THE FARMERS AND SPECIAL TAXATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 16

THE FARMERS AND SPECIAL TAXATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There is a point in the above matter which scorns to require, the attention of the Government. Last year tho Prime Minister made a special appeal to farmers on patri-

otic grounds to extend their area of cultivation so as to increase substantially the country's grain supply. This was done accordingly to a considerable extent. In ordinary civil life it would not be considered justifiable to call for a voluntary expansion of the kind, especially in view of the obvious labour difficulties, and then after it had been clone—and only after it had been done —to say to those who had ventured to respond, '" Mind you, half the profit of the expansion must be paid to the Treasury." The fact that the trick has been turned by a Government, and not by a private individual, hardly seems adequate to remove it from the incidence of the description which would be unanimously accorded to it had it been effected, say, by a bank or a money lender. The Prime Minister has now made another similar appeal to the farmers, also on patriotic grounds, to extend largely the other main department of their enterprise—namely, the raising of stock. The efficacy of this second appeal will hardly bo promoted by the fate which lias befallen those who innocently and patriotically responded to the first. Both appeals were amply justified in themselves, but —well, farmers are human as well as patriotic. Lest it should be thought that I am promoting a personal grievance, I may just explain that though in fact I was one of tlioso who responded last year, my farm, being in the worst drought area, did not, and therefore my largely increased area of cultivation brought no grist to the Treasury (or myself). I am thinking of the others, and am also concerned to suggest that this time, if the official appeal to grow nioro stock is to bo effective, it might usefully bo accompanied by somo kind of guarantee that tho natural reward of enterpriso will not bo entirely hopeless. Wo have to remember that 45 per cent, this year may be 95 next; and I am afraid I must add also

