STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. flurnfeide, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays ft'aiareka Railway Junction, Tuesdays. Wallacetowu, Tuesdays. Fortnightly, ftiveradaie, Fridays Ashburton, Tuesdays. Heriot, Thursdays. WTinton, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays. Balclutha, Fridays. Wore, Tuesdays. Monthly. Palmerston, 4th Thursday. Wii)u>4, 4th Tuesday.

Monthly (continued). Duntrooa, 2nd Wedne*day. Woodlands, 3rd Friday Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thornbury, Ist Friday. Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday. Otautau, 2nd Friday. Kiversdale, 3rd Friday. Waik_ka, last Friday. Olydevale, last Tuesday. Periodically ai Advertised. Lumsden, Mossbnru, Orepnki, Mataora, Waikcuaiti, Tiverton, Ngapar i, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO. There has been no improvement in the weather in so far as North Otago is concerned, there having been but little sunshine during the week. Further south, however, and in the Tapanui district, away from the easterly weather, the weather is good and fa.rm work has made excellent progress, -thinning of turnips here is possible, but it is a trouble elsewhere. Some club-root among turnips has appeared in Southland. ' u lne oa^s have been cut and some led in, the latter being a crop sown for cow feed, but was not wanted owing to the abundant feed everywhere. I he damp wet weather has been conducive to foot-rot or probably sore feet among sheep, and even on land considered fairly high, there is trouble in this respect. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside totalled 2082, as against 1776 the previous week, the bulk of the entry being of average quality, with pennings of unfinished sheep inter-mixed. There was a good sale, heavy sheep were no dearer, while one exporter helped to harden values cf lightweight prime wethers and ewes. Otherwise there was not much life in the demand, an irregular demand serving to about maintain last week’s rates, mutton sold to 6gd per !b. Graziers were not keen buyers of old ewes One lot of station crossbred wethers fairly fine-woolled, made 28s 6d. 'ihe entry of 700 fat lambs (12d at last sale) comprised medium to good quality, with a fair number lacking finish. There was a good sale, three or four export buyers getting small lots. Prices were not up to last week’s very high rates by Is 6d a head, lamb making to. a lb. The yarding of fat cattle, 231, as against 303 the previous week, was not notable for the number of “primes.” The demand was quiet, but picked up a trifle towards the close of the sale, beef may be quoted as unchanged to 5s a head better than a week ago, beef making to 27s 6d per 1001 b. The yarding of store cattle was largo, 350 comprised of a number of Hereford cross steers and cows and medium bullocks, the balance ordinary dry cows, and mixed yearlings. Values were a bit easier, but three to four-year-olds making £6 to £7 ss, ordinary three-year-olds to £6, yearlings to £2 9s. * An entry of 174 fat pigs was somewhat in excess of the demand, and prices in places were down 5s a head, baeoners making barely up' to 6d per lb, and porkers to 7d per lb. Some young sows (in pig) made 50s to 62s 6d. BALCLUTHA -CLINTON STOCK SALES. The yarding of sheep at Balclutha was comprised of lambs and ewes, with several lots of wethers, and about 300 head of cattle. Them was a good sale. Fat sheep were cheaper than at Burnside on Wednesday last, but lambs were Is a head dearer. Sound mouth ewes with a few young sheep intermixed, made 295 ; guaranteed sound ewes 27s 3d, full and failing ewes with lambs 24s all counted, sm-all wethers (two-tooths) 24s 6d, medium four and six-tooths 21s 9d, mixed sex lambs 22s Id to 24s 4d. Cattle sold fairly well, big three to four-year-old bullocks in nice order making up to £8 12 S 6d. At Clinton only a few sheep were yarded, prices being on a par with those quoted above. The class of sheep (stores) coming into the stock markets is not of first grade, except in a few instances. The fact of the matter is, that any good line offering is placed at once, and not infrequently twice, and yet again. North men are looking round for breeding ewes. Farmers should see that they are not tempted to sell their best sheep. The culls and smaller sheep are all that we can afford to let Canterbury buyers have at present. ADDINGTON YARDS. There was a small yarding of fat sheep at Aadington, a fair proportion of the entry lacking finish. Although there was a very fair demand, prices were Is 6d a head down on the previous week’s high market rates in respect to wethers, and ewes cheaper by 2s a head, wethers making to 6|d per lb and ewes around s|d per lb. The quality of some 4600 fat lambs was somewhat mixed, and values were easier by Is to Is 6d per head on last sale’s rates. The price would average around 9i<l per lb, and in places lOd. Light, unfinished lambs were taken readily enough by graziers. The entry of a large number of store sheep elicited a keen demand, ewes selling very readily. Some two-tooth ewes made 40s, and a small consignment of two and four-tooths 425. The demand for wethers and lambs was well maintained at last week’s rates. The quality of an average entry of fat cattle was fairly good, the demand for handy light prime steers being maintained, but heavy-weight cattle were cheaper by £1 per head, while unfinished steers sold relatively well, extra beef sold to 31s 6d per 1001 b, but generally from 27s to 29s per 1001 b. There was good inquiry for store cattle and competition for grown animals showed some improvement, while other sorts were making more money than was the case early in the month. Dairy cows are not selling too well at up to £lO. The small entry of fat pigs served to form up the demand on late rates, porkers appreciating slightly. The best of the store pigs sold well, but small sorts were not in demand. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Stock sales in the North Island have brisked up since the holidays, and good lines of sheep and fat cattle sell freely. In the Poverty Bay area rains 'have hampered haymaking considerably of late. Wethers were sold at 22s to 235, medium mixed ewes

