THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 19

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) There is very little change to record in weather conditions prevailing. It has got a little nippier at nights, though there is not yet any occasion for winter fires commencing. The days are still warm, though the same brilliant sunshine is not an outstanding feature of the weather. It has rained slightly, but, being more like a misty rain, very little good has been accomplished other than merely moistening the surface. SHEEP FOR THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. There recently left the Dominion one of the largest and most important consignment of Romney and Corriedale sheep tliat has been sent overseas, their destination being the Falkland Islands, where sheep farming has been on the down grade for some reason or other. The sheep were specially selected from flocks in the Wairarapa, Manawatu, and Wanganui districts, the selection being conlined to heavy-boned, large-framed, finewoolled sheep. Apparently at the Falklands but few stations are able to rear sufficient young sheep to enable them to cull to a limited extent for both quality and age, and that on the majority of properties the trouble has reached a stage at which the annual increase is barely su _*ient to maintain the flocks without any culling excepting for dead old age. Sheep have to be imported from outside to maintain the flocks, and it is hoped that with the big consignment that has gone forward to 12 large station-holders concerned there will be a turning in the tide of affairs, and increased sheep production will result instead of a decreased lambing return as at present. OFFICIAL QUOTATION FOR DAIRY PRODUCE. Many peonle have been curious as to the basis of the cable messages received concormng quotations for dairy produce It has Vow been explained at Wellington that the official quotations for butter, cheese, bacon, and lard are prepared by the London Provisions Exchange (former’v knowm as the Home and Foreign Producers' Exclude), and extreme care is taken to secure accuracy. The London Provision Exchange is the rearguard institution for regulating and governing the orderly buying and selling of dairy produce in England. The membership ot the exchange embraces the wholesale and retail produce trades, also merchants and commission agents. The duty of issuing official quotations falls to the Prices Committee, a certain number of members of the exchange elected by the General Committee. The method of procedure by the Prices Committee is calculated to assure the greatest accuracy. Once every week, apparently about Thursday, the Prices Committee obtains from a certain number of buyers declarations in writing giving the lowest and highest prices paid by them for Danish, New Zealand, Australian, Argentine, and other butters, also for cheese, bacon, and lard. The committee also obtains from an equal number of sellers declarations in writing setting out the highest and lowest quotations. The two sets of declarations are compared, and if any irregularities are discovered they are closely inquired into and the necessary adjustments made. When the committee is fully

satisfied that accuracy has been attained the prices are posted up on a large blackboard in the principal chamber of the Provision Exchange, where they may be seen by any member of the exchange and by members of the press. These are the official quotations, and are accepted by everyone as correct. It is these quotations that are cabled to the Dairy Department by the High Commissioner. WAIKATO WINTER SHOW.

Waikato Winter Show' has now outclassed Palmerston North in many respects, and may be regarded as the biggest show in the North Island. The dairy exhibits this year are to be a record, and will be an outstanding feature of the show. The entries total 889, and will form the _ largest display of the kind over organised in Now Zealand. All the available space has been booked up by trade exhibitors, and a very fine show is anticipated. DAIRY PRODUCE GRADING AND SHIPMENTS. The Dairy Division of the Agricultural Division has received advice giving the gradings for export and shipments to the United Kingdom of dairy produce from Australia for the month of March. The figures, in tons, together with those for March, 1925, are as follow: Graded for Shipments exports. to U.K.

Cable advice has also been received from the Argentine Dairy Association giving the shipments for the month of March. The figures, in tons, together with those for March, 1925, are as follow: —

