THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 5

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) Affairs in the North Island are much about the same as they were meteorologically —rain in some parts, _ sunshine in cthere; but there is no question as to the growth of grass. Everywhere there is abundant proof of the arrival of spring, and tho intakes at the various butter and cheese factories throughout the island nrovides ample evidence of the commencement in earnest of the new dairy season. Last season the output was reduced considerably owing to the long spell of dry weather, and this year it is likely to be affected by labour shortage. In not a few paddocks I have seen calves running with their mothers, and an inquiry has elicited the reply that no labour is available. This, of course, is not general; but the fact that so many cows have been put out of action because of a difficulty in procuring suitable labour must necessarily affect the total output at the end of the season. The lambing so far has been wonderfully good. The mortality has been very light, and has been confined principally to paddocks where little or no shelter has been provided, and where little or no shepherding has been done. Take the Moumahaki State Farm, for instance. The return from the stud flocks has been really wonderful, and may probably reach 100 per cent. The flock sheep, however, have not done quite so well, though it is confidently anticipated that the percentage will be quite equal to 100 per cent. THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

(Farmers are pushing ahead with their outdoor work; but in _ some parts the scarcity of labour is making itself felt. The National Efficiency Board < Trustees are doing their utmost to organise and prepare for trie very busy days ahead; but in some cases their work is nullified by the complete indifference of the farmers, and their failure to respond to a circular sent out by tho Efficiency Board to ascertain tho exact position, or as near as possible, to the probable requirements in the country. This fact is particularly noticeable in the Wan-ganui-Waitotara district, the secretary of which issued nearly 700 circulars. Out of that large number only 174 replies were received, and many of those who had the courtesy to reply failed to answer some of the questions submitted. In the majority of cases there is no " whining." Farmers are prepared to make tho best of the position. Furthermore, they have expressed their determination to battlo through some how even if labour is not forthcoming, thus clearly demonstrating the spirit of the farmers in regard to the struggle the Empire is engaged in. The answers cover an area of 133.438 acres of pastoral and 23,270 acres of arable land in the Wanganui and Waitotara Counties. It is pretty certain that farmers do not know where to look for labour if those now working on their farms are called up for service. Another point that has been made quite clear is that school boy labour is not being rushed. A few employers are willing to take them, but the" great majority consider that tho boys are not worth the time and trouble it takes to teach them for shearing- purposes. Tin's applies specially to town boys, who have to bo taught everything necessary; and it is felt also that if the boys go in " schools " more fun than work would be Indulged in, and, furthermore, farmers will not go to the expense of providing extra accommodation. This, then, is the way matters stand at present, and it will be interesting to watch developments as the season progresses. IMPORTATION OF PTUD HEREFORD BULLS. A good deal of interest is being taken in the Wairarapa in the safe arrival from England of som" h'gh-class Hereford bulls. One of the bulls, Mansol Helmsman, imported by Mr Donald M'Kenzie, of Woodlands, is said to bo the highest-priced Hereford ever landed in Now Zealand. Mansol Helmsman was bred by Ca"±ain R. T. Hinckes, of Maneel Lacy, Hereford. England and was calved on March 6. 1916. He is bv the great bull Starlight (28754) out of Hilder IV. The bull is spoken of as one of the best seen for some time. Several Wairarapa and Manawatu enthusiasts went over

