ZEALAND.

GELDING REJECTED STALLIONS

“Yarran,” in the Weekly Times, in reviewing the recent Melbourne draught horse sales, statest that dozens of young horses were put under the hammer that should have been gelded, and as such would probably have realised higher prices than they did. The prices realised were about equal to these of last year, but much below 1911 prices. Colts that in 1911 would have brought £2O0 1 were knocked down at £l2O, and so on with lower-priced animals. W immera and Goulburn Valley farmers, who three years ago confidently anticipated adding £IOOO to their receipts from homes are able to get only £SOO. Largo estate owners who establish big and expensive studs may find it difficult to make the business pay at present prices. The local supply is now nearly, if not wholly, equal to the demand; but dealers are bringing in horses from the Dominions by the hundred, tor the year closed on June 30 there arrived from that source 358 horses, made up of 177 stallions, 132 mares, and - 49 geldings, only 23 of which were of the light breeds. This is a big number to bo unloaded on a comparatively small community. And numbers of animals not included in that list were catalogued at the sales just held. Of 174 offerings by one firm, 101 were New Zealanders. Another firm submitted about 100 horses imported from overseas. It is complained that Australia is being made the dumping ground for poor stuff from the Dominion, frequently for animals that would not find a local market. Fortunately for the future, some of these realised as low as £25 and £3O. After all charges are paid the dealers should come out badly in the business. At one time the mere mention of the horse being a New Zealander had a magic influence on the prices. Importers have only themselves to blame for the low rates just quoted. They did not tak-- *ho precaution to keep the ground sweet. Inevitably the high-quality New Zealanders find a ready demand at comparatively satisfactory prices. According to Mr Robertson, the chief veterinarian, too many entries for home service are kept. Active geldings for farm work are still at prohibitive prices. A useful team of six horses costs anything from £2OO to £3OO, a tremendous outlay for the beginner, who haa also to buy expensive implements and plant. Summed up, it appears that too many inferior coils are coming upon the market, and that New Zealand dealers or breeders are swamping Victoria with horses of good and bad quality. Several of our horsemen claim that a substantial duty should lie imposed on draughts from the Dominion. They also believe that they have another cause fur complaint. Inferior New Zealand animals, holding Victorian Government certificates, are not up to the quality of Victorian colts which have been rejected by veterinarians for not being up to type. Dr Cameron, Director of Agriculture, has every sympathy with this complaint, and is taking steps to overcome it. An arrangement was made some years ago under which a certificate issued in New Zealand was exchangeable for a Victorian certificate without further examination at this end. That arrangement worked satisfactorily until this year. Dealers who brought horses from the Dominion and had them rejected on account of being below typo, have lately been taking advantage of the agreementregarding exchange of certificates. “The result,” says Dr Cameron, “is that numbers of horses are carrying Government certificates that would never receive them here after local inspection. That is not fair to our own breeders. We do not want Victoria to be made a dumping ground for noor stuff. Wo want good horses from New Zealand; but not the rubbish. We now intend rectifying this by either arranging with New Zealand to reject on type, or to impose on imports an inspection at this end

prior to the granting of a Victorian certificate. If an import examination is made we shall reject anything likely not to improve the breed.” As to inferior Victorian colts. Dr Cameron holds that the time is ripe for the introduction of a bill providing for the compu'sory castration of rejectee horses. Such a stop would protect the market, ns well as further tend to raise the standard of Victorian draught horses. FROZEN MEAT. HANDLING IN LONDON. WELLINGTON, August 7. I At the Moat Export Company's annual meeting Satisfaction was expressed at the business done during the year. Sir Walter Buchanan incidentally referred to his recent visit to London, and iho handling of meat there. He said there was still room for much improvement; at the same time ho believed that the Port of London Authority was in earnest about im- • proving the conditions. It had let a oon- , tract for large meat stores for the direct i reception from ships and loading into rail- | way vans and special vans to run during the night to Smithfield. He had seen New Zealand meat disgracefully handled, but the representations made brought about an immediate change for the better. CANTERBURY MARKETS. CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRO- . DUCE REPORTS. (Lyttelton Times, August 9.) Dullness still continues the chief characteristic of the grain and produce markets, and at the moment trade, which has been 1 exceptionally quiet tor months, shows ro signs of improvement. Grain is coining forward from tanners in very email quantity, and those in the trade appear convinced that the amount still in farmcis hands has been reduced to a minimum, and no general resumption of business is looked for until after the ingathering of the coming harvest. At present • inquiries for wheat and oats arc not numerous, and, as has been the case for some time, practically all orders are being filled out of store. Prices for wheat and oats are unchanged. . The potato market remains very weak, and with merchants indifferent about purchasing at any price, trade is very slow. Farmers for the most part stand out for higher prices than those now current, and the amount of business consequently is small.

