THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(Fbom Oob Own Co-respondent.) The Auckland province is looking exceedingly well just now, and during a trip through the Waikato and Thames Valley, which I made last week, I was astounded at the wealth of pastures in almost every part. Of course, the heavy rain coming at the time it did fell on a hot bed, and promoted a rigorous growth. Taranaki has been equally fortunate, and not only last week was there a satisfactory fall of rain, but at the time of writing it is raining heavily all along the West Coast. There is considerable warmth with the rain, so that there is every prospect of a vigorous * growth of grass being maintained for some little time. Up Kimbolton and_ Apiti way, at the back of Feilding, harvesting is being interfered with by rain. The season there ■ has been very late, but hay crops are good. The prospects of farming generally are good and that the outlook is considered bright is evidenced by the number of farms changing hands at greatly enhanced prices. Among the bigger transactions reported lately is that of the Glen Murray sheep station in Rangitikei district. The property consists of 6000 acres, and it is stated that the whole deal went through on a cash basis, the purchase price, including stock, being- in the vicinity of £70,000. The prices being paid for land are really too high, and there are scores of men who have weighted themselves with milestones for the term of their natural lives, unless they adopt new methods, and go in for intensive farming. That policy would be good for themselves and for the Dominion, but will they? In numbers of cases with which I haye come in contact, men have bought land, net with the intention of going in for improved farming, but purely as a speculation. If prices keep up they ore oil right but if there is a slump—a position hot unlikely—there will be a large number of rural dwellers who will" be obliged to make a fresh start in life. At the same time some new farmers are. doing well. In the Pukekohe district, particularly, several have, and are, making good money out of potatoes and onions, the latter having yielded prolific crops this season. This is evidenced by the fact that during three months of the 1919-20 season 4923 tons of potatoes and onions were railed away, the consignments representing an increase of 685 tons over the corresponding period last season. In one month alone, the products railed awav from Pukekohe represented a value of £IB,OOO. SHIPPING AND FARMERS.

Many farmers believe that if they had their own v line of boats, the majority of their troubles in connection with their export trade would cease; and they are urging on every convenient occasion that the organisation should take steps to procure a fleet of boats. The question has been thrashed out a good deal lately, and a further contribution to the discussion Was made at a meeting- of the executive of the Farmers' Union at Palmerston North last week, when the "other side" was presented. Mr Ewan Campbell, managing director of the Wanganui Freezing Company, deprecated anything being done. in the manner indicated; in fact, he frankly stated that he personally would refuse to put any money into such an enterprise. He argued that there was never a scarcity of any commodity without it being followed by a plethora. It was true there was not tho number of ships available just now, but the whole world was building ships, and the cost of getting one insulated vessel suitable to the trade would run somewhere between £450,000 and £500,000. .He was quite that in the near future there would be ships lying in the harbours oi New Zealand with no freights forthcoming. Mr Campbell went on to point out that one of the greatest troubles with shipping from New Zealand to England was the back freight. Trading vessels went to all parts of the world to gather cargoes when returning to New Zealand, and in some cases came out in ballast. Under such conditions increased freight charges had to be made to counter-balance the loss, and that aspect should, command attention. In any case, said -Mr Campbell, the shipping companies were dependent for their existence on New Zealand's export produce, and, he felt convinced, would meet the exporters in arriving at an equable agreement. Before the farmers jumped into a gigantic scheme of shipping they should realise that it would take some years before the ships could be built; but, in the meantime, he felt sure that a compromise -with the companies could be arrived at. One thing they must not lose sight of Was that a newly-established line would have no connection with merchants at Home, and would have to go very light as far as back freights _ were concerned. Mr Campbell's views excited a good deal of discussion r many of those present at the meeting taking a more optimistic view of the position arising out or a farmers' line of boats. It was felt that good results would accrue from, a conference between shipping companies, merchants, and producers, with the idea in view of fixing an equable scale of freight charges. Eventually the matter was put in the form of a recommendation to the Dominion Executive, and carried unanimously. RESTRICTED PRICES.

All over the Dominion at the present time oomplaints are being made by farmers concerning the restricted prices obtainable for their produce. Meetings and conferences are being held at various centres, but to far'no remedial measures had been adopted. The Imperial authorities are hardest 1o understand. They are rationing the people of England with meat, and are charging high prices; yet there is such a glut of meat in the stores thai; it is stated tons upon tons of stuff have to be destroyed hecauso of depreciation beyond fitness for human consumption. We are also told by oabla that ships filled with meat are lying by unable to load because of the congestion of moat in the stores. There is no question of doubt that as stated by Mr J. C. Cooper at a meeting of fanners at Masterton last week, that the glut meant paralysing the operations of producers, and that irreparable harm hod been done .to the trade of the New Zealand producer by tho_ action of the control people, the American Trust the best of the deal throughout. A resolution was carried urging the Government to leave nothing undone to have the New Zealand stores cleared of the ImperialOwned meat before the atari of the 1920-21

