THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(Fbom Oob Own Cohekspondknt.) A good deal of rain has fallen during the past week, and the humid weather has had a most beneficial effect on pasturage, the countryside having been freshened in appearance. Orchardists complain that the mcisturo is affecting ripening plums and peaches; but it is a good asset for apples and other seed fruits. Hay-saving operations have been interfered with somewhat; but no time is lost in getting the crop in stack as soon as it is redricd. Oat and wheat crops are in somo instances being thrashed from the stook, and, judging by reports, crops are likely to yield well. Turnip and rape crops are doing splendidly, and should well remunerate farmers for their outlay. Nearly all the grass seed in the Sandon district is now in stook, and it is tho general opinion that tho crops havo yielded well. .Some of the crops are heavy and difficult to cut; but by perseverance and hard work the greater portion has so far been saved. Lambs are being hurried off to tho freeiers, and are stated to be weighing out well. Some lambs in the Dargavillo district, Northern Wairoa, have weighed out at 601 b; but these were specially good lambs. In some districts the bidi-bidi this year has proved a groat curso, and sheep and lambs in affected areas are being drafted totbe slaughtering hcmees_ unshorn, it being impossible to do anything with them. A BURNING QUESTION. This bidi-bidi business is a burning-ques-tion among wool-growers just now, and it is generally considered that the Government has shown a great want of capacity in dealing with it, tho result being that the losses to farmers will run into many thousands of pounds. A few days ago I saw a huge train of sheep and lambs at Marton Junction railway yards. There must havo been considerably over 1000 in the trucks, and I noticed that the wool of a large proportion was very badly affected; in fact, so completely was the fleece seeded that it was almost impossible to see any wool. It is no wonder, therefore, that the question is claiming_ great attention just now. A big meeting of farmers was held at Wanganui during the week, Mr Allan Robinson presiding. The Chairman pointed out that the farmers had found it difficult to get a true and careful valuation of wool, particularly in regard to seedy wool. It was, ho said, a very serious matter indeed, because as time went on there would be more wool affected by bidi-bidi. Tho difficulty was accentuated at the present time, as the farmers were short of labour, and were not able to shear as quickly as they would like to. _ The question was whether the price paid for seedy wool bore a true relation to the prices paid for cleaner fleeces. INTERESTING STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES WILSON. One of tho most interesting speakers at the Wanganui conference of farmers was that of Sir James Wilson, and he left no roam for doubt \ as to his opinions on the seedy wool question. The lateness of the shearing, he pointed out, had a great deal, to do with the trouble, and it was a problem that affected the small farmers more than the larger ones. When the negotiations were on for the sale of wool, seedy wool was not specially discussed, and there was nothing in the schedule published by th-j department about it. It was an omission on the part of those who conducted tho negotiations. Continuing, Sir James Wilson gavo tho following surprising figures in regard to a clip from the Upper Rangitikei district:

Referring to the above figures, Sir James sa'id the flock referred to had been shorn earlier this season. There was evidence of an enormous difference. Lambs were valued a't 4d originally, revalued at and this season at 14 l-Bd. .Bellies were upheld at the revaluation, and this season sold at 9d.. Sir James Wilson went on to say that, only a carbonising plant would get over the difficulty. England had bought the whole of the wool; but if they could not deal with it they should send it to America, where, no doubt, there wore the necessary plants; or to Japan. Already several thousands of bales of New. Zealand wool had been sent from England to America. Last year 3000 bales of seedy wool passed through Wellington. The speaker had asked Mr Massey to get permission to export to Japan; but the latter had forgotten about the matter. He (Sir James) estimated that there would be 30.000 bales of bidi-bidi wool this season. Right up to tho head of the Raigitihei district the bidi-bidi was very bad, and tho papa country was taking it. - AN OVERSIGHT. Tho difficulty of obtaining a carbonising plants for this season, and perhaps next, in order to deal with seedy wool, was stressed by Mr G. V. Penrce, M.P., at Wanganui. There was also another problem, ho said—namely, the possibility of future clips not being commandeered, and the freight going back to id per lb, as beforo the. war. The fact that seedy wool was not stipulated at tho conference was an oversight on tho part of the buyer. Why shoulcl tho Government not bo urged to carry out tho bargain made at. the conference? The agreement wrs for a 55 per cent, increase on pre-war prices. _ Tho speaker said he attended the meetinpr nfc Palmerston North when ifc_ was proposed 'to set un a committee of six to represent New Zealand. He wrote to Mr Massey, who invited tho speaker to got spec-ifio instanoes from settlers. Figures given by