that the tiller of the soil is nowadays beingso persistently held up to public execration in many quarters as a heartless exploiter that his tendency to patriotic self-sacrifice is in danger of being throttled and killed by something much worse than lack of appreciation.—l am, etc., Farmer. DUNEDIN MARKETS. WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPOET3. J. O'Kane (late J. Lindsay and Co.), Princes street south, reports under date tho 27th inst.: Wheat per bushel, r Oaten chaff Best milling ... 5/0 Prime 00/0 Fowls' ... -1/o—4/3 Good 85/0 Milling oats ... 8/0 Inferior GO/o—Bo/J Feed oats.. 2/9- 3/0 Ryegrass and clover Malt barley ... t/0 hay 10 J/3 Feed barley ... 5/ti Cape barley ... t'A* Straw: Maize 5/6 Wheat en 40/o—Ju/J per ten. Oaten... ... o'u/0 Flour, in 200'a ... SPO/vJ Rolled bacon ... 1/1 Flour, in 50*a ~. 276/0 Side bacon ... yd Pollard 15'J/O Smoked hams ... ]od Brae 80/0 Cheese lOd Oatmeal, in 25's 420/0 Salt butter 9d—lOd I'earl barley .. 4.50/U (according to quality) Kbct, fresh ... 1/7 Onions.—Melbourne, £7 10s. Potatoes.—£7 10s to £B. Straw Chaff.—Wheaten, 50s; oaten, 60s. FARM AND DAJiIY FRODUCE. Mr B. J. M'Arthub (successor to Mpeart M'llroy Bros), George street, reports paying for produce during lh« wuea eltUUig tin 27th inst., as follows: Stamped iresh Kggs Honey (bulk), 4Jd lb 1/? ooz Money (section), r/'i doz. Salt Butter, \/i lb lioiey (Cartons), y/- duz Sep. Isutter, J/J lb | iSees.vax, i/i HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. WELLINGTON, June 25. The High Commissioner cabled as follows on Juno iJ4 (Note. —The quotations, uniess otherwise specified, are the average market prices cm spot): Meat.—Now Zealand mutton and lamb are in small supply, but there is a largo demand. Prices remain unchanged. Lower prices are being accepted for Argentine mutton and lamb owing to increasing supplies of homekilled inuttcn and beef and Argentine beef. New Zealand mutton, Bifd; ewe mutton, B|d ; Argentine mutton, lamb, Qj>d ; Argentine lamb, Hid; New Zealand bull beef—hinds, 7£d; fores, 7d. Argentine chilled beef —hinds, 9^(1; fores. .Bid! Butter.—The market is Quiet, but steady. Danish salted, 174 s to 178 s ; Siberian (stocks light), 134 s to 140 s; Irish Creamery, salted, 153 s to 1625; tmsalted, 162 sto 1645; Australian salted, 156 s to 160 s; New Zealand (market steady) salted, 16Ss to 170 s; good to line quality salted, 164 s to 1665; Argentine (market steady) salted, 154 s to 1565; tmsalted, 158 s to 160 s. Cheese.—Tho market is weaker, and tho tendency is downwards. Canadian (weak market) white, 98s to 102 s; coloured, 92s to 102 s; English cheddar (market quiet), 106 sto 110 s. For New Zealand the market is much weaker, and there is less demand. Prices are irregular. The higher prices refer to sales made earlier this week. White, 102 s to 106 s; coloured, 99s to 104 s; United States flat", white, 96s to 100 s; coloured, 96s to 100 s Hemp.—The market is quiet, with a tendency in favour of buyers for forward shipment, caused by reports of a large supply and huge shipments from Manila. Good fair New Zealand, £43 10s per ton; fair, £47; Government graded fair Manila, £SO: coarse. £4B: June to August shipment, good fair New Zealand, £47 10s; fair, £46; Government graded fair Manila, £4B 10s; coarse, £45. The output of hemp at Manila for the week ended last Saturday was 17,000 bales. Wheat.—The market is weak and inactive. Canadian arrived. 435; afloat, 465; Argentine afloat. 495. Oats.—The market is very quiet. Agontine arrived.. 28s. Wool. —The market remains firm. The Army Council is purchasing the Englisn wool".clip for military purposes. OAMAR U MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, June 24. Business in the grain market this week has been very small. With rare exceptions holders in the country arc firm in their determination not to sell at present prices, anticipating higher values in the near future. Sales have consequently been few and of modest compass. The following are the not prices obtained at country stations:—Velvet, 5s lid; red chaff, 4s 6d; solid straw luscan, 4s lid and Is 2d. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Fnou Our Own Corki-.spondent.) INVERCARGILL, June 24.

The oat market is firm, the current price being 2s 3d on trucks for A grade Gartons. Farmers are not selling freely, but the demand is not so brick as it was. _ In sympatic with oats the chaff market is firmer, and " £3 on trucks is easily obtainable. Tho demand, however, is restricted mainly to local requirements, and owing to the fine season there has not been the same demand as usual. . The potato market is firm, and hb, and in some cases a shade more, is being given. Supplies in this district are not very large, and farmers are very firm holders. There is a strong demand for unciresscd rven-ass seed, which, however, is in short supply. Merchants arc beginning to turn their "attention to dressed seed, which, in spite of large importations from. Great Britain, is in fairly strong demand. The hemp market is fairly firm, and there is some inquiry for good fair for forward delivery. Ihe freight problem is the difficulty. "Good fair is worth £3l to £i2 on trucks, and high point fair about £3O. ■ Tho wheat market is steady, and good vlevet is worth from 4s 6d to 4s 8d on trucks. The demand for red straw and Tuscan is net so keen. GRAIN AMD PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report: — Oats: Offerings have been on a small scale during the past week, and with good inquiry for prime lines, late prices are more than maintained. The demand is chiefly for A and B grade Gartons, but all elassojf of oats in good condition meet with ready sale. Prime milling, 2s Bgd to 2s 9d; good to best feed, 2s 7d to 2s 8d; inferior to medium, 2s 4d to 2s 6cl per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: Prime milling lines have rather more attention, but millers are very particular as to the quality and condition of their purchases, and only choice lots command top rates. Medium, milling lines have better inquiry, but prices show little quotable change. ' Fowl wheat is in fair supply, and values are unchanged. Prime milling velvet, 5s to 5s 2d; Tuscan, etc., 4s 4d to 4s od; medium to good, 4s to 4s 2d; best whole fowl wheat, 3s 9d to 3s lOd ; medium,