to Somes Island to view the bull, and wers greatly impressed with his appearance. The bull landed in excellent condition. It is understood that the price paid for M&nsel Helmsman was oOOgs, the largest sum ever realised for a yearling bull. The other two bulls are full of quality. One is for M* Frank Moore, of Kai Iwi, in the Wanganul district, and the other is for Mr H. B. Stuckey, of Kaitoa, Dannevirke. ENSILAGE. The value of ensilage has been demon* strated on more than one occasion, and a further proof is given at Mr E. Meuli'e place near Okaiawa. The stack contained a barley and oat crop cut from 20 acres of land, and was merely stacked out in the open paddock—no silos or pits,—and when completed was covered with earth sufficient to weigh it down properly. Tho ensilage was fed out to about 80 dairy cows and approximately 300 head of dry stock, and it has turned out excellently. There was * little waste around the outside of the stackj but otherwise the ensilage was sweet, and keenly relished by tho cattle. A stack made by Mr Butler on the Tempsky road on the same principle from a 15-acre grass paddock is also turning out a fine sample of ensilage. It is now claimed in South Taranaki that it is quite unnecessary for farmers to go to the expense of erecting silos or digging nits when such good results can be obtained in the open paddocks. JERSEY-BREEDERS. At tho annual meeting of the Stratford Branch of the Jersey-breeders' Association Mr Randford (the chairman), in the course of an address, indicated thafc tho association was going to have • a good year, the Jersey cow being essential in the effort of farmers to obtain the best results. There was no question, in his opinion, that the Jersey was the dairyman's cow par excellence, as proved by tests. Tho association, he said, could always point with pride to the fact that the world's record for butter-fat produced by a two-year-old heifer of any breed had been made by a New Zealand-bred Jersey —the fine little heifer Mere, bred and owned by Mr M'Rae, of Palmerston North. Mr Ranford next touched on the last annual meeting of delegates of the New Zealand Jersevbreeders' Association, held at Auckland, stating that the Taranaki remits aiming at alterations in certain of the articles were turned down by the council. He held the opinion that the council had no right _ to overrule authority, and anything or vital importance concerning the association, upon which an expression of opinion had been asked, should most certainly be put into operation by the council, and not left_ to the council's discretion. In this connection he regretted to learn that some of their members had taken umbrage at the council's attitude, and had severed their membership, stating that in their opinion ifc was only a waste of time to hold meetings and prepare remits which were turned down by the council. AMONG TARANAKI JERSEYS. Messrs Clague Bros, of Mania, Taranaki, bad the misfortune last week to lose one of their good pedigree Jersey cows, 80nn,,, Bell. A post-mortem revealed a mass of tubercular growth in her throat. Blue Bell was a daughter of Goddington Blue Bell, by May Dawns Rozelle. She was a three-year-old, and under semi-official test, and. notwithstanding her illness, had recorded 316.751 b of butter-fat in 362 days. Among the pedigree stock that have just oompletod their semi-official tests is that fine type of a Jersey dairy cow, Lady Ray, owned by Messrs Clague Bros. In 351 days she gave 9320.41 b of milk, 569.711 b of fatwith an average test of 6.2. Her standard to qualify for registration was 350, so that she has put up a really good performance. Lady Ray is a daughter of Magnetic Ray, by Bride of Mongonui, and is just tho type of a dairy cow that ono would expect to put up a" good record. She has a good body-development, with a good udder and milk vessels. Another fine cow on the same homestead is May Dainty (daughter of May _ Dawn, sired by Stevenson), who, commencing her semi-official test at just under two years, made 469.51 b of fat in 364 day*. Ladv Ray's last year's bull calf i* the making of a very good animal, and under fair conditions should develop into a really good bull. A BACK COUNTRY PROBLEM. It ia reported that a serious problem confronts many owners of rough country at the back of Stratford, Eltham, and Hawera. Many young fellows, as might bo anticipated, have gone to the front; but before going they arranged with neighbours to look after their farms and stock. Owing to tho very high price of stork and the present conditions of labour it is almost impossible to farm the country, and there can bo only one sequel—if the land is not farmed it must go back. It is pointed out that it is essential to keep most of our back country very heavily stocked for a few years; otherwise second growth and water fern will take control, and when this happens the land is in a far worse condition than before the standing bush was cleared off. Already this is happening on somo holdings, and it will be a hopeless job to try to do anything with them when the men come back from the front. The problem now is. What should be done in such. cases. Unless plenty of stock can bo put on till the land is thoroughly broken in, under, growth will soon take control, and some of the farms will be almost worthless in a very short time, because undergrowth cannot be burnt off like the original bush. It is

