THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 15

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) May 15. The weather of the past week has been typical of the season. There has been a fair amount of rain, with one or two days of sunshine and warmth, so that on the whole the weather is just what may be expected at this season of the year. I here is yet a good deal of growth in plant life, and the season generally is wonderfully productive. DAIRY PRODUCTION IN THE AUTUMN. Statistics available at New Plymouth show that there has been a considerable decrease in the production of butter in North Taranaki this season, as compared with the corresponding period of last year. From June 50, 1522, to May 10, 1923, 249,115 boxes of butter were received into store, while for the same period this season only 186,867 boxes have been received, the decrease this season being therefore 62.148 boxes. This decrease, however, has led to a steady increase in the manufacture of cheese, of which there is an increase of 53,826 crates received at the works this season. The following are the statistics relating to the quantities of produce dealt with at the works at Motoroa over the periods June 30 to May 10 in each season :—• —Butter. —•

In store May 10, 1923 9,608 In store May 10, 1924 15,278 Increase 5,670 In the Auckland province the April returns showed that the autumn has been in ! advance of last year. During April 113,26-5 boxes of butler passed through the grading stores, as compared with 92,367 boxes in the corresponding period last year, the increase being 20,916 boxes. This brings the total receipts for the season to April 30 to 1,322,190 boxes, against 1,383,930 received ! during the corresponding period last year. Ihe figures speak well for the autumnal Production, and unless the advent of cold weather reduces the herd production very substantially this month, the output for the ! season should come very close to the record production of last season. Cheese received during April totalled 10,143 crates, against 9441 for April, 1923—an increase of 702 crates. The cheese received at the Auckland grading stores to the end of April this season totalled 151,078 crates, compared with 95,590 for the corresponding period of last season—an increase of 55,488 crates. Butter and cheese held in store at the end of April totalled 81,902 boxes and 12,142 crates respectively, compared with 58,453 boxes and 2273 crates at the similar period of lust year. THE BACON INDUSTRY. The future of the bacon industry is causing many farmers to review the position a good deal lately, the general impression being that the time has arrived when the industry must be stabilised. The question of accomplishing ibis came before the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday last, when Mr 11. Schreiber, of Rongotea, put forward a scheme. To the speaker’s mind the only way to put the bacon industry on a sound footing was to control the supply of pigs to all existing factories and make full use of such, whether proprietary concerns or not. The pigs, the supply of which would be guaranteed by the producer and controlled by the farmers’ organisation, would be bought from a fund to be established on a co-operative basis, and tenders would i be called for killing and curing by existing 1 concerns. There was, he thought, a need for co-operative control. They could not think of purchasing existing factories, but by control of supplies they could achieve the desired end of self-protection, while using the existing factories for the preparation of pigs for marketing as bacon and pork. The pig-farmers, under the speaker’s scheme,- would have to guarantee to the factory dealing with his animals the cost of killing and _ curing. All contracts for killing and curing could be made at the beginning of the season, and if a company did not get the number of pigs promised in any season the farmer concerned would be financially responsible to the company or factory for the charges which it should have been entitled to make had the full quota been forwarded. With pig-farmers operating under cooperative market control, they could conveniently use all the facilities at present afforded by the existing factories, while protecting themselves from the operation of a trust or trusts. The trouble with cooperative concerns to-day, he said, was that the guarantee of supply expired too soon, and supplies to any one concern at the time of their release readily turned to another which offered some small additional inducement. Under the scheme now beino- offered there would be a guarantee for five years. A man ceasing to be a pigproducer or farmer could be legitimately released from his guarantee. They must have a guarantee on safe and sound lines, and if a supplier did not submit, say, 80 per cent, of the pigs guaranteed by him for killing and curing, he could be struck off from the roll of those entitled to use the co-operative machinery. They must, he explained, have a fund for the purpose of buying pigs from the producers, and they could control the supply of pigs to factories, paying them a reasonable price under tender for killing and curing. They would have to pay interest on money borrowed for the purchasing fund mentioned, but once the scheme was started they could put £12,000 a year aside, and thus steadily liquidate the liability and reouce j interest payments. The Meat Control Board could be used in connection with export matters. . The Provincial Executive endorsed the scheme as a basis of operation. CHAIR UF AGRICULTURE. Last week the Hon. C‘. J. Parr, Minister of Agriculture, met the Auckland Education Board and stressed the urgency lotraising the status and efficiency of agricultural education in the Auckland province Mr Parr stated that he felt Auckland would j do well to specialise in agriculture. In j his opinion the Auckland University Council would do well to make almost immediate use of the opportunity given by the trustees of the Sir John Logan Campbell bequest of £20,000, making the amount available in September. ihe 1 imen.t} mould no doubt see to it that some University institution was estabhsned m this j district, and he would like to see the I m- | veisity here specialise in agriculture. Vie had a great province of varied climate and [ soils, which offered a field for scientific agricultural research which no other pro- , voice offered. He felt that the L mversity Colleo-e in Auckland had a sound claim | U pon° the Government for assistance to j supplement the Campbell bequest m the way of getting an agricultural college established. Wellington had already started , and had appointed a professor m terms of | Sir Walter Buchanan s bequest of tIO.ICU. . The board would do well to back up the ( University College Council for an agricultural college. lie did not undervalue the 1 importance of the professional scnools, and Auckland had claims in regard to them which could not be long overlooked. At the same time it must be realised that Cabinet had made a generous grant- to Otao-o for a new dentistry school which hacl advantages in being beside the Medical School. Eventually the medical and dentistry schools must come, and Auckland would have a university of its own; but it seemed more important to mm at the moment that the province should get a Chair of Agriculture and farms, all worked from the University College, with the trained professors, shortly. Ihe lcsults. by way of production, seemed to him more important even than having the professional schools in Auckland. FARM SCHOOL IN THE, WAIRARAPA. The first farmers’ farm school to be held on the East Coast was opened at Solwav Show Grounds last week, when about 50 farmers were in residence at the school Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., welcomed the visitors on behalf of the district. Referring to the objects of the school, lie said the course of lectures and practical advice would materially assist the farmers to in-

