A NORTH ISLAND TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3270, 15 November 1916, Page 10

A NORTH ISLAND TALK.

(Fp.oii Our. Own Cohrespokdekt.)

There lias been a good deal of rain since my last notes were written, the fall in the Auckland province being particularly heavy. In the 'laranaki province there was also a very solid downpour about midweek, and as an evidence it may Do mentioned that, just a little beyond New Plymouth, the Waiwakaiho concrete bridge was badly damaged as a result of erosion. It appears that ono of tho banks of the river has shown marked evidence for sonic time past of the encroachment of the stream, and though much talk was indulged in concerning llic proximity of danger, nothing of a practical nature to protect the banks and bridge was done. The local bodies concerned are now fully recognising tho truth of the old adage, "A stitcii in time saves nine." Hud the protection works been undertaken, tho temporary dislocation of trado between New Plymouth and Waiters districts would not have occurred. Efforts are being made to prepare a temporary connection between the severed portion of the bridge and the main road on the east end. Tlic gap is about 40ft wide. Fortunately for settlers, the new Farmers' Meatfreezing Works are close by, and with commendable public spirit Mr Quin, chairman of directors of tho company, placed the resources of the works, including labour, at tho disposal of the county chairman, and still further added to that boon by releasing Mr F. Grayling, supervisor of the Freezing Works, from his duties there to assist, and as Mr Grayling is one of tho foremost bridge experts in the North Island, it is needless to say that the generous offer was most opportune. The linking up by temporary means of the severed districts will be pushed ahead with all possible speed, so that the farmers' difficulties and inconveniences caused by the breach might be reduced to a minimum. Tho bad weather has also interfered slightly with ploughing operations ; but a fair amount of ground for rape and turnip crops is being turned over. Shearing has also been interfered with to some extent by bad weather; nevertheless a good deal of wool is reaching tho railway stations, and flockmastors appear to bo well satisfied with not only woof prices, but also tho price they arc getting for the carcase. Feed is very plentiful, find stock generally looks very healthy. Reports from West Taupo district, in tho vicinity of To Awamutu, indicate, however, that black-leg has broken out. and is taking a rather unusual form in that it is attacking calves at a very much earlier age than usual. It is to be hoped, in view of the present high values of stock, that the department will take immediate action. SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

At a sitting of the Arbitration Court in Wellington tho announcement was made by Mr M. J. Reardon that a complete agreement had boon arrived at in conncct : on with tho slaughtermen's dispute as it affected country districts. The award contains tho samo provisions as those existing in the previous agreement, with the addition of the bonus clause recently added in tho Petono and Ngahauranga disputes. THE DOMINION'S FREEZERS. Some rather interesting figures have been compiled, showing the number of freezing works in Now Zealand, and the storage capacity of each district. They show "a total of 41, the details being worked out as follow : Daily killing capacitj-, Daily Cold ■ sheep killing storage No. of -and capacity, carcases works, lambs, cattle. of GOlb. Auckland .. 4 9,200 750 410,000 Oisborne .. 5 15,500 655 559,000 Napier .. .. 5 11,500 210 325,000 Wanganui .. 4 11,700 630 465.000 Wellington .. 7 31,700 770 1,235,000 Canterbury .. 9 87,000 225 1.005.000 Otao-o .. .. 3 7.700 110 326 000 Southland .. 4 6,000 240 319,000 Totals .. 41 130,300 3,590 4,017,000 In the grouping of tho districts the Government districts are followed as closely as possible. Auckland includes Whangarci, Gisborno includes Tokomaru and' Whakatane, Napier includes Wairoa, -Wanganui includes Waitara and Patea, and Canterbury includes Nelson, Picton, and Wcstland. THE WOOL CLIP PROPOSITION.

Farmers have differed in opinion regarding the commandeering of _ meat and dairy products; but I do not think the voice of protect will be heard from the wool-growers over the probable purchase of the New Zealand wool clip by the British Government. A conference is to bo held at Wellington to discuss the offer, and in the meantimo growers are asked to sit tight and enter into no arrangements with buyers until a decision is arrived at. The proposition is a most important one. and flockmasters should be exceedingly pleased if a satisfactory arrangement can bo arrived at. It is well known that New Zealand crossbred wool has been found to bo exceptionally suitable for army clothing, and the big demand for it resulted in big prices being obtained. The export of wool in 1915 totalled 196.570,1141 b. the value of which was placed at £10,387,875., or £2,079.99+ above 1914 values. ' The current year has also been good, the export for the nine months ended September 30 being 171,728.2991 b, of an estimated _ value of £11.385.889. For the correspond in <r period of 1915 the export totalled 168.179,3971 b. of the value of £8,599.856. This year's returns, therefore, give an excels of over two million pounds sterling worth of wool over the same period of 1915. The woolgrowers of the Dominion have unquestionably been doing exceptionally well, and if a satisfactory price can be arranged at the conference —and there is no reason to think otherwise, —the new season's wool export should provide scope for congratulation. THE, EXPORT OF BUTTER. The Supremo Court having given its decision and sustained the validity of the Order-in-Council made under section 47 of "The Customs Act, 1913," and section 24 of tho Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act, purporting to prohibit the export of butter and cheese, the export will now proceed without a break. The efforts of certain companies to test the validity of the decision t>f tho Government to prevent tho exploitation of Dominion consumers of butter have not been viewed with pleasure by tho public, particularly as the dairymen have been receiving exceptionally big prices for their butter-fat. It is hardly likely that any further eteps will be taken j

