THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 10

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(Fhom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) The season is most abnormal, and North Islanders are beginning to wonder what really has come over the country. There have been some rapid changes during the past week—from cold to heat and from rain to sunshine. The too frequent.mixings is not good. In the Poverty Bay district the continued cold weather is checking the growth of grass upon the hill country, and to this has been attributed a slump in store cattle market. At the last Matawhero sale there was practically no demand for store cattle, and scarcely a sale was made. On the flats, however, grass is plentiful, and stock are doing well. The crops in that digtrict are developing satisfactorily. The oats are particularly good, and one wellknown farmer estimates that the crops this 6eason will average two tons to the acre. The hay crop is also first rat* in every way, and there is good weather for harvesting. The early maize crops are doing well, and some are already over sft in height. The later-sown maize is not so promising, due mainly to unfavourable weather and late frosts. However, taking- the maize crops of the coast as a whole, they are looking well. A few days ago aoablo was received that, owing to drought in Australia, the price of maize there had risen to 7s. This is good news for New Zealand growers, who previously had some reason to fear that Australian • competition would bring about a drop in prices. On the west coast harvesting operations are in full swing, and, as already indicated in the Witness, the oat crops are expected to yield well. The acreage of wheat is small, farmers considering that the "game was not worth the candle." FACTORY "BACHES."

The idea of improving the conditions of dairy factory hands has received some attention since the influenza epidemic. The Taranaki Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union had the question under discussion at the ordinary monthly meeting. Mr Dunn, in referring to the way in -which assistance was given to country folk during the epidemic, suggested that no _ one appeared to be responsible for looking after the "baches" at the dairy factories. One would suppose, he said, that this was the duty of the Health Department; but evidently they considered the onus lay with the Dairy Division officers, who claimed that they had to do only with the interior of the dairy factories; but the fact remained that ' someone should see that these "baches" were kept clean and sanitary. The men were to blame for living under conditions that they should not be. It was suggested by Mr' Buckridge that batchelors should get married. Several others exErossed the opinion that something should e done in the direction of enforcing more cleanly habits on the part of some of the men, but Mr Pierce considered that it would be a difficult matter for any manager or director or chairman to interfere with the men's private life. If they did so the men- would quickly say that they did not want their 'job, and would clear out. Nothing of a definite nature resulted. RAM FAIRS IN THE WAIRARAPA. For several years past Wairarapa sheepbreeders have made a practice of selling their stud and flock rams privately, and to offer the remnant for sale at the annual district ram fair. This practice had its advantages as well as its disadvantages, but the latter were considered by many to outweigh the former. Mr W. Perry was the first to try the experiment of offering his rams publicly, and as a result of the success achieved other well-known breeders have combined, and are shortly making a big offering of their stud stock. Buyers are expected from all parts of the Dominion, and it remains to be seen whether the new movement will have a deterrent effect upon the Masterton A. end P. Association's annual fair. EXPENSIVE HANDLING OF DAIRY PRODUCE. Dairy companies are in receipt of a circular letter, civinpr details of the expensive handling of New Zealand butter and cheese in England. All the produce landing first! comes under control of the Imperial authorities, and is vested in the Food Controller.When this department has satisfied its requirements the surplus is passed on to the wholesale merchants in proportion to what they were handling before the war. The wholesale in their turn, passedi it over to the retail merchants, who pass it on to the consumer, who pays three profits. More direct touch between the manufacturers and consumer is urged by the firm. This is a bier question, and will no doubt be well considered by those concerned. MORTGAGE TAX. At the last meeting of the TaranaU executive of the Farmers' Union one