crease the production of primary produce, "Inch in turn would help the country to cairy the bunion of taxation. This was the country's one hope, and by increasrd population of ihe right kind, and the establishment of secondary industries, ultimate success and prosperity must come. Mr A. Id. Cockayne, dire tor of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture, also praised the system of the farm schools for the practical benefits derived by its followers through the exchange of ideas. HERD TESTING. An interesting- discussion on herd testing took place at the farmers’ school, held at the Solway Show Grounds, Wairarapa, when Mr J. R. Curie, dairy instructor for ihe Vi ellington district, gave a lecture on the subject. After enumerating the various methods at present in operation, tho speaker emphasised the necessity of proper handling and treatment of cows to ensure profitable returns, otherwise the abundance of feed was useless. The short lactation period of cows w-as due largely to the lack of good feed, though many could be milked a longer period than at present if their every-day conditions were improved.*- It was only by testing for staying power and bleeding to this end that the period could be extended. When tho best cows were picked out a purebred sire, got from a proved “butter-fat” strain, should bo mated with the herd. Providing the cows were kept in pleasant surioundings and the calves treated well, there was little fear that the grounding for a first-class dairy herd would result. It had been proved that cows sired by a “butter-fat” bull had pi educed from 20 to 30 per cent, more fat than their dams. Tho onlymethod of detecting these honest cows was by official listing. No judge could pick out a good producer from a bad one on looks, which had been proved many times by test placed on nominated cows averaging out -a totally different figure from, that suggested by the owner. Testing, if carried cut faithfully, was as near a guide as the farmer required to show him which of his herd was returning a profit, and which a loss. A point to be remembered was (hat, good or bad, each cow consumed tho same amount of feed, a matter which w-as only remedied by testing. Testing was within the reach of all farmers, and those who had adopted it regarded it as an investment and not an expenditure. In reply to a question, the lecturer stated that the problem foi the average snail farmer w-as how to procure a “butterfat” bull, and then how to keep his heifers in good condition on the highpriced land till they were ready for rnilkGENERAL. “Calves are worth practically nothing.” remarked a speaker at a Farmers’ Union meeting at Wanganui. The directors of the Taratahi Dairy Company have decided to advance Is lOd per lb on butter-fat supplied during April. “There will be" a great deal more pork raised in New Zealand this coming season than has been the case for some time past,” remarked Mr W. J. Poison at the meeting of the Executive of the New- Zealand Farmers’ Union. The agricultural class at the Wairarapa High School attended Mr G. 11. Perry's farm, at L T pper Plain, Masterton, where they had shown and explained to them the features of a crop of turnips and a stand of lucerne (which has been down five years). An hour was spent inspecting the fields and hearing the criticisms of Messrs M'Culloch and Perry. Prizes won in an essay competition were presented to the winners—P. Sykes 1, E. Shaw- 2. Wanganui intends to launch a winter show in July. A statement that an association of small dairy factories was being formed was made at a meeting of farmers at Tauhei. A representative cf the Morrensville Cooperative Dairy Company stated that such an association had been projected for the bulk purchase* of butter boxes, manures, etc. The matier had been taken up by the directors of the Morrensville Company, and was nearing consummation. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. “Ladies and gentlemen,” said Mr A. Hardie at the Farmers’ Union meeting at Mataura recently (says the Mataura Ensign), “and how- glad I am to be able to say ladies. For I feel sure that until the women are actively interested in the affairs of the union w-e will not bo as successful as we would like to be.” Continuing, he said he was in deadly earnest when he stated that women w-ould be of the greatest help in the union. “So don’t be afraid to get them in,” he concluded. The highest test yet recorded in this district has bee.n given by a cow- owned by ill- J. Char let on, ot Tauhei (writes the Morrinsville correspondent of the Auckland Star). The test was 12.4, but the milk yield was only 2jJb »cr day. of 751 b for the month, the butter-fat for the month being estimated at only 9.231 b. Tests of 10 and 11 were frequently encountered bv the officers of the New Zealand Co-op. Herd Testing Association’s two Morrinsville groups during the past month. The bachelor back-blocker has his trials. A sturdy, unmarried stationholde.r from Pcwigaroa, told the magistrate, in the Pahiatua Court recently that he got his mail only once a week. Tt had been extremely difficult since the war, he said, to obtain labour. A certain class of men would stay until they earned £5, and then they would vanish, settlers often making fruitless trips to the township to meet men whom they expected. He was at the present time employing a, gang of Hindoos at scrub-cutting, owing to the scarcity of other labour. “Y\e have no power to collect tax from the Maoris for dogs,” said the Manaw-atu Count'- Council's inspector at a meeting of that body. It was decided to apply to the Minister for power to collect tux in respect to Native-owned dogs. “They breed many dogs in pas and they become a nuisance,” commented a councillor. “The success of the Farmers’ Unions throughout the world,” said Mr W. J. Poison, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at the meeting of the Auckland executive recently, “depends on the farmers standing up to co-operation. If the farmers will support co-operation, it will prove a tower of strength to them.” The possibilities of stock being killed by the laying of rabbit poison was referred to at a recent n tv'y.ng of the Waverley branch of ihe Farmers’ Union (says a northern exchange). One speaker said that lie considered that there was no danger in this. On one property in the Waitotara district infested with rabbits, where poisoning was