Messrs Joseph Nathan and Co.. Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, dated April 20: New Zealand butter, 1725; New Zealand Cheese. 93s to 945. CULTIVATION, THE ESSENCE OF PRODUCTION. The newly drafted rules for the shield competition amongst boys and girls’ agricultural clubs of the Wellington Central Provincial Farmers’ Union are to come into operation almost immediately. The main feature under which the shield will be awarded is that cultivation and record will ow be the basis of the award, and not yield. It is the idea to inculcate cultivation as the essence of production, and not so much the immediate aim of a weighty crop. Instructors of both the Agricultural aud Educational Departments have agreed that the shield should be awarded on points secured for cultivation and record. IN THE INTERESTS OF PRODUCTION. There is a feeling among progressive agriculturists that there is not the intensive cultivation carried on that the important industry of agriculture demands. The Hon. E. Newman, M.L.C., has lately been stressing this fact, and he has been telling the farmers of Rangifcikei that they must increase production by growing supplementary crops for summer and winter, such as lucerne, maize, mangolds, carrots, green oats, and by liberal top dressing. THE BATTLE OF SITES. The battle of sites for the new agricultural college is still being waged, and the Ministers of the Crown are having some big propositions put up to them. Various propositions are being advanced, which are making the position more difficult. During the past week a deputation from the Wanganui and Rangitikei districts waited on the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, and urged the claims of Rangitikei. Reference was made to what might be called “ public auctioneering ” on the part of Palmerston North, and that local bodies were making bids and offers in respect to the proposed college with a view to committing the Ministers. In the course of his remarks on the subject Mr Veitch, M.P., stressed the fact that Taranaki was the most densely peopled district in the North Island as far as farmers were concerned, and every additional mile away from that district they placed the college they made it the more difficult to provide the farming community there with what was most required. They felt anxious about the proposals to establish the college further south. He was not making any plea for the Wanganui district, but believed that Rangitikei land, climate, and other reasons proclaimed that it was the best for the purpose they all had at heart. Mr Dickie said that he was one of those who visited the proposed sites near Marton, especially the one oi 1000 acres quite close to the town, and it seemed to him that it was particularly suitable for the agricultural college. He believed that efficient agricultural education would do a great deal to prevent the drift of the population to the towns. Mr F. R. H. Brice said that the people interested desired those upon whom devolved the selection of the site to keep steadily in mind the true interests of agricultural education. One of the main objects of the college would be to make inferior land more productive, and unless the right place was chosen it would be no advantage to the community. The class of land most suitable for graingrowing in the North Island was in Rangitikei, where they could get second or third class land which could be made first class by scientific treatment. While he thought the Marton site a good one, there wore many others in the Rangitikei district which could be obtained if the Marton one was not considered suitable. The Minister of Agriculture, in his reply, said that, so far as Ministers were concerned, their minds were open up to the present. They had never really conferred on the subject. He was determined to choose only the best aite for the agricultural college, and the most suitable when all things were taken into consideration. It was necessary that they should get land absolutely suitable for the purpose intended. When a site was chosen they had not only to consider its suitability for farming, but there were

other surroundings to consider. So far as concerned the sites already under consideration, he could say that there was not one of them lie would not wish to be better, and he had not yet seen a site which he could say was ideal for the purpose intended. It was probable that it would not be possible to get as good a site as he desired, but they would have to get as near that as possible. The Government was still receiving offers of sites some people thought suitable, and hj hod no objection even now to further offers. Jt was such an important matter that it would not do to be hurried over it. There really had i t been sufficient time to arrive at a deliberate conclusion on the matter. In regard to the site near -U on there was one drawback, and that was that the portion for dairying was some distance from the residence site, instead of being close to it or within a reasonable distance. He could not give the deputation any decided answer as yet But he could give them his assurance that the best site, regardless of other considerations, was going to be his choice, and when that was done he hoped everybody would be satisfied. Nothing else would have any weight—not one iota. Even if a little more had to be given for a suitable site, he did not think it would be right to stick at that. He admitted that tie Marton sit* was reasonable in price, but if it was only a question of cheapness they could have the farm at Weraroa for practically nothing. In reply ;o Mr Brice, the Minister said that if he knew of a better site than those inspected Jie would be glad to see it. No immediate decision would be arrived at by the Government. Such things as proximity to a dairy factory or to a flaxmill were points which would have to be considered. It was also desirable that facilities for accommodating some of the staff some of the students should be considered. He assured the deputation that their representations would »>e fully considered. Feilding has now put in a claim for the college, and although Auckland had previously cleared the way for a central location, a claim has been lodged for Ruakuia, so that the Government is going to have a great time deciding the issue. As a goou ue-il of feeling is already being evinced in the matter, it will be admitted that a very difficult problem confronts the Government. It is quite safe to assert that a gpod many districts are going to be disappoi. ted. Only one out of manv desirable sites will eventually be selected. All cannot have the college within their boundaries. It would not be surprising, however, if Rangitikei received the most favour, owing tc its central location and its nearness to Taranaki.

March, 195G . Butter Cheese Butter Cheese . 2883 270 2531 122 March, 1925 . For the . 6347 ■ eight 628 months 5450 ended: 400 March, 192G 41,937 3096 33,289 2767 March 1925 56,439 4260 49,440 3630

March, 1026 Butter .. .. 2100 Cheese Casein 35 2000. March, 1925 .. .. 2950 6 1450 March, For the > 1926 .. eight months .. 20.161 ended: 106 12148 March, 1925 .. .. 17,670 422 9675