a Hawera grower showed a drop in the price of lambs' wool from in 1916-17 to 7d and 7£d. This was a specific ease. A conference should bo demanded before the next commandeering came along. The bargain had not been carried out, and the farmers should protest. No doubt a carbonising plant would bo a good thing, but it would take so long to get to work that they would not got immediate benefit. No doubt the seedy wool would increase- in the future. Ho did not think the Government would agree to the freo export of wool; but if a man was prepared to stand the loss he should be allowed to hold it. Sir James Wilson i "America has taken several thousands of our bales now." Mr Pearco replied that if the farmers wero allowed to export it he was afraid it would bo all "seedy wool" on the coast! Eventually the Chairman moved—" That in the opinion of this meeting the agreement between the Imperial Government and 'the wool-growora of New Zealand, that tho wool should bo sold at 55 per cent, on pre-war rates, had not been adhered to. particularly as regards seedy wool and crutchings, and that the Government should provide such redress as would, meet the case." Mr Robinson said it was a monstrous iniquity, after the agreement was mode, to part with the wool at a lower rate. He would almost say the farmers were exploited by the Government. How could they- pay increased taxation if they did not have the revenue to deal with it? It was costing New Zealand'more to send men to the war than tho Imperial Government, and, 'tho Dominion should fliereforo get the best for its produce. The motion was carried. DAIRYING IN THE KING COUNTRY. A rather good move has been made in some parts of the King Country in order to induce dairy suppliers to obtain tho largest possible return for their creamnamely, to award points according to tho qualitv of the cream supplied. This has at least the advantage of stimulating interest and creating a greater desire on the part of suppliers to guard against uncleanliness in every way. For first-grade cream from 89 to 100 pointe are obtainable. The second grade is for points below 89, and this grade is paid for at the rate of Id per lb butter-fat less than the. current price for 'the first grade. Cream in the second grade has been tainted either from food flavours, contamination, or otherwise, and is in poor condition. A premium of £d per lb is paid for all cream graded 92 points and over. Such cream is regarded a 3 the choicest quality. The essentials for the first-grade cream are (1) clean pastures : (2) pure water supply ; (3) udders washed before milking; (4) immediate removal of milk from shed; (5) immediate cooling of cream; use of a proper cooler, and see that water inlet is attached to lower end; (6) keeping cream cold and stirred frequently until delivered; use a metal plunger; and (7) thorough cleansing, scalding, and airing of empty cans. On the other hand, causes assigned for cream of poor qualitv are (1) weedy pastures; (2) improper feeding of foods causing strong flavours, such, as rape, turnips, etc.; (3) poor water eupply;' (4-) engine in same room as separator; (5) mixing warm and cold cream; (6) failing 'to keen milk or cream in a pure atmosphere, well removed from stockyard or other smells; and (7) leaving cream unprotected from the sun. ADVANCE DAIRYING. An inquiry as to the type of cows kept by tho majority of farmers in the King Country elicited the reply that the Friesian and Friesian Shorthorn were the favourites. While the country around Otorohanga is rough compared with land in the Lower Waikato area it is capable of proving firstclass dairying land by good farming and proper treatment. Dairying has . not been carried on to such an extent as in other districts; but there is now a growing disposition on the part of farmers to take up more dairying land. With a large and commodious factory replete with the most modern machinery there is every indication that a prom-sing future awaits those "who stake their interest in the cow." Land is comparatively cheap, and around Otorohanga esoecially roads are good. . By stimulating interest on the part of the local creamery manager there is a healthy rivalry among dairy farmers' / to obtain tho highest points for cream, and the reward for the interest shown on the part of the factory staff is decidedly encouraging. DRAFT ON WOOL—AN OBSOLETE CUSTOM." A very important matter to wool-growers was discussed at a conference of farmers at Wanganui on Thursday. It was introduced by Sir James Wilson, who said the matter had been gone into before, but they had not made headway. It was costing New Zealand £BB.COO a year, and was quite unreasonable a't the present time. It, was an old-established custom in London that should have been done away with long ago. Mr Massey had been unable to get tho Home Government to abolish it, nor had the Now South Wales people had any success in that direction. It was a toll London took without doing anything for it. Mr Allan Robinson suggested that New Zealand and Australia should combine to get rid of the draft. Mr Poison said the 'draft was not allowed at Liverpool. About, three years before the war one of the leading men in the woollen industry at Home visited New Zealand, and said it would be more profitable for all concerned if the wool was sent to Liverpool. Mr Robinson: "In that case, after the war wo should send the wool to Liverpool." It was resolved that the Dominion Executive should confer with the Associated Chambers of Commerce with a view of having the draft on wool removed. AUCKLAND'S KXPORT OF~MEAT. The difficulties connected with shipping during the past 12 months were naturally reflected in the quantity of beef, mutton, and lamb exported, and, as an example, tho transactions of Auckland show to what extent that province was affected. Taking the year's figures, the decrease was a mostsubstantial one—namelv.-about 9,0€0.0001b. For 1917 a total of 27,143,3481 b were exported, as compared with 36,17.1,1351 b for 1916. It has to be remembered, however, that the year 1915 was a. record one in the meat export trade in Auckland, the quantity forwarded having exceeded the 1915 export by ovor 7.000.0001 b. The quantity of meat held in store at Auckland and in the works on December 31, 1917, was 6,081.3071 b in_ excess of tho quanti'tv on the same date in 1916. This position is a result of the limited shipping space and the wet spring. • THE WHEAT BUSINESS. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture, who has returned to Wellington from the South Island, states that the Government Wheat Controller has now his offices established both in Christ-

