WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 13

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL FARMERS' UNION.

Several delegates at the conference of fcha Fanners' Union at Levin spoke in favour of subdividing large estates, so that good land>. might be made available for returned soldiers That waa the way to deal with tliem satisfactorily; it was no use putting them on out-of-the-way lands. There they would fail. Put them on lands near settlement —lands such as certain big blocks around Tenui (Wairarapa) that were owned by absentees. Other speakers contended that the aggregation of lands was inevitable; the good former bought out th<? bad ones. The objection against land aggregation was a bogey that stopped enterprise. It was a bogey that improved values should not bo taxed, whereas, in reality, improvements should bo taxed. They represented t> man's real profits, and showed the measure of his success. The discussion disclosed a clear lino of cleavage amongst the delegate*, and the speeches were forcible at times. On a vote being taken, the motion was carried by 26 votes to 14. The remit from Shannon —"That the Government, if levying more taxc>3, be urged to levy a tax on all tickets of theatres. picture shows, totalisator, and also on all beer and spirits "—met with a mixed reception .last week, and was eventually thrown out. One delegate said it was impossible to fight out the war on the raoe» course or at the picture shows; he. thought those who were engaged in general pursuit of racing, in discussing' the odds, weia traitors to their country. Another delegate stated that the proposal was one to deprive

the Government of £200,000 a year. There were lads who followed racing who were not fit for much else. But the gentleman who expressed the view that '"in order to pet the stamp of horse that was fit for racing it was necessary also to breed a class of boy and man that was no good at the war, and no good! on the farm," must have blushed for bis argument. A remit from Palmerston North to the effect that tree-planting by farmers be encouraged by the Government remitting certain taxation on land so planted evoked some discussion. One delegate thought farmers should be encouraged to plant trees; bur. they should do so as a duty, not as a meailjs to receive Government subsidy. Another delegate referred to the privation of stock through lack of shelter. If farmers would do proper planting they would save the cost 10 tunes over. Their sheep blistered in the summer sun and shivered in the lee of wire fences in the winter. Even this, sound argument was of no avail, \n<J the motion was lost on the voices. CANTERBURY MARKETS, GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS!. (Lyttleton Times, June 3.) Since the last report the grain and produce market has showed little disposition to improve, and except in the case of potatoes, which are firmer, values of produce are prae* tically unchanged, with a minimum of business being' transacted. Offerings of wheat have been somewhat above the normal, but in the absence of buyers the business that has resulted has been within exceedingly narrow compass, neither millers nor merchants being disposed to operate except at their own prices, and it is needless to say that, except in a few cases, these are not acceptable to sellers. During the week a lino of 1500 bushels of milling wnect changed hands on the basis of 3s 9d at a somewhat distant station, but that price ca-not be taken as a fair quotation, since thure are very few holders who will break the 4s, and there aro not a great many who will take that price. Amongst those in the grain trade the publication of the April thrashing figures is being looked forward to with a considerable amount of interest. On the figures given in tho return will depend to a considerable extent the immediate future of the local r.-.arket, although there will necessarily bo some doubt as to the course of prices until a haven is found for the great surplus in the Commonwealth. Farmers generally freely express the opinion that it is not their intention to go in for wheat-growing in the future to the same extent as in the past, and at present everything points to the fact that, as far as Canterbury is concerned, tho area that will be devoted'to this cereal during the coming season will not only be smaller than It was during the 1915-16 season, but will be substantially below the average of the last ten years. Owing to sparse supplies, tho onfc market is rather firmer than it has been for some time past, although it cannot be said that there has been any actual advance in quotations. It is generally recognised that Canterbury supplies are within narrow compass, but it is not expected that any outside business will bo done, trade being mnfined mainly to small parcels for local consumption. Inquiries are being received for chaff, and £3 10s on trucks i» being freely offered without .meeting with any response from growers. The wet weather experienced during tho

last week must necessarily curtail deliveries, as it will not be possible to get on to the paddocks for at least a_ week. With moderate offerings the potato market is decidedly firm, having an upward tendency, and to-day the ruling price for immediatc delivery ranges from £5 to £5 ss, while for lines for delivery at tho end of the current month, £5 10s has been paid. Here again the wet condition of the ground must necessarily have tho effect of preventing deliveries, whilst digging operations will bo brought to a standstill for a few days, at any rate. The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, encks extra, delivered at country stations: —Wheat, 4s to 4s 4d; oats— Gartons 2s to 2s 3d, Algerians 2s 6d, Dung 2s 6d, Danish (none offering); barley, 5s to 5s 4d; peas —Partridge ss; Blue Prussians 7s; bran, £5 ss; chaff, £3 5s to £3 10s; pollard, £8; oatmeal, £l7; flour, £l2 10s; potatoes, £5 to £5 10s; onions, £2 7s 6d; seeds—ryegrass 5s 6d, cocksfoot (131 b) 7-kl to lid, white clover (farm dressed) Is to is 2d, cowgrass 7d to 8d; dairy factory cheese, lid; local factory butter (first grade), is 6d; farm separator butter, Is 4d; farm dairy butter, Is 2d; hams, Is Id ; sides, lid; rolls. Is 2d; roll hams, Is 4d; lard pats. Is Id; eggs, 2s. Note.—The prices quoted for butter are less discount. TTMARU MARKETS. (Christchurch Press, June 3.) Wheat offerings have fallen off, and only odd lines aro coming on the market at the lower prices reported last week. Every line offered has met with a ready sale, and prices may be reported firmer at last week's values, with tho exception of Velvet, which has improved, and purchasers can be found for good quality at 5s Oid to 5s Id on trucks, country stations. Local millers are not evincing any great interest in Velvet at tho enhanced values, but Southern millers are eager to purchase. There has been a general good demand for old wheat, but practically no supplies are forthcoming. Sales reported include several parcels of Hunters at 4s delivered Tirna.ru, Tuscan ranging from 4s 2d to 4s 3d, whilst one particular lino of Tuscan was sold at 4s lj.d on trucks, Methven, its destination being Christchurch. Tho market generally has a firmer tendency. Chick wheat is dull of sale at 4s, f.0.b., s.i., with a downward tendency, owing to tho existence of a larger quantity of damaged wheat than was anticipated. Oats—ln sympathy with tho Southland market, values hero have improved, and, although very few axe offering, values may bo quoted nominally at 2s 3d to 2s 4d on trucks for A grade Gartons, and 2s 2d for B grade. A considerable quantity of oats will bo required by South Canterbury farmers for feed purposes. Barley—This cereal is meeting with a very good demand. It is now apparent that the crop is a. short one. Prime malting is to-day worth 5s 6d, delivered Timaru. Oatsheaf chaff is quoted nominally at £3 10s per ton on trucks, country stations, buyers finding Backs. A sale of 40 tone of particularly prime quality is reported at a commission over this price. Potatoes are gradually improving in price, to-day's quotation being £5 5? on trucks, country stations, with few sellers. Tho tubers are not keeping at all well this season. Offerings have boon very sparse lately, and it is feared that if any considerable quantity is hold back in tho country, values may

not hold. If North Canterbury growers have offered their tubers to such an extent as to greatly deplete their main supply, South Canterbury will have to take up the running in supplying the North Island demand, which this year is considerable. Seed potatoes are is good demand —Gamekeepers at £3 10s on trucks, and Up-to-dates at £4. Early varieties arc inquired for, but arc in very short supply.