speaker contended that the Dominion Conference lost a great opportunity when thendeputation waited on Sir Joseph Ward with the object of ascertaining his reason for itill inflicting that most inequitable mortgage tax on farmers. Sir Joseph had repeated that if this tax were removed there would bo a serious los3 of revenue, but where it was admitted that an injustice existed it should be the duty of the union to endeavour to remove it. By reason of the fact that farmers were compelled, to pay a graduated land tax on the unimproved value of their farm, irrespective Of the amount of mortgage on their property, thousands of pounds must have been paid to the Government by the workers of the land under a system that was inequitJ,ble and wrong. Future conferences should nsist on injustices of this sort being remedied. Other speakers pointed out that the mortgage did not escape taxation, and that it had been argued that if the present system were suspended a heavier tax would probably be imposed on the mortgagee, and be passed, on to the mortgagor farmer again in tho shape of higher interest. That, however, was problematical, and would depend entirely on the state of tho money market. As an example of how unfairly the present system operated against the small farmer, whose farm would be subjected to the graduated land tax, one speaker suggested that he might make a profit of £3OO out of his farm. He then had to pay a stiff land tax out of that, but if ho sold out and invested his money to bring him in £3OO a year, he paid no inoome tax and no land tax. Another speaker considered that it was most unfair that a man should be compelled to pay a tax on his debts, and that was what a graduated land tax, irrespective of mortgages, amounted to. THE TARATAHI FARM.

Some few weeks ago it w#s announced in the columns of the Witness that the Taratahi Training Farm, situated about five miles to the south of Maeterton, had been made possible as the result of the generosity of Wairarapa. settlers, with the assistance of the Government. The position is that a property of several hundred* acres, including the area given by Mr W. Perry, has been and the intention is to make this Demonstration Farm one of the most important agricultural institutions in the Dominion. According to the Wairarapa Age the farm is to be managed by a board of seven members, four elected by the association and three appointed by the Government. The A. and P. Association members have already been selected, but the Government appointments have not yet been made. Dr C. J. Rakes, Secretary for Agriculture, will, however, occupy a seat on the board. It is proposed that the buildings on the farm shall be similar to those on an ordinary up-to-date farm, with all the adjuncts necessary for training soldiers and others in the differ'ent branches -of agricultural and pastoral pursuits. The stock required will, it is hoped, be provided by the settlers of the district. In addition to the usual farming operations, it is hoped that poultry-raising, fruit-growing, and bee culture may be undertaken on the farm. It is understood that the services of the most efficient farm managers in the Dominion will be secured, so that it will be seen the farmers of are fully alive to the advantages of having such an educational institution in their midst, and are determined that nothing shall be left undone to make Wairarapa one of the most important seats of learning, agriculturally, to the Dominion. THE WOOL INDUSTRY OF THE EAST COAST. The annual agricultural and pastoral statistics issued by the Government afford some interesting information, indicating the extensive nature of the wool-growing -industry of the East Coast. _ The statistics show that the wbol obtained from last season's clip (1917-18) from the Gisbovne district, comprising Waiapu, Waikohu, and Cook Counties, totalled no ress than 18,529,0831 b, actually exceeding the entire clip for the whole of the Auckland land district (13,394,5121 b). The total yie'4 for the Hawke's Bay district Was 46,474,5961 b, of whioh, as indicated above, the three Poverty Bay counties produced 18,529,0851 b. In addition to the above, a portion of the Opotiki dip (995,3701 b) produced inythe Motu" district, also -passes through Gisborne for export. Whilst Hawke's Bay County holds the record as the largest wool-producing county last season, with 8,486,6211 b, it was closely rivalled by Cook County with 8,222,2991 b. It is interesting to note that Rangitikei County oame next with 7,068,8251 b. The Gisborne clip bulked almost as large as the whole of that raised in Otago, where 18,178,3051 b were obtained whilst it far exceeded the Taranaki clip (7,691,5381 b). Nelson district (2,379,9081 b), Marlborough (6,909,4321 b), Westland (385,4451 b), and Southland (10,779,635). Wellington land district produced 45,335,4891 b, and Canterbury 29,710,8581 b. The total clip for the Dominion last season amounted to 181,237,7171 b. A RECORD HARVEST. During a hurried visit througTi the Waikato ancl South Auokland districts last week I noticed that harvesting was well on the way. Inquiries wept to show thata record hay harvest is boinjr gathered in everywhere, the crops being especially heavy. Oats are also producing most satisfactory yields, the heads being well filled, although for tho most part the straw is on the short lido.