season. At Gisborne, it was also decided to urge the Government to continue pressure on the Imperial authorities to lift the whole of their meat from the Dominion stores by November 1, and to discontinue the high retail prices of meat; also to allow a free market, thereby relieving the and to end the commandeer on meat, wool, hides, and dairy produce, reverting to the pre-war conditions as soon j?s possible. The whole position is _ indeed unsatisfactory, and producers will have an anxious time for a while. FRIESIAN BREEDERS' DEVELOPMENT. In South Auckland a good deal of interest has lately been manifested in Friesian cattle in consequence of big prices paid for stock at recent sales, and Friesian breeders themselves have begun to feel that sufficient interest is not being taken in their own affairs. Consequently a meeting was held at Hamilton last week, and the advisableness of forming a South Auckland branch of the Friesian Breeders' Association was discussed. There seemed to be a general feeling that the proposal was one in the right direction. In" South Waikato alone, there were over 80 members of the Association, though they were not organised. Of these, it was stated, not more thart three went in for testing, and, in referring to that aspect, it was incidentally mentioned by one speaker that there was a feeling in America that the 355 days' period of testing was too lengthy, and there was a movement to reduce it slightly. With regard to the proposal to form a branch of the Association, the concensus of opinion was that movement would be welcomed, and that it -would assist the Council in its deliberations. It was eventually decided to form a South Auckland branch of the Friesian Breeders' Association, and a proposal that the fee for registering bulls be £3 2s, of which £2 2s will be refunded in the event of the dam being tested and securing a certificate of merit was referred to another meeting for consideration. A strong committee was elected, and it is confidently believed that the branch -will be a very useful one. WOOL VALUATIONS, Wellington's wool valuations are almost over, but a good valuation was held at Wanganui this week. The valuations will be made at Blenheim on March 3 and .Nelson on March 5. Dalgety's Review, which is just to hand, contains a lot of useful information for the sheepmen, and, according to the publication, record prices were obtained for New Zealand wools in the Dominion for 1918-19, the following selection being made : —G in square, greasy Merino (one bale), 22|d; Gerard, Merino pieces, lS^d; WO, Merino bellies, 15^d; Pakahuri, crossbred fleece (13 bales), 22d; Waerangu Downs, crossbred lambs (four bales), 18id; Algidus, Bayfield, Brackendale, Merino fleece, Gerard, Algidus, scoured Merino pieces, 40id; V. R. Holton, scoured crossbred fleece, 36d. IN THE WAIKATO. - A recent visit to the Waikato" revealed the fact that in the Tokoroa, district harvesting and haymaking were in full swing, and that some excellent crops of both are being obtained. Fortunately, there has been a considerable area of oats grown, a circumstance that should have a good effect upon the coming season, in view of the scarcity of hay that obtains. 'A very much larger area of turnips than usual has been sown, and is indicative of the development that is proceeding. These crops are doing splendidly, and conditions "point to the district being able to absorb a large number of store stock from now onwards. Many farmers are giving this matter attention, and have been visiting various districts in their guest. A striking circumstance that is now very noticeable is that settlers return home to revise the valuations of their properties with a decidedly upward trend. It is interesting to note that" upwards of a ton of locally-grown turnip seed was despatched recently ..from Tokoroa to a northern buyer. This is a new industry so far as the district is concerned, and the results, fo far have been very encouraging. There seems to be every reason to believe that Tokaroa. has ideal turnip-growing land, and experience so far goes fo_ show that seed saved and grown does distinctly better than that imported. OF INTEREST TO FRUITGROWERS. Last Saturday was a red-letter day in the history of the Haupai district, . North Auckland, when a luncheon was organised by the Haupai Fruitgrowers' 'Association to mark the packing of the first consignment of apples from the estate. Among those present was Mr J. A. Campbell, Assistant Director of Horticulture. During the toasts one speaker stressed the necessity for fruitgrowers being compelled to honestly pack and grade their products in order that co-operative marketing might be made a success in the interests of the producer. Mr Campbell, in the course of his reply, informed the company that the department had been preparing for the development of the industry on the lines of improving standardisation and centralisation. Regulations had been framed to govern the standard of packing, and it was _ proposed to supply fruitgrowers with registered numbers, the use of which for branding purposes • would be compulsory. A standard cas3 had been agreed upon for everything except cherries and apricots, and he expected the difflcultv in respect to these to be overcome shortly. TAIHAPE SHOW. Taihape held its annual show on Wednesday, February 25, and, though the entry was much about the same as last year, the exhibits that came forward proved that the Ma : n Trunk district is growing better stuff and that the timber industry is being steadily superseded by farm operations. The showing of sheep made was a very creditable one, Romneys in particular being well represented. A, R. Fannin, the wellknown Taihape breeder, carried off the bulk of the awards, including the championships, and he wis run very closely by Mr Wheeler,; of Taoroa. G. H. Brown exhibited a nice lot of Lincolns, while Mr Spooner, of Taihapa, had matters all his own wav in the farmers' classes. In fat sheep W. Reed and .Sons, of F'eilding, exhibited largely, and were well rewarded by tho honours that went their way. H. D. Bennett, of Taihape, scooped The pool for fat lambs, in which the quality was distinctly good A good deal of interest centred round the cattle pens, and the showing was a striking testimony to the beef-raising capabilities of the pastures of the district. The fat cattle were a prime lot. In tha purebred section fome nice Shorthorns were penned by J. Bartosh, of Raukora, whilst in tho milking strain G. D. Goodrbk, Ngawaka, carried off main awarda, as did T. W. Williams in respect to Frlesians. A. Crawford, was the only exhibitor of Jerseys, and.his 1 cow and bull well deserved the championships awarded

to them. Horses were v. ell reprwented. as usual, and ample evidence was given that despite the steady development of the motor car industry, the Quality of horses .n Rangitikei reach a very high standard. The jumping was excellent.