suggested that action should be'taken by the Government not only in the interest of the men who are away serving their country, but in the interests of the country itself. WOOL ARRANGEMENTS. It is understood that arrangements in connection with the disposal of the coming season's wool are exactly the same as those entered into last year, which were, on the whole, considered satisfactory. In Auckland, for instance, there were practically no appeals in respect to valuations, and the same remarks apply to other valuation ports. An earlier start will be made this year with the valuations, and this should obviate the congestion which was experienced last season. Valuations are being made from time to time, as a sufficient quantity of wool accumulates, and there is a reasonable prospect of a clearance of last season's clip being made at an early date. In Auckland there are about 2000 bales of last season's greasy wool, and about 3000 bales of scoured and slipe wool in store. The amount of wool shipped from Auckland for the last year, including this month's shipments, totalled 40,420 bales, a slight increase on the shipments for the preceding 12 Wool prospects are considered to be very good indeed. growers the world over having no other belief than that .for, may be, many seasons to come, all the wool that can be produced will be wanted, and wanted badly, too. The closing of hostilities will have no immediate effect on the wool situation, unless it be that wool will be in even greater demand for a time than it is to-day. In regard to theexport of the raw material from the Dominion, it is held by experts at Home that the exportable surplus shows signs of declining; but the real position is. of course, that a large quantity has vet to be shipped. A difficulty which confronts manufacturers and merchants at Homo is seemingly that wool statistics are not being published as regularly as in pre-war days. There is, however, no need for alarm in the Old Country that the exports from this Dominion for the first' five months of this year show a decline of 100,000 bales as compared with the corresponding period of last year. Let them give us the hips, and we will go along with the goods. The prospects for wool are certainly good. GENERAL PROSPECTS OF AUCKLAND FARMING. Despite the long spell of bad weather experienced in the Auckland province, farming prospects are said to be very satisfactory. An exceedingly good lambing season has been experienced, and the weather, though wet, has not been cold, so that the mortality is not greater than usual. The opinion commonly held is that with fairly favourable conditions from now onwards sheep-farmers will have a good season. If the weather permits—and in Auckland lust now it is so uncertain—shearins- operations should bo forward sufficiently to allow the new season's clip to come to hand early in November. The dairying season is rath or late, as a result of the wet weather, and tho quantity of butter received at the Government gradinsr stores Is rather less so far this year than last. It is considered, however, that the supply for the season will be fully up to that of last season. In Auckland, as elsewhere, satisfaction is expi - csscd by farmers at the prospect of tho Government taking over tho butter output, thus assuring satisfactory finance to the various companies, and obviating any possible delay in payine out to suppliers. Throughout the country from Pukekohe to P.ombay there is already evidence that farmers are takinsr advantage of recent sunshine by preparing their land for cropping. In this district under review the _ land is typically adapted for potato-growing, tho

slopo of the country generally being ofsufficient grade to carry away the water, wliich on low-lying land is swampy and unsuitable for cropping, tiomo big areas are going down in potatoes, and if the season is-, favourable thero should bo soma big returns. Calves are daily becoming more familiar sights on the farms, and are perhaps stronger than might have been expected, considering the days of stormy weather which have marked Auckland provincial meteorological conditions for practically 12 months. Tho healthiness of the young stock is, of course, due to the fact that during tho rough weather tho cows were nursed and protected more than usual, tho result being seen in tho offspring. On the higher land in tho vicinity of the Buckland-Tuakau road the pastures look remarkably well. Already farmers are using lime for their grass land, and, despite the absence of labour, somo good farming can be seen. Hero and thero certain holdings are an advertisement in themselves, tho hedges and culverts being kept in particularly good order. In other cases conspicuous neglect and carelessness aro observable. With the advance of brighter days, it is confidently anticipated that the whole province will have a more successful season than the last, judging by tho energy and devotodness to farming which is characteristic of those who happen to see in the unfolding of Dame Nature's plans a glorious future. Everything, of course, depnds on work, interest, and a pride in producing the best.

CLASSIFICATION OF INDUSTRIES. One of the momentous tasks undertaken by the Efficiency Board was the classification of industries, and this, Mr Gunson states, has just been completed. "What is, perhaps, more important still," added Mr Gunson, "is that the cognate task of classifying tho operators employed has also been completed. Every class of worker has been dealt with, and graded according to value in relation to the industry or occupation concerned. Under tho board's classification there aro six grades, ranging from the expert necessary to the conduct of tho industry or trade down to operations which can be performed by substitute labour. This classified list has been prepared expressly at the request of the Minister of Defence, and it is hoped that it will be_ of service, not only to the military authorities, but to the community generally in connection with war obligations. Its compilation completed the board's work, this being the last subject in hand." LAND FOR SOLDIERS. The Taranaki Land Board on Wednesday held a ballot for eight selections on the Parkes Settlement for returned soldiers. The settlement consists of eight lots, each under 60 acres, and is situated about one mile from Kaponga. Forty-nine applications were received, covering all sections, the highest for any one section being 40 and the lowest 37. THE FREEZING INDUSTRY. At a general meeting of shareholders of the North Auckland Freezing Company (Ltd.), held at Kaikohe this week, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., that the directors be authorised to erect new works on the railway line betwen Okaihau and Opua, and, if they considered any other site to the advantage of tho company, they should consult the shareholders before coming to a decision. It is hardly likely that the works will be erected until after the war is over. The fixing of the site had to be determined as being the first business of the new company. It is held that the opening of a freezing works in the district will mean the opening of an era of prosperity for the northern part of the Auckland province. r