THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(Fr.om Ode Own Correspondent.) Th-;- weather during the past week has been distinctly favourable for growth, and th© island m every part shows promise of a generous autumn . There is an abundance of beautiful green feed, which rarely obtains at this time of the year; and there should bo no scarcity of feed for winter. At the same time, farmers, particularly those who 20 in. for growing _ stock for export, are having an anxious time in regard to the way the stores are filling up with frozen products, and the lack of ships to transport the stuff overseas. In Hawke's Bay the position is very serious, and the freezing works have been obliged to close down. Hawke's Bay has really had a very bad run. and it is claimed that the district has rot had a fair distribution of the shipping available. Other stores, however. though apparently 'full, appear be still finding room for the stuff coming into them, and killing operations are being vigorously prosecuted at most of the works SCARCITY OF LABOUR. Farmers are finding there is a great scarcity of labour, particularly for agricultural and dairy purposes, and the general opinion is that a comprehensive immigration policy is needed if increased production is to take the place of restricted production, which obtains at present. The Dominion's prosperity is no doubt due to the high prices being obtained for produce, but it is a regretful circumstance that efforts are not being made to keep up and increase a high standard of production. A good deal of interest is being taken in the proposal that a large number of demobilised land girls at Home should be brought to New. Zealand and combine domestic duties with a certain amount of work in the dairy or the garden. If the scheme materialises there should be no difficulty in placing the gjirls, who ought really to be a great acquisition to the labour circles of the Dominion. EXPORT OF DAIRY PRODUCE. The export of dairy produce from Taranaki is being well maintained; in fact, the service is more satisfactory, than it has been for the past couple of years. The cheese now in store consists of 44,E00 crates and the butter 41,900 boxes. At about this time last year the works held 96,000 crates of.chee.se —over twice as much as at present,—but the butter was less, being' 10,900 boxes. Butter apparently has not been required this season to-such an extent as last season. '. The last shipment of butter went forward three months ago, but this month a large quantity (28,500 boxes) is to be/ taken. During the next few weeks the produce will be shipped at a considerably greater rate than it will be entering the stores. Space- has- been allotted as follows : s Cheese —12,000 crates for Port Caroline (now loading), 12,CKX> crates for Northumberland (this weak), 10,CO0 orates for Mamari (about March .27). Butter— ?,3,500 boxes for Suf-1 folk v (due Wellington March 10). LAND FOR SOLDIERS. There is a good demand for farming lands in the Wellington land district by returned soldiers, and this is evidenced by the fact that at the last sitting of the board no fewer than 110 applications were consid3red. One pleasing feature about returned men going on to farms is that most of the nun are doing well; despite the high price of land. The authorities state that almost without an exception where men have honestly tried to get on and applied themselves assiduously to y/ork there have been no failures. All the selectors on the Kopane Estate, near Folding, have done well, and one man in particular is said to have made quite a nice little sum out of his cows and pigs last season. In the case of another settlr-rn-ent. in the Wairarapa there has been the same successful result; in fact, the returns have been re--markable. At first some of the men in certain districts had a trying time, but officers of the Agricultural Department and farmers of the district put them on right lines, and to-day there is hardly a returned inan working in rural districts who is not extremely satisfied that ■ his lot has been cast in pleasant places. HIDE SALES. One of the features of the week has been the big prices realised at the various sales for hides consequent upon the resumption of auctions. At all centres there was a great demand, Wellington in particular having realised something like sensational prices. Wellington's experience has been similar to that in other parts, and it is quite certain that the old prices received for hides have gone for ever.