THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 11

THE NORTH ISLAND.

{From Our Own Correspondent.) From a feed point of view the position in the North Island is still satisfactory, there being just sufficient rain to keep grass growing. The milk supply at factories has gone down considerably, the best yields coming from those provident farmers who hay© grown maize, roots, or lucerne. The latter crop is proving a godsend to those who have gone to the trouble of growing it, and stock are feeling the full benefits of being rationed on feed they relish so much. The time is coming when a stand erf lucerne will be available on the majority of farms, and when that is so, there will not be so mugh anxiety for the provisioning of stock as obtains at present time. In the Hawke’s Bay district feed is very scarce, and quite a number of store cattle are being sent over to the Manawatu and other districts, some of the lambs arriving being In very poor condition. In southern Hawke’s Bay store cows may be picked up at prices ranging from £2 to 10s. and it is estimated that in the Wanganui district a cow was sold under that figure a few days ago. Who wouldn’t buy a cow at 10s? Sheep are also disappointingly low in the IDannevirke district. At a sale held at Wimbledon on Wednesday last four tooth ewes, which last year at the same sale realised 345, and the previous vear over £2, went for lls, and good stuff they v.'ere, while good lambs were sacrificed for 6s. Ram fairs for the heavier class of sheep nave been far below expectations, and in numerous instances they "have been sent to tiie freezing works for boiling down purposes. As therehas been a further marked drop in the price of tallow, it does not require much figuring out to show that farmera are receiving little or nothing for their stock. It is contended in some quarters that the slump will prove a blessing in disguise, as it will rid the country

of a lot of rams that are in no way worthy to perpetuate the breed, and that if flockmasters will take heed they will see to it in their own interests, as well as the country’s, that in building up only the best stock will be kept. The big drop in the price of stock, owing to the chaotic condition of the meat market at Home, the restricted killing at the freezing works in consequence, and the increase of shipping freights, are all tending to have a depressing effect upon the farmer. Indeed, many of those who recently bought up land at high prices are in for a bad time, though it is to be sincerely hoped that the lean months ahead will not be prolonged. One of the most disheartening aspects of the position is the increase in the freights. In view of the large tonnage of shipping lying idle in all parts of the world, consequent upon the big recovery of losses by enemy submarining, it is incomprehensible why the shipping companies should increase the rates instead of decreasing them. The matter can safely be left in the hands of the Prime Minister to deal with. STOCKBROKERS’ PRICES. Farmers are not at all pleased at the action of stockbrokers in raising commission rates, and at the monthly meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union a strong protest was lodged. The meeting considered that in view of the low prices and high expenses, financial stringency and other obstacles now facing the farmer, the time was absolutely inopportune for any such action, and to meet the position the brokers, instead of penalising the farmer by raising the commission, should largely reduce their working expenses. A resolution to that effect was carried. EXPORT OF DAIRY STOCK. It was considered that when the C.O.R. testing system commenced in New Zealand the production of some of the Dominion’s purebred cows would be such as to attract the attention of buyers from outside. Anticipations in that direction are being realised, as according to Mr W. M. Singleton, of the Dairy Division, some 162 head of purebred dairy cattle were exported during 1920. Most of the animals went to Australia, Tasmania, and Java. The hope is expressed by Mr Singleton in the N.Z. Journal, of Agriculture that at some time in the not distant future South Africa will also among the countries to whicjti New Zealand supplies purebred stock, to the mutual advantage of both parts of the Empire. FRIESIAN COWS UNDER TEST. Acording to official figures there has been a creditable increase in the number of cows and heifers tested during the year, the increase representing some 65 per cent, in the number of certificates issued. The largest increases have been in the classes for junior two-year-olds and mature cows, and a marked feature of the C.O.R. tests is that the average production for the mature class is an improvement on either of the two preceding years, despite the fact that the number of cows this year shows an increase. The year has seen a change in the leadership of the junior two-year-olds, Rosa Posch of Oakview, owned by H. R. Green, Kairanga, having succeeded Princess Pietertje de Kol with a comparatively wide margin of 92.021 b of butter-fat. The new leader’s vield for the season was 19,515.51 b milk, 718.831 b fat, extracted during a. testing period of 365 days. The fact that the new leader commenced her work at the age of 2 years 32 days, as compared with -•j-vioiL= leader’s start at 2 years 102 days is in favour of the new class leader. t> the senior two-vear-oVls Netherland Princess TV. owned bv J. Donald, of Weststill maintains her position as leader with a record of 19,621.61 b milk, 805.771 b fat. The junior threc-yaar-ofcl class has witnessed a change in premiership, Eegis van Putteroun, owned bv R. Melvin, jun., Masterton. having superseded Rosevale Holland Queen, with a margin of 8.631 b of butter-fat. WEST COAST PRODUCE. The West Coast of the North Island still maintains an excellent position in the export of produce. Wanganui alone having exported over £4.000,000 for the year. Further up the coast. Pat-ea sent away £1,813,522 worth of butter, cheese, meat, etc., and New Plymouth £1,869.185, whilst Waitara’s contribution in exports represented in value something like £486.128. The West Coast was therefore responsible for sending away over £8.000.000 worth of produce, pretty nearlv the whole of which being won on the farm. The big figures sneak eloquently of the productivity of the West Coast.