The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, delivery ut country stations:— Wheat—Tuscan, 3s 5d to 5s bd; Hunters, 3s bid to 5s 7pi 1; Pear 1,5 s9dto 3s lOd. Oats —Gar to ns, Is lid to 2s 3d ; Duns, Is lOd to 2s Id; Danish. Is 9d to 2s 2d; Algerian, Is lid to 2s Id. Harley—Malting, 3e od to 3 s 9d {)oi bushel, according to quality. Partridge Peas—ss 4d to 3s fkl. Chaff—£3. Potatoes —£2 to £2 10s. Onions —£5 IQs to £5 15s. Flour—£9 per ton; 1001 b bags, £9 10s; 501 b bags, £9 15s; 251 b bags, £lO. Bran—Local, £4 15s; f.0.b., £4 10s. Pollard—£b per ton. Oatmeal—£l4 10s per ton. Seeds— Ryegrass, Italian, and Perennial (farmers’ parcels), 2s to 2s bd; machinedressed parcels, 3s 3d to 3s 9d; cocksfoot, 3£d to plain seed, 3d; white clover, t° lOd , • , r. , Dairy Produce—Cheese, dairy largo bid; factory, largo 5Jd to bd. Butter, fresh local factory prints, Is 4d; second grade. Is 3d ; farmers' separator, lOd; farm dairy, 9d. Hams, lid; sides, 9id; rolls, 10id; rolled hams. Hid. Lard pats, Bid. Eggs, Is Id per dozen. TIM ARC. (Tirnaru Herald, August 9.) Lack of animation is still the ruling characteristic on tho local grain and produce markets. The bulk l of the grain m now in merchants’ hands, though a considerable quantity is still held by farmers in store or in stack. Statistics have been compiled within tho past few days which go to show' that between 50,000 and 60,000 sacks of .oats are in store in South Canterbury, and approximately 150,000 sacks of wheat. It has come as a surprise to many interested to find that such a large quantity of oats is still held in South Canterbury, and the value of this cereal, though still good, is not nearly so high as forecasts made in the early part of the season indicated they would be. Several lines of oats were on offer yestrday, but buyers’

nml sellers’ ideas of values were in conflict, and very little business resulted. One or two lines of good Cartons have changed hands during the week at Zs to 2s on trucks at country stations. This, of course, is for feed and milling lines. Pareels of pood seed are commanding up to Zs 6d and 2s 7d. Horne big lines of wheat have lately been on offer, but millers are fairly •well stocked and do not care to give the prices asked. Merchants are also chary of buying to any great extent with so much already on hand and no oversea freights. A fair ouantity of wheat has, however, been shipped to Auckland lately. Prime Velvet is to-day worth 4s; Tuscan. 3s &d to 3s 7d; red chaff, 3s 3|d to 3s 3d.

Oatshoaf chaff is commanding a fair sala at £3 2s 6d to £3 5s per ton. _ Potatoes are n drug on the market Growers held back in the curly part of the season in the hope of getting high prices later on, but the result has been ro cause a glut on the market at the tail end of the season, when holders must emit if they do not want the tubers to go bad on their hands. Buyers are offering only £2 10s per ton on trucks at country stations.