carried on extensively, there had been no losses of stock reported. “I believe the farmers are at last coming into their own —and so is Southland, ’’ was ft remark made by Mr A. le H. Hoyles (president of the Chamber of Commerce), at a local Farmers’ Union function. “But in my opinion the province will only go ahead by closer settlement and a determined etiort to make 2001 b of butter-fat for every lOfllh at present being produced. That is the only secret of the prosperity of a country such as ours, and I am sure the farmers will work hard towards that end.” “Can you tell me what is meant by luncheons, etc., £160? The ‘etc.’ part is puzzling me,” said a member of the Wanganui Agricultural Association at a meeting of that body, when the balance sheet was under review (relates the Chronicle). The secretary remarked: “Perhaps the gentleman who asked the question may be able to supply that information himself. If you want the matter explained, however, I will do so 1” Cries of “No!” and laughter followed the retort. The usual Burnside stock sale will not he held during Show Week, but a double market will be held on the last Wednesday in May. Hemlock, the plant resembling parsley ?:one to seed, which was recently responsible or the death of a child in the Adelaide road district, Wellington, has now been declared a noxious weed in that city,, and owners with the plant on their properties will be compelled to eradicate it. It is reported that a Weraroa resident has evolved a new variety of potato (says an exchange). In a small plot treated exactly as was the remainder of the surrounding crop the average weight of potatoes tier foot was from 91b to 101 b. whilst other varieties gave a of a third or less than mis weight. The potato has been grown by this resident for several years, and is a consistently heavy bearer, several neighbouring farmers who have obtained seed having also secured exceptional results. "A man in our district with 23 cows cannot make a living these days,” remarked Mr H. B. Burnekin. of Hawera, when speaking at the meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association at Palmerston North last Saturoay. He further said that he couLd quote figures and prove his statement up to the hilt. The death of a- bull from electrocution by one ot the Manawatu-Oroua Board’s lines wag mentioned in the report of the engineer to a meeting of that Power Board. The accident was due to the carelessness of a linesman in failing to bind a 3300 volt wire to the- insulator. The only redeeming feature was that the lesson of what carelessness sometimes led to had not been lost upon the me.n in the board s employ. “Thank heaven it was not a human being t” remarked one of the members. The chairman, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.. stated that circulars would be printed for distribution in the schools, by which parents would also become acquainted with the danger from the wires. A Feilding breeder ha« just culled from his stud flock a ewe which has seen 20 summers and which reared a lamb each season. It is a fine stamp of the Romney breed. A recrudescence of sheep-worrying resulted in two dogs being caught in the act and shot by Messrs Carr, of Omanaia (says an exchange). Heavy losses in the past , have resulted from the depredations of dogs, the great area of cover making it difficult to trace them. A resident of Southland, who has returned to Invercargill from a visit to the North Island, was struck bv the fact that quite a number of dairy cows were already' wearing rugs, although the weather was warmer than it is in the south. On many of the farms attention had been given to providing shelter belts consisting chiefly of macrocarpa and Pinus insignis. Attention to such matters makes a big difference in the monthly milk cheque.

Boxes. 1922-°3 received .. 219,115 1923-24 received .. 186.967 62,148 In store Mav 10, 19-3 16,652 ■ Decrease .—Cheese.— Crates. 1922-23 received .. 130,423 1923-24 received .. 184,249 Increase 63,826