3s 6d to 3s 8d; broken and damaged, 3s to 3s 4d per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes.—There has been good demand for prime table sorts for July-August delivery, and fair sales have been made at an advance on present values m this market. Lines in doubtful condition are not so readily dealt with. Best table potatoes, £7 10s to £7 15s; choice, to £8; medium to good, £6 15s to £7 ss; others, £6 to £6 10s per ton (sacks included). Chaff: Moderate supplies are coming forward. All prime oaten sheaf meets with good inquiry and ready sales on arrival. Medium and inferior lots, although not so strongly sought after, are saleable at quotations. Best oaten sheaf, £4 to £4 ss; medium to good, £3 10s to £3 15s; light and discoloured, £3 to £3 5s per ton (bags extra). Messrs Dalgety and Co. report as follows: Oats: A strong demand continues for all samples of bright, heavy lines of Gartona and saprrowbills. Offerings of late have been light, and values show a firming tendency. Medium quality lines arc also in good demand, and meeting with a ready sale on arrival. Prime milling and seed lines, 2s 8d to 2s 9d; good to best feed, 2s 7d to 2s 8d; medium lines, 2s 6d to 2s 7d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: Since our last report there has been a little more inquiry for Tuscan, but the bulk of the lines in store are not of choice quality, and millers are not keen buyers of anything but prime milling lines. Velvet, which is offering sparingly, is meeting with a ready sale at quotations. Medium quality and fowl wheat arc in full supply, and meeting with a moderate demand at quotations. Choice milling velvet, 5s to cs 2d; choico lines of milling red. wheats, 4s 2d to 4s 4d; medium milling, 4s to 4s 2d; best whole fowl wheat, 3s 8d to 3s lOd per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes: A strong demand has been experienced for lines of choico tables, and sales have been effected at an advance on late rates. Shippers and merchants have been operating the consignments coming in, which have been lighter on account of the break in the weather. Faulty and scabby lines have received more attention from buyers in the face of light arrivals of choce quality. Seed lines: There is a good inquiry for well-shaped, even-sized lines free * from disease. Choice tables, £8; good tables, £7 10s to £7 15s; others, from £5 to £7 per ton (sacks in). Chaff: Consignments during the past week have been light owing to the broken weather, and choice quality has been in good demand, and sales effected at an advance on late quotat : ons. The demand is strongest for choice quality, and any consignments of this description meet with a ready sale on arrival. In the absence of supplies medium quality has been meeting with an improved demand. Choice black oaten sheaf, to £4 ss; best white oaten sheaf, £3 15s to £4; medium to good, £3 5s to £3 10s per ton (sacks extra). MELBOURNE HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE, June 22. At the hide sales there were moderate supplies. Kips and lights were firm; others, id to id lower. OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE SALE. The Ota go Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand held their weekly horse sale last Saturday, when a fair entry of town and country horses was offered. There was a good attendance, and though town carriers and contractors operated to little extent, the sale was considerably livened up by competition of buying representatives from Middlemarch, Milton, and Milburn. The bigger part of the offering, however, comprised light harness and aged horses, for which it was hard to obtain a clearance; but ycung horses, (it for lorry or farm work, were disposed of at profitable prices for sellers. Satisfactory prices were realised. Everything is indicative of the market becoming a little mora buoyant in the spring. Quotations: Good young draught mares, £2B to £3O; superior young draught geldings, £3O to £.35; ordinary young draught mares and geldings, £22 to £2B; aged draughts, £ls; good upstanding vanners, £lB to £24; ordinary spring-carters, £l4 to £18; upstanding buggy mares and geldings, to £2O; hacks arid ponies, £5 to £l2.