22s 6d, woolly lambs 12s to 17s, young steers to £3 ss. In the Wairarapa young wethers made 21s to 245, rape lambs 14s to 19s, culls from Bs, yearling steers to £3, twoyear olds to £4 ss. In the WanganuiFeilding areas the weather has been varied, with occasional thunder showers. In Taranaki province the weather has been much on a par with the rest of the North Island. It is a great season for weed growth. In Hawke's Bay there has been heavy rain. Rape lambs make from 17s to 19s. two-tooth wethers 20s to 23s Sd, empty two-year-old heifers to £4, and three-year-old steers £5 10s to £6 10a STOCK NOTES. The position in Otago to-day is "not so bad” in respect to stock values, as compared with rates ruling at this time last year. Lamb and mutton are about 100 per cent, better and fat cattle are 25s to o6s per head better than was the case a year ago. O'f course, cattle should move up a bit yet to satisfy graziers. However, the province is full of feed, and mutton and lamb surely cannot be worth twice the price of beef indefinitely. In the meantime the demand is very sound for breeding ewes and store wethers. Further north farmers are buying ewes earlier than usual, as they have ample feed, and possibly wish to get supplies before there is a general scramble. In the Tapanui (Otago) district the other day at a clearing sale shorn four, six, and eight tooth ewes (1300 in the line), with good lambs at foot, made 27s 6d all counted, some medium two-tooth ewes Ms 6d, and the two-tooth wethers 26s sd. At a meeting of the Timaru A. and P. Association it was stated that the Canterbury A. and P. Association was the only Society in the South Island with the required number of members—lCtX)—which was one of the conditions laid down in connection with the holding of a Royal Show. On the proposal of Mr A. S. Ehvorthy, seconded by Mr Tripp', a motion was carried suggesting that the membership entitling an A. and P. Association to hold a Royal Show should be reduced from 1000 to 500. The championships at the recent Woodville A. and P. Show were allotted as follows: Ayrshires.—Bull: T. Wilson (Carterton); reserve: C. B. Morgan. Cow: W. Moore (Masterton). Jersey Pull: R. L. Horn (Levin) ; reserve: 11. W. Phillips (Terehunga). Cow: R. L. Horn. Jersey Challenge Cup: R. 1.. Horn. Milking Shorthorns.—Bull: Bolton (Pahiatua). Cow. James Smith (Terehunga). llerefords.—Bull and cow: J. S. Nelson. Lincolns.—Ram and ewe: W. H. Gaisford (Orini). Southdowns. — Ram and ewe: R. J. MacDonald (Dannevirke). Mr W. T. Allen, of Boorook, Woorndoo. Victoria, realised 33d per lb for his fleece wool with a top of for nine bales cf comeback wool. At Hughenden (Q.), the sale took place on January 13, of 20,000 wethers, four months off the shears, from Afton Downs. The price was 26s a head, the buyer being r Terry, owner of Saranair, Limbri, and Stamford stations. This represents the largest sale of the kind in Queensland for many years. Mr ‘ Philip (Government Veterinarian) makes the following comment on the application of the tuberculosis test to dairy cattle in Tasmania: —“There are now four or five dairymen who regularly test their herds for tuberculosis, and besides these herds a number of household cows have been tested. Out of 122 cattle of one herd in the South there were 22 reactors, being a percentage of 18. These reacting animals came from different parts of the State, and were bought in the open market. This is another of the many instances showing the necessity for some qualified supervision over the herds of the State. There is no longer any question as to the danger of the human subject from the products of the tubercular cow, and a regular and Qualified examination of the dairy herds supplying milk for human consumption is one of the most vital needs of the State, particularly as there is a lack of qualified veterinary surgeons to brine cases of notifiable diseases under the notice of the State authorities.” SOUTH AFRICAN WOOL. The prophecy, made some years ago, that South Afi-ica in time, would become a strong competitor with Australia m the world’s markets, has been fulfilled. Surprising though it may be to Australian o-rowers, the fact stands cut that for tlie first time in woo! trade history South African tops have sold in Bradford at rusher figures than the Australian article. African 64’s have have realised £sd a lb, while m the last few months, Australian tops of a similar count, have touched only 63d. Ims unusual position was not due to the superiority of the African produt out was -aused by a temporary shortage of supplies !