“EAT MORE BEEF.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 17

“ EAT MORE BEEF.”

CATTLE WANTED IN AUSTRALIA. SHIPMENTS FROM NEW ZEALAND. iFeom Our own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, June 8. The consumption of beef caused by the greatly reduced prices in Wanganui has already made a big decrease in the number of fat cattle in tip top condition waiting for the butchers, but there are big herds all along the coast which are coining along too quickly for the number of consumers, despite the fact that they are principally confining their meat diet to beef. Several graziers have begun to investigate further afield than Wanganui, and it has been found out that owing to the severe drought in Australia, and the almost bare market qf choice ox beef, that a great opportunity -exists across the Tasman to place some hundreds of animals that would otherwise have to be carried over the winter. Negotiations were, therefore, entered into with .a representative of an’Australian firm, and as a result some big lines of prime bullocks have been purchased from Mr Moore (Wanganui), and Mr P. H. Cameron, of Turakina, whilst Mr T. A Duncan, of Hunterville, and Mr W. Duncan,- of Taihape, have also disposed of large" drafts for the same market. The cattle purchased are of prime quality, and Australian consumers will surely relish the juicy beef, that has been grown on the pastures of Wanganui, Turakina, and along the Main Trunk. Inquiries go to show that the drafts will be forwarded by rail to Wellington the week after next, and shipped to Australia If a good winter trade in Australia can be developed it i s possible that other shipments will follow from these parts. The new development has caused great interest among the graziers of the district, and it is not unlikely that prices for beef will harden.

ASSISTANCE FOR CATTLE MEN.

BASIC SLAG ADVOCATED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) STRATFORD, June 8. The need for more cattle in the back country to crush out fern and bracken was emphasised at Stratford by the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works) when discussing the question of the deterioration

of the country, which had been brought before him. It was pointed out that capable men had been sent by the Agricultural Department to report on the matter, but nothing had been done. It was highly important that, the men breaking in hill country should be helped and encouraged with top-dressing. The supply of basic slag to settlers was advocated, and it was urged upon the Minister that it was preferable for the Government to make a few mistakes than defer action.

AGRICULTURAL AND PAB7ORAI NEWS.

According to the annual report of the South Island Dairy Association the Lake County Dairy Company shipped 723 crates of cheese during the 1922-23 season. The Mataura Dairy Factory Company, which consigned 11,322 crates was the largest shipper of cheese in the South Island during the same period. In reply to a deputation of oottongrowers at Darwin, the Minister for Home and Territories (Senator Pearce) said that preparations were in hand to pass a bill granting freehold to farmers. lie had already made arrangements to build a cotton-growing plant at Darwin. The price of cotton was guaranteed for three years, and settlers probably would be allowed advances of a certain percentage on improvements made on the farms. There were 600,000 acres of land available for selection.

Recently an order for 500 tons of potatoes for shipment in oases to Manila was received by Messrs Maine Bros., of Melbourne, says the Australasian. Additional business for the same destination has been received by Messrs Shea, Hood and Co., of Melbourne, who are to ship 250 tons. Most of the business in potatoes for Manila goes to America and Japan, and the news that Australia is now sharing in this trade will be welcomed by growers in Victoria.

During the period of 1920 when butter was very scarce at Home a member of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce endeavoured to buy some New Zealand butter. He mentioned at Mr H. C. Cameron’s meeting on Friday afternoon that a London grocer had told him that he had just sold a box of New Zealand butter, branded “1915,” and that the quality then, five years later, was as perfect as that of the best butter at Home.

A large number of dairy factory managers and others interested in the dairy trade met at the Overseas rooms on Tuesdaymorning to hear Mr Ross, manager of the Wyndham Dairy Factory Company, explain his new method of constructing cheese crates. Mr Ross showed one of the cheeses he had had under test since October 9, 1922. He said that the orate had not been nursed by him or anyone else, and they could see for themselves that his system of a grooved crate did away with decayed cheese, ends. According to their agents in London, it was decayed ends they all wanted to get rid of. Mr Ross continued that in another cheese that he had put under test in the present style of crate at the same time as the grooved-crate cheese there had been 41b of decayed cheese. This could not be used, as it was unfit for human consumption. This meant a very heavy loss in the aggregate value of their cheese exports. Those present listened with interest to the experiences of Mr Ross with his new type of crate, and it w-as then decided to send Home a number of cheeses placed in the present style of orate and in the new style and thus discover the merits of the new grooved crate. A meeting of the Canterbury Farmers' Union has decided that each provincial council should donate 12 bullocks for the purjrose of testing the eastern market with a supply of tinned beef. In common with other parts of the Western District the potato crops around Te Tua and Te Wae Wae are this year very disappointing both as regards quantity ana quality (says the Orepuki Advocate). At the latter place the average yield per acre has fallen to three tons, and it is considered that about 100 tons would clean the whole district.

The mangold plot giving the heaviest yield so far judged in Wairarapa Farmers’ Union mangold-growing competition is that of lan Shaw, Te Ore Ore, where the crop will average over 90 tons to the acre-. As indicating the rate at which mice mlUilfcipty under favourable conditions, a

THE POTATO MARKET.

GROWERS WANT AN EMBARGO. CHRISTCHURCH, June 5

A number of potato growers asked Mr Massey to-day to place an embargo on the importation of Australian potatoes owing to damage to crops by flood. Mr Massey said he sympathised with growers. If there were enough potatoes in New Zealand to carry the consumers over till the new crop there was no necessity to import. He would inquire into the matter, and also consider the question of making a reciprocal agreement with Australia regarding potatoes.

SHEEP OWNERS

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND UNION. The twentieth annual meeting of the Otago and Southland Sheep Owners’ Union was held in the Otago Employers’ Assooiation's Rooms on Tuesday, Mr James Begg (president) being in the chair. There was a fair attendance of members, and Sir Walter Buchanan, Messrs J. C. N. Grigg, Bernard Tripp, and W. 11. Nicholson (secretary of the New Zealand Sheep Owners’ Federation) were also present.

The balance sheet and the annual report (which has already been published) were adopted. The following officers we-tre elected President, Mr James Begg; vice-president, Sir John Roberts; committee —Messrs A. D. Bell, James Chapman, R. S. Charters, Charles F. Duff, James Dunery, G. S. Edie, Diokson Jardino, James King, J. Lethbridge, M. J. Lister, D. D. Macdonald, W. O. M'Kellar, John MacKenzie, W. J. A. M’Gregor, D. Middleton, J. Cowie Nichols, R. M. Paterson, George Pinckney, C. W. Rattray, James A. Roberts, W. S. Thom son, R. A. Rodger. At the invitation of the Chair-man, Sir Walter Buchanan addressed’ the meeting on the question of freights on wool and products, with the object of creating interest in and support for the line of shipping in which the primary producers would ba largely interested. After some discussion,

the scheme was held over for further consideration by a special meeting which is to be held in the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Board Room to-morrow morning.