REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3105, 17 September 1913, Page 14

REVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

In retiring from the position of president of the Agricultural and Pastoral Conference, Mr Allan Orbell gave an address which was much appreciated, and on its conclusion loudly annlauded. In the course of his remarks ne referred to the work of the Department of Agriculture, eulogising the energy displayed in plant-breeding, controlling the rabbit pest, and in dealing with sheep-marking and bale-branding, along with many other matters of vital interest to the practical farmer. He regretted that the Railway Department had been unable to meet the views of the conference in regard to the conveyance of judges and stock to the shows, while, in striking contrast, the postal authorities had given effect to the recommendations of the previous year in regard to cheaper telephone services. As the result of representations made to the Government, local bodies have been given extended powers in this direction. J he president mentioned that Lord Islington, who had been chairman of the Board of Agricnltuie in Great Britain before he became Governor of New Zealand, had formulated a scheme, quite unofficially, which he had presented to the Canterbury Association, in which he outlined the scope and working of a possible Chamber of Agriculture, whose special business it would be to act as an advisory body to the Government and a mouthpiece for detached associations in formulating and clinching home any resolutions which required following up. In dealing with wool and frozen mutton, Mr Orbell’s remarks were so interesting that they may be quoted in full: —‘‘Our main article of export (wool) was sold at most satisfactory prices, and showed,” he said, “an all-round increase in value as compared with the previous season, averaging 10.21 d per lb, against 8.53 d, or equal to a 19 per cent, rise; and the average return per head of sheep and lambs was 5s 82d, as against 5s Og-d. In value the wool exported amounted to £8,065,945, or no less than 35 per cent, of the whole of the New Zealand export trade. It is always dangerous to prophesy anything about the probable price of wool in the future, but with an increasing population and the number of sheep steadily decreasing throughiut the world, also with daily increasing demands for wool from Japan and other countries, and the very great probability that the United States Senate will allow wool to enter the States at a very much reduced tariff, it seems as if we are now to enter on another very prosperous period, especially so if peace would only be declared and money become a little easier. The prices obtained for frozen meat during this year have also been highly satisfactory. I find that in 1913 we exported 215.115 more sheep and 146.208 more lambs than during the year 1912. Wo shipped in 1913 2,133,226 carcases of mutton and 3,181,991 of lamb, a total of 5,315,217 carcases. This number has only once been' exceeded during the last 10* years. In 1911 we exported 5,689,000 carcases. It may be interesting to know here that the average number of carcases —mutton and lamb —shipped for the last 10 years is approximately 4,700,000; that the average weight per sheep shipped was 56;>lb, and the average weight of lamb 34£lb. By exporting 361,322 more sheep in 1913 than in 1912, we appear to have sent off too many, or rather more than we could afford. The sheep returns for the year, which have just come to hand, show that the total number of sheep in the Dominion in 1913 was 89,000 short as compared with the year 1912. Not a, very great difference certainly, but a difference on the wrong side; and we must not forget that the flocks of the Dominion have steadily decreased from the year 1910. In that year we had approximately 600,000 more sheep than we have to-day. The South Island shows a shortage of 308,000, but this is largely balanced by an increase in the North Island of 219.000. Now, to look at it from another point of view, by taking the figures supplied by the Customs and the Department of Agriculture, we find that every carcase put on the steamer for export in 1912 was valued at 12s 9d, while in 1913 the value had increased to 14s. Each carcase of lamb in 1912 was valued at 11s 4d ; in 1913 at 12s 4d. This is equal to an increase in value of 10 per cent, on mutton and 9 per cent, on lamb as compared with the previous year. In spite of a very tight money market all over the world, I think we must all agree that our frozen mutton throughout the whole of last year sold at a most satisfactory value, and with a continual meat famine in Germany and other parts of the Continent, it seems certain that the clamour for the introduction of frozen meat from outside sources cannot long be resisted. The potentialities of trade with the United States are enormous. The consumption of mutton in that country is computed at 17,000,000. a number much in excess of the natural increase of that country. So there seems to be no reason why the good prices obtained last year should not continue.” After congratulating the dairymen of the country on an increased export of cheese and butter to the extent of nearly one million sterling, the. retiring president deplored the want of energy displayed in the provision for agricultural education, and gave what proved to be a notable meeting a good send-off by drawing pointed attention to the farmers’ share in producing the wealth of the Dominion. It is satisfactory to know that there is every probability that this will materially increase for some time to come, for “in the minds and convictions of those who study the markets of the world and who are unembarrassed with the conservatism that finance arrogates to itself, the one main fact is paramount, viz.—that the great consumer's of our products in the United Kingdom are prosperous. In that market there is vastly in-

creased power of purchasing. The trade of the United Kingdom has attained dimensions unparalleled in the world’s history, and is still increasing.” This should be cheerful reading for the man who works his land to the best advantage.