*avs "lhe Sydney Morning Herald.) The incident, however, calls attention to the marked improvement shown in the wool shorn in South Africa in recent years. Australia has supplied the blood from which this advantage springs, as, for many years, African flockowners have been good purchasers of Australian stud merino sheep. As a matter of fact, there is now no demand in South Africa for any other than the best merino sires our breeders can produce Their flocks have been so unproved that they breed all the flock rams required instead of importing them. It has been stated that as t-he merino stud owners are most particular in keeping stud books, and registering the breeding of their sheep, the day will come when cur breeders will go there for sires of their own blood, and benefit by the “climatic outcross.” Like Australia. South Africa is subject to drought; also, like Australia, that country is suited to the production of merino woo . and in time to come, may prove a vvoolgrowing competitor of some measure. About 35,000,000 sheep' are pastured. No doubt the country clip will continue showing improvement in quality, though, possibly, the better pastures available in Australia will keep local wool on a higher standard; but just as local growers have scientifically evolved a sheep suited to the conditions of Australia, so African breeders may do likewise. THAT “NEW SALE NOTE.” In a previous issue of the Otago Witness attention was drawn to the new sale note perpetrated bv the Dominion stock agents. The position, it, seemed to us, which might possibly be created by parties signing the new contract form would prove intolerable at times. A purchaser and vendor,, to put it mildly, might subsequent to a sale of stock being effected find themselves “in the soup,” the agents meantime running free. There was bound to be a row. No wonder, then, that the executive of the Otago and Southland Sheep-owners’ Industrial Union of Employers took action, and through their

executive at a meeting held on the 24th inst. adopted the following resolution, which has been sent to all members of the Sheep-owners’ Association “ That this union regards Ihe new conditions of sale and purchase introduced by (he stock agents as to a large extent superfluous, unintelligible, and unnecessarily irritating, and advises its members to refuse to sign complicated and only partly comprehensible documents of this or any olher kind, in the compilation of which they have not been consulted.” The sheep-owners, indeed, went further, and at their meeting on the 24th inst. decided that a cony of the following resolutions bo forwarded to the executive of the Xew Zealand Sheep-owners’ and Farmers’ Federation, with a request that same be brought before the executive of the New Zealand Stock Agents’ Association:— “(1) That the association be asked to declare simply and plainly that in every transaction of sale and purchase of stock or produce between a vendor and a purchaser introduced to the vendor by an agent or bv an authorised sub-agent of a firm or company of stock agents, this agent will be and is, upon delivery of the stock or goods so arranged for, responsible for and will make payment to the vendor according to the terms ot sale. (2) That while the Sheepowners’ Association does not claim that, on rejection by the purchaser for good, sufficient, and legally claimable reasons (such as notable depreciation of qualify between the dates of inspection and delivery or the failure of the vendor to produce for delivery the number or quantity of stock or produce previously arranged iorl, the stock agent should remain responsible fer payment to the vendor, the Stock Agents’ Association be asked to declare that in case of the failure of the purchaser to appear at the arranged place of delivery or his failure for any cause not legally justifiable (such as financial inability) to complete his purchase the agent will thereupon be and become the purchaser of the stock or produce, and will remain responsible to the vendor for payment according to the terms arranged, less the arranged commission. (3) That the Stock Agents’ Association be asked to declare that under no circumstances will it claim commission from the vendor except as a deduction from or charge upon, at current rates, cash actually handed or credited by the agent or the purchaser to the vendor as the price of stock or produce sold through the agency claiming such commission. In other words, that commission will only be payable when cash has actually been passed or credited or is being passed or credited to the vendor, and only upon the gross amount of such cash. (4) That the Stock Agents’ Association be asked to discontinue the use of the new sale note and to revert to the use of the simpler sale note that has given satisfaction to all parties for many years, it being respectfully represented to them that in the elaborate contract between purchaser and agent embodied in the new note has nothing whatever to do with the vendor, and that it is unreasonable to ask the vendor (usually at a moment’s notice) to sign the same document in which these highly. elaborated and extremely verbose conditions appear. The financial and other relations between agent and purchaser may well, we submit, be settled in the agent’s office, or at any rate in some way independently of the vendor, who is not, and should not be, in the least degree concerned with _ them. (5) That the Stock Agents’ Association be asked to declare that, notwithstanding the appeal judgment in the Wanganui case D’Arcy v. Dagety and Company, reversing the verdict of the jury, the stock agents do recognise the duty of an agent introducing a purchaser of stock or produce to make "reasonable inquiry and to possess or acquire reasonable satisfaction as to the good faith, honesty, and financial ability of such purchaser before presenting him to the vendor as a purchaser, such having been the duty declared by the jury to attach to the We recognise that this duty need not, where the agent has through no negligence or default of his own been himself deceived in the matter, carry with it an admission of to the vendor in all such circumstances.”