THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 10

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) . Weather conditions have not improved since my last week’s notes appeared in print, and there is certainly nothing of settled nature. There has been a fair amount of rain, with an average of warmth, and as a result land has been rendered fairly workable. It would seem as if & larger area of land is to bo devoted to oats this season, the decision of Government not to fix any guaranteed prices for wheat having cooled the ardour of some of last year’s growers. There is therefore every possibility of extended oat crops this year. BRIGHTER DAYS IN STORE. That the present slump would soon pass, and that brighter days would be in store for the farmers of New Zealand was the opinion expressed by Mr W. S. Glenn, M.P., at Raetihi last week. He agreed that the beef market was disquieting, but on the other hand lie pointed out that prices for lamb and light-weight mutton, were good, also the price for butter and cheese. He recalled a bygone day, when fat bullocks sold at £3 ss, and added, “It is getting pretty close to that- now.” On the whole, however, he regarded the prospects of the future as full of promise, and Mr Glenn’s opinion may be “taken and road,” as he is one of the Rangitikei’s foremost farmers. SHELTER ON THE FARM. The value of shelter on a farm is inestimable, and numerous instances could be given of the reward the provident farmer receives in return for the protection against weather he affords his stock. A few days ago a reporter of one of the Taranaki papers had the fact emphasised in an impressive manner. He visited a farm, the owner of which for years had been systematically growing shelter trees. The weather conditions at the time were anything but pleasant. It was cold and boisterous: but inside the tree belts there was warmth and tranquility. The cattle were grazing contentedly, whilst on the adjoining farm, with no shelter, the cows were pucked up the picture of .misery. The farmer with the trees estimates that the protection and warmth given by the trees represents 20 to 25 per cent, of ar» increase in his butter-fat production. In addition, the trees supply him with all his posts and rails and firewood. Tire growing of trees he regards as the best investment he ever made, and I am quite certain that his experience can be had by others if they will only show sufficient enterprise in the direction indicated. SHEEP DOG TRIALS. The fifteenth annual meeting of the Tarata (Taranaki) Sheep Dog Trial Club was held last week, and, though the weather conditions were not at all favourable, the competitions were excellently carried out and were witnessed by a fair number of spectators. The results were:— Head, Pull, and Hold In King (about 300 yards)—Rolfe’s Fly 1, P. Lambert's Scott 2. S George’s Hemp 3, J. Drummond’s Toss 4. The first prize was £6. Head, Pull, Drive, and Yard—Rolfe’s Fly 1, T. W. Waddell’s Swift 2. S. George's Hemp 3. The first prize was £6. Iluntaway—J. Hirst’s Ben 1, Sid George’s Jed 2, M. O’Shannesy’s Black 3. The first prize was £4 10s. In local events J. Rolfe’s Fly came first, so that dog secured three special prizes—■ viz., P. 11. Tocker’s cup and £1 added for most points in Class 1, J. R. Corrigan’s cup and £1 added for most points in Class 2. and R. M‘Master’s, M.P., _ special of £1 Is for dog scoring most- points in any two classes. Fly is evidently “some dog” to capture so many awards. The judge spoke very eulogisticallv of the average work of the competing dogs. NORTHERN SOLDIER SETTLERS. There is no doubt that many soldier settlers are having a grim struggle to make ends meet, and in Auckland South there are a. number of men who will have to be assisted by the Government. A few days ago. at the instigation of Messrs Bollard and IT. Poland. M.’sP., a meeting of returned soldier settlers with the Commiesi o-ner of Crown Lands (Mr U, Skert) was held at. Taupiri. Mr R. M'Oallum, M.P. for Wairau- was also present. The object of the meeting was to place before the Commissioner the distressing state of many returned soldier settlers’ finances with a view to having the position alleviated. There were about. 30 returned men in all. Major Johnson, on behalf of the soldiers, SDolce of their manv difficulties and troubles due to the low prices for dairy product). He felt sure that the coming winter would be a very severe one for them. Assistance was absolutely necessary if the soldiers were to get through. The speaker urged that, the arrears could he postponed for a definite period, or until the end cf the lease, as manv settlers had areas ready to be grassed, but. owing to their finances being exhausted, they would be unable to mircho.se seed and manure. The settlers, ho said, would be quite satisfied with their land orre thev had surmounted the troubles