church and Nelson, and it is expected that within the next 10 days or so grain will begin to come in. Tho Minister added that what he saw of the country passing through was looking very well from the agricultural and pastoral point of view. The prospects for tho wheat harvest, he said, looked very good indeed, and tho yeild should be excellent if only the weather continued fine. GISBORNE WOOL VALUATION. The third valuation of wool under tho Government scheme took place at Gisborne last week. Evidence was not wanting of tho early maturity and abundance of seed, and tho scarcity of Jabour was manifest in tha matter of skirting, which caused much comment from the valuers and consequent reduction in values. In addition to some of the clips showing a great deal of seed, several, gave signs of the sheep having had 'a little shortage of feed during 'the early winter, whilst several of the longer-established clip 3 came forward in excellent condition. Bennett and Sherratt catalogued 1800 bales, and obtained the following price: AAH. (Romney), up to 17id; AH. do, 17d; AH (Lincoln cross), 16£d; Lincoln wether, 16d: EA (Romney), 17d ; E (Lincoln cross), 15£d; Lincoln ewes, up to 15d; lambs, super, 17id; lamb 3, Romney, 17-id; lambs. Romney-Lincoln cross, 16d; seedy and bush wool, from lOd to 143 d; pieces, up to 13d; crutchings, 10^d. Murray and Co. submitted a catalogue ;of 2049 bales. The highest price the firm obtained for fleece wool was 17£d for a very nice line of A ewes from Poututu. In lambs' wool their best price was 17d. Pieces up to ■ 13£d, bellies 11W. Taking the catalogue generally, the wools were in a slightly heavier condition than those in the earlier catalogues, but- superior to last year's, although in some cases the staple was shorter. Classing and skirting still leavo a lot to bo desired. The Now - Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company had a representative catalogue of 2353 bales. The following is a range of prices obtained: —Crossbred fleece, 36/44, 15d; 40's. 15d to 15id; 40/44, 15id to 16i-d| 44/46, 15id to 153 d; clean bright lines, 44/46, 16d to 17d; dingy and seedy, id to Id down; lambs, 15d to 17d, according to qualitv. Seedy lambs, 13id to 14-^d; first pieces, lOd to ll?d; clean, bold lines made to 13id. Second pieces, lOd to llgd; bellies, lOid to Hid; locks, 6id to 6Jd; crutcbing3, lOd to 10£d-. Tho Gisborne Farmers' Co-operative had a good catalogue, the following prices being realised: —fFine crossbred super, 16|d to 17£d ; medium, 15id to 16£d; medium crossbred suoer, 16d to 17d; medium, 15d to 153 d; coarse super, *lsd to 153 d; inferior, 13d to 143 d; lambs super, 16d to 17d; medium, 15d to 163 d; pieces good, Hid to 13id; inferior medium, lOd to lid; locks, 6d to 7d. USE OF FROZEN MEAT. There has been some discussion lately as to whether frozen meat is as nutritious as freshly-killed meat, and in some directions arguments have been against. Mr Reakea, Director of the Live Stock Division, holds a different view. There is no question, in his mind, about the high quality of frozen meat. It has, he said, been demonstrated to a much wider public than the population of New Zealand that it is a highclass food, and just as palatable and nutritious as freshly-killed meat. Referring to tin argument entered into between the Government and the freezing companies for the supply of meat to retailers at Imperial purchase prices, Mr Reakes said that the prices thua fixed were a_ great deal lower than the ruling -meat prices in most other countries, notably the United' States and Canada. By taking the Imperial purchase prices as a standard, the Government- was safeguarding the interests of both producers and consumers, and the scheme would prevent any undue increase in prices in the case of a fat stock shortage, or keen competition in the markets. In framing the agreement with the companies, care had been taken to provide that either freslnykilled or frozen meat could be supplied to the retailers, providing both were avail-, able. It would not be wise to draw on the frozen meat stocks if. tho retailors could bo supplied with freshly-killed meat. SUPERPHOSPHATES. CARGOES FOR NEW ZEALAND. ? WELLINGTON, January 17. The Government Agent in Melbourne has cabled to tho Prime* Minister that ships of the Huddart-Parker fleet will bring to New Zealand from 1300 to 15Q0 tons of superphosphates at 'the > beginning of February, and that the Union Company will bring 700 tons in the present month and 900 tons early in March. These cargoes will oome for consignees, not for the Government.

Original Revalua- Thi3 Valuation. . tion. Year. Crossbred A .. .. lOd — 17Jd Crossbredi B .. .. 93d — 161d Crossbred C 9Ad — lo^d Crossbred D .. .. 8d — 15Jd Lambs .. .. 4d 6Jd 14|d Bellies .. .. lid ljd 9d Fleeces .. .. 4&d 5d lid Ditto .. . • .. .. '4Jd 6id lid Iiocks .. .. lid lid 6Jd Lianibs .. .. 5d 7-Jd Not reed.