POTATOES. With the conclusion of the holiday period potakvdigging has been recommenced most , briskly in the Pukekohe district. On Tuesj day 10 truck loads, representing some 60 | tons, were despatched from Pukekohe. Of ! the consignment only one truok was for Auokland, the balance going to southern centres. Consignments are likely to continue heavy for some little time. BUTTER PROFITS. i The announcement made that an agree- ' ment had been arrived at in connection with the equalisation .scheme for the distribution of profits on the sale of last season's New Zealand butter in England, has given satisfaction to most butter producers. The amount to be paid over by the Imperial Government will allow for the payment of 17s per cwt on the butter purchased, which, added to the purchase price of 157 s at which the butter was shipped, ; makes a total price of 1745. f AUCKLAND'S DAIRY PRODUCE. The dairy industry is improving its posiI tion every day, and the wonderful re- ! oovery that has been made is reflected in the dairy produce exports for' the present season. 'At the end of October the figures , were considerably lower than for the corresponding period last season. The reduction amounted to 15.000 boxes of butter and 6000 crates of cheese. The, intervening period, however, has reversed the position, the figures at the end of last month being in advance of those for the corresponding period of 1917 by 9752 boxes of butter and 27,762 crates of cheese. There is also m hand 12,000 boxes of butter, which it is : hoped to ship, per „the Makura, for Vancouver. j A comparison of the export figures for ! the 1917-18 season, July 1, 1917, to June 30, 1918, with the corresponding period of the previous year, shows the export of butter to have/ increased by 128,972 boxes, and the cheese to have fallen away to the extent of 44-35 crates. The approximate value of the latter, however, owing to increased prices, was more than that, for the previous season's output. The approximate total values of the exports for the two seasons are shown in the following:— I 1917-18. 1916-17. ; Butter .. .. £1,960.160 £1,498,564 ; Cheese .. .. 526,173 500,166 | i ■ £2,486,333 £1,998,730 ! A feature of the present season's operations is" improved transport facilities to Vancouver, trade with that port having opened up on a larger scale than usual. This is evidenced by export figures. The butter shipped to that port during the first six months of the season totalled 20,355 boxes, as against 786 boxes for the corresponding period in 1917. ! HYDRO. ELECTRIC SCHEME. i Tho South' Auckland Dairy Association Executive are fully alive to the importance of electricity on the farm, and. with a view to bringing the hydro-electric scheme to a state of fruition quickly, a request has been forwarded xto the Government that the purchase of the Horohoro hydroelectric plant be proceeded with. The plant referred to was erected by the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and the t power generated at the Horohoro Falls is transmitted across country from the Waikato to Waihi and Waikino, where it is utilised in driving mine and battery plants j AUCKLAND'S MEAT EXPORT TRADE. ' Figures in connection with Auckland's j meat export trade for the past 12 months ; are now available, and they show that, | despite shortage of shipping, the 12 months' j operations yielded an increase of 7,041,5911 b !as comoared with the previous year. During 1917 a total of 24,690,3441 b was shipped from Auckland, whilst during 1918 export figures .reached 31,731,9351 b. The exports for 1916 totalled 36,171,1351 b. An analysis discloses tie fact that during 1918 a total of 21,283,0341 bof beef was exported, as against a total of 20,919,069 lb in 1917—an increase of 363,9751 b. In the export of mutton and lamb there was an increase of f»,677.616. the respective totals being—l9l3, ; 10,448,9011 b; 1917," 3,771,2851 b. THE MEAT TRUST. The Minister in charge of the Imperial Supplies Department has circularised meat exporting companies, forwarding a letter from the Australian and New Zealand section of the Incorporated Society of Meat i Importers, England, in regard to proposals | they- are * placing before the Imperial ! Government with a view to reducing the Meat Trust menace. When interviewed upon the matter a prominent exporter of Auckland said that the general opinion seemed to be that some scheme of preference was needed. During the war tho tendency of the Imperial Government had been, he said to favour the North and South American markets as against the British dominions, and, if the latter were to get back into their old position, the British Government would have to take action. Tho proposals circulated by the Minister had evidently been drawn up with that idea in view. The general principle | of the proposals appear to be good, but I details have yet to be decided upon.