of early settlement. After others had spoken. the Commissioner said he would like to emphasise the fact that the settlers themselves had to realise their responsibilities in the matter, ns thev were parties in the acquisition of the different areas. As long as they did their utmost to make good, Mr Skert gave the assurance that the Department would do its share in the most sympathetic manner possible. RICHER FROM SWAMPS. Reference was recently made in this column to the visit of the lion. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, to the Ilauraki Plains and Rangitaiki Swamp, where a number of dredges are at. work converting what was once swamp lands into a fine agricultural and pastoral country. The Minister, in giving his view’s upon his return to Wellington, stated that up to the present 300,000 acres of the Dominion’s waste land have been turned to good account, and land as rich as any in the world is being brought into cultivation. Something like 18 new dredges are at work on the various swamp areas being reclaimed, whilst over 100,000 acres of swamp have been surveyed, and are ready to be drained when the dredges are available. In referring to the Hauraki Plains, the Minister considered that there could be nothing bat prosperity and success for the settlers who occupied that rich land.

SHORTAGE OF BREEDING EWES. It was considered a short time ago that the killing season’s figures would show a huge deficiency on the best returns of the past' couple of years, but it appears likely that the shortage will be very small indeed. There is, however, a serious shortage of breeding ewes, and the nosition is likely to be accentuated during the next few weeks. The shortage is accounted for by the large number of block-faced cross lambs which have been produced in the North Island during the year for the Home markets. With this breed of sheep the ewe lambs must be killed as well as the wethers, as they are useless for breeding purposes, and this obviously results in a shortage of breeding ewes the following season. Scouts have been running all round the country trying to pick up available lines, but farmers are holding on to the few they have. SALE OF STORE SHEEP. There has been an appreciable rise in the market for store sheep, and evidence of this was forthcoming at Waituna sale, Feilding district, last week. On the occasion referred to a good line of four and six-tooth Romney ewes fetched 36s Id, whilst others ranged form 24s to 325. Good wethers also made up to 20s. There is undoubtedly a very strong demand for stores of all classes, and judging by the way the wind is blowing pastoralists have much greater confidence in the future. HIGH PRICES FOR TESTING. As already indicated in the Witness there is a good deal of feeling among cattlemen over the 100 per cent, increase made by the Agricultural Department in respect to the testing of cows, and there are not a few, who believe that this is just another turn in the screw to twist a little more money out of the farmer to help the finance of the country. All the difference such extra revenue would make, however, would be and farmers like everyone else, must recognise the fact that all these departments should pay their way. If the £6 5s a cow for testing was too little to pay expenses, it is only fair that the price should be raised, but to put it as much again—viz., £lO 10s —has caused farmers to view the new rate with suspicion as to the motive. If it be for money-making purposes it is certainly going to defeat the main object of th 3 ’C.o.R. —namely, to get as many dairymen as possible testing their cows in order to increase production. Small men could not possibly give £lO 10s for the first cow tested, and £3 3s for all subsequent cows, as it would simply mean that any benefits derived would be handed over to the Government. The matter is being well discussed round the country, and up north it is giving the farmers a handle to stress the necessity of a farmer’s party in Parliament stunt. At a meeting of the Manawatu Jersey Cattle Club last week, the Department of Agriculture was adversely criticised, and in the end, it was resolved to ask the department to allow breeders with or it 1 cow under test to drive them to one farm for testing, and to make the charge as if they were under one ownership. A table prepared by Mr J. Cobbe showed that there were 126 Jersey breeders with cows under test, and the list was made up as follows :Flftyfour had one cow under test; 36 had two; 14 had three; 8 had four; 7 had five; 3 had six; 2 had seven; 1 had nine : and 1 had twelve. If the department persisted in its present attitude it was felt that most of the 90 one and two oow men would give up testing.