SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 59

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(FflOU 008 °WN C OBB WPQSDIUiTj IN VERCARGI LI., February 26. The weather is still broken and has resulted in harvesting operations being delayed still further, making the season very late indeed. The heavy rain of several days has badly soaked the seed, and some good dry winds are required to make things right. The position is unfortunate for the crops already stooked, also, and they will need some dry weather before stacking. Oats are. doing very well and should thresh out most satisfactorily. Those oat crops which have already been cut are reported to be giving a good yield. At the last Farmers’ Union meeting, the chairman, engineers and secretary of the Southland Electric Power Board were present and answered several questions which the Union put to them.' The Board, they assured the Union, had not considered any suggestion to raise the charges for current and thereby reduce the deficiency now being covered by rates. It was also stated that to date £25.000 had been collected in rates, the total amount to be collected being £78.000. A question as to the number of houses in the Board’s area brought the information that 5,600 country houses and 2,134 town houses, outside Bluff, (lore, and Invercargill, were included in the scheme, of which 400 country houses had already been wired up, and 1934 town houses. The rate to be levied in the event of all being linked up, the country houses with a £l3 guarantee, and the town houses £6. would be |d to cover a deficiency of £45.686, the difference between £150,000 annual charges and £84.304 revenue. There is still a certain quietness on the live stock market, and little business is at present being done. The last Wallaeetown stock sale marked a big drop in fat sheep prices of from 5s tQ 7s lower than last month. The rush period at the local freezing works is now practically over, most of the milk lambs having been killed. The lambs so far put through the works have been exceptionally good and larger drafts than usual have gone through for the time of the year. Prices are low. and there is little indication of any improvement. The works will be having a slack time for a month or two now, until the lamb? are taken off the rape, most of them not yet being ready. The dissatisfaction of Southland farmers at the ruling prices for lambs resulted in a representative meeting being held last Saturday. Mr A. M‘Kenzie, chairman of the Fanners’ Union, presided over an attendance of farmers, who at times became heated in their remarks. - Mr Adam Hamilton, of the Meat Board, was present in the latter stages of the meeting, and outlined the system followed by the board in regard to “pools.” It was shown by Mr David Marshall that Southland prices all round were lower than those in the north. A resolution was carried unanimously, on the motion of Mr G. P. Johnston, seconded by Mr W. J. A. M'Gregor, “that in the opinion of this meeting of representative Southland fj. aers the time is opportune for •» better system of marketing to be adopted, and that with this in view the Government be asked to get in touch with the imperial Government, the matter to be left in the hands 'f Mr Adam Hamilton.” Air W. D. Mason, of the New Zealand Free Marketing League, has been in these parts lately, and was able to speak authoritatively on that very important subject the handling of the Domiuior * exportable dairy produce. The league, he says, is not out to smash control, but stands firm, for control to a certain point whore it differs with the board. The point of differentiation is where the board wishes to take charge of the produce and market it for the producers. The league contends that marketing can le controlled by regulating shipments, and thus preventing the flooding of the Home market, while the Control Board ; considers that they cannot market effectively unless they take absolute control of sales, and while not allowing persons or factories to f.o.b. sales say that the board can do this. The league, as one step in their campaign, arc out to have the law u....nded to allow of the ward system of election to the board, the present members all retiring, and giving the Dominion’s producers the privilege of electing men to suit them. The mild sensation caused through the anxiety caused by the lack of word from the Martin’s Bay party of men who were reported missing fizzled out gracefully when the search party returned to Elfin Bay with the news that the men were al safe and sound in the M'Kenzie homestead at Martin’s Bay. The msn Foxcroft was the only one of the party concerning whom alarm might have been felt, as he had been held up by floods at the head of M'Kerrow, and had been forced to live on bread and fb 1 ’ for five weeks before rejoining his companions. The whole affair was, as has been remarked, a “fizzle out,” and the M‘Ken zies are probably amused at the anxiety felt as to their safety in country where they have spent their whole lives, and of which they know every stone.