but in the meantime companies and organisations continue to protest against the unwarranted, interference of the Government. Summed up, the position js that the fanners and the forces of organised labour are in direct conflict, and as ono is clamouring for a still further increase in the price of produce generally, the other is loudly expostulating against "this legalised robbery of one section for tho benefit of another section of tho community." The circumstances have certainly produced the clearest call to tho farmer to organise. THE MEAT TRUST. Interest in tho American Meat Trust expansion in New Zealand is spreading as a result of newspaper correspondence. Mr A. Elliott, of Palmers-ton North, has sounded tho loud trumpet- with effect, and his utterances were distributed in pamphletform during the Palmerston Show season. '"lt is known," says Mr Elliott, "that at least lour of tho freezing works in this country belong to or are controlled by the Moat Trust, and persistent eii'orts are being made to secure others. An attempt was made to purchase the Gear Works, and it is generally bciic-ved that one of the largest works recently erected was built with funds supplied by the trust." The assertion could easily bo disproved, but so far no attempt has been made to do so. Future developments will be watched with interest. Farmers pretend to be horrified at the thought of the Meat Trust getting a gnp of New Zealand's industry, and yet they have no scruples about selling his lambs to a buyer representing an alleged trust, freezing company, or firm because the buyer otters Is or 2s per lamb more than another company. It is r,o use tho farmers squealing about the American Meat Trust operations. The Meat Trust buyer not. steal the lamb; lie buys on the farm; and if tho farmer remains true and loyal to other producers and the country tho buyer's tempting offer will fall on deaf ears. Farmers have it in their own hands as to whether tho American Meat Trust is going to succeed in New Zealand. Effective organisation, compulsory unionism, and loyalty would soon have a telling effect in preventing Uncle Sam getting a foothold in this country. Many producers by their actions are offering every encouragement to the trust by business relationship. If, as I say, the producers remained true to themselves and the future interests of the industry, the voice of the American Meat Trust buyer would not be heard above tho bleat of the lamb. lie would have to go. FARMERS' FREEZING WORKS. Tho new farmers' freezing works at Feilding commenced slaughtering on Friday, with full boards for both beef and mutton. There arc sufficient drafts of sheep and cattle coming forward to keep the works going full time for a month, and further drafts, which are due later, will enable the boards to continue without any stoppages during the whole season. The killing capacity is 40 bullocks and 1000 sheep per clay SALE OF SHOW STOCK. At Palmerston North on Friday last tho following pedigree cattle were sold: On account of Mr G. A. Turner, Eltham: One yearling Shorthorn bull, Duke of Eltham 61st, to Mr H. Hutchinson, 106 gs; 1 yearling Shorthorn bull, Duke of Eltham 60th, to Messrs J. and H. Wylie, Fordell, lOOge; 1 yearling Shorthorn bull-, Duke of Eltham, 57th, to Mr C. Wilson, Marlon, 150 gs; four-year-old Shorthorn bull, Baron Eltham IV, to Mr C. Wilson, 65gs; two-year-old Shorthorn bull, Duko of Eltham 47th, to Mr H. Akcrs, Palmerston North, 80gs; two-year-old Shorthorn bull, Duke of Eltham 55th, to Mr J. Craig, Wangaehu. 80gs. Mr W. 11. Booth, Carterton: Two-year-old Shorthorn bull, Carrimrton Duko, to Mr W. S. Carter, Palmerston North, Slgs. Account Messrs Dalziell Bros., Huntervillo, two-yoar-olcl Shorthorn bull. Blair Athol Dyke 90th, to Mr C. A. Loughnan, Palmerston North. 55gs. Account Mr Raymond: Three-year-old Holstein-Friesian bull, Nimrod- do Kol. to Mr F. Bassett, North Wairoa, 35gs. COW-TESTIXG. Tho following cow-testing returns for October are supplied by Mr Sam Steele, tester: — WOODVILLE. lb milk. Test, lb fat. Association .... .. 1052 S.B 40.03 Highest herd 1153 4.2 " 49.53 Lowest herd 801 3.6 29.06 Highest individual yield 2085 3.5 72.97 Lowest individual yield 600 2.9 17.40 ■ AWAHUEI. Association 1015 3.8 40.41 Highest herd .. .. .. 1213 3.9 49.40 Lowest herd 920 3.6 83.30 Highest individual yield 1725 4.6 79.35 Lowest individual yield 870 2.2 19.14 CHELTENHAM. Association 903 3.9 35.87 Highest herd 912 5.1 46.77 Lowest herd 601 3.6 22.29 Highest individual yield 1905 3.7 70.48 Lowest individual yield 420 3.1 13.02 APITI. Association 763 3.7 28.58 Highest herd 10S6 3.5 38.95 Lowest herd 590 3.6 21.20 Highest individual yield 15C0 3.5 51.60 Lowest individual yield 450 8.5 15.75 POULTRY SOCIETIES.

At a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Leghorn Club, held at Palmerston North, the President intimated thai; tho club had affiliated with the North Island Poultry Association, and. that the club's first annual prize competition, held in connection with the Manawatu Poultry Association's 1916 Show, was a great success. The Collinson and Cunningham shield for English Leghorns was won by Stewart and Landsberg (Normanby), and tho American white Leghorn shield by E. M. Smith (Arch Hill, Auckland). It" was reported that the club had now a membership of 50. It was decided that the next competitions be held at Ilawera. * At a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Wyandotte Club the following were elected members: —J. Porter (Hamilton), C. G. Ayton (Waitara), W. Inkpen (Palmerston North). R. Cunningham (Taihape), and C. Eobcrt (Palmerston North). It was decided that if satisfactory arrangements can bo made tho next competitions bo held at Taihape.