N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 25

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

A meeting of the North Otago Executive of the New Zealand -Farmers’ Union was held on Friday afternoon. There were present : Messrs R. B. Meek (chairman), D; J. Ross, G. Ruddenklau, W. M’Donald, A. Murray, R. Walker, E. S. Brewster, J. A. Tailentire, J. Ncwlands, W. Forrester. A. Rapson, J. G. Macdonald, and A. Hamilton. 1 A letter was read from Mr J. B. Chapman, of Waitaki, in reference to telephone communication.—Referred to a sub-commit-tee. The Hampden branch of the association wrote, enclosing a resolution passed at the last meeting, asking the Austioneers’ Association to insert its advertisements in the columns of the Otago Daily Times, and asking for support of this resolution. — The Chairman stated that the Otago- Daily Times had now a very wide circulation throughout the district, and it was in the interests of both the farmers and the that the advertisements of stock sales should appear in this paper.—Mr R. Walker said he had received a communication from the Auctioneers’ Association stating that the Duntroon and Omarama sales .would be advertised in the Daily Times.— Mr D. J. Ross pointed that that the Daily Times was practically the only paper circulating in the southern portion of the district. He thought it very desirable that all clearing sales, in particular, should be published in this paper.—The executive decided to support the Hampden resolution. «

'1 Z? Hampden branch sent a lurther resolution of protest against the proposed amendment to the Stock Act —viz., that all male sheep be marked in the right ear, and female in the left ear. Members considered that this should be left to tho discretion of the owners —Mr D. J. Ross thought it . very desirable that there should be an improvement in the system.of earmarking. At the same time he considered owners should have the discretion of earmarking males and females. —After some discussion. Mr Ross moved that this meeting supports the propoed reorganising of ear-marking, but is of opinion that the breeder should have the option of deciding which car should be marked.—Tho motion was. not seconded, and lapsed. —Mr Ross said lie did not think members understood the importance of the subject, aiid stated that lie wpuld bring, it up again.

Tho Oamaru Merchants' Association wrote, asking for information in regard to the cost of production of oats, and also the estimated yield per . acre of oats .and. of chaff. The association .also asked if tho union had noticed any noxious weeds in the district which had been introduced recently as a result of imjiorted seed,—The letter was received; a resolution in favour of setting up a sub-committee fa supply the information finding no support. An invitation was received from the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce to send two delegates to the chamber’s meeting.— Several members asked if the delegate* would require to pa ya subscription fee, but a reply was given in the ne -ative.—lt was decided that rhe president (Mr' Meek) and vice-president (Mr Murray) lie appointed delegates.

HAM LAMBS. The North Otago executive of the Farmers* Union recently passed a resolution protesting against the propositi of the freezing companies in respect to the slaughtering of rani ianihs. At Friday’s meeting of the executive a communication was received from the South Island Freezing k.'oinpantes’ Assocition. stating that the decision of the freezing companies had been reached on a<- 'unit of the large insrease in the number of ram lambs that were going to the works. It was pointed out that the Arbitration Court had fixed the charge of slaughtering ram lambs at double that of slaughtering other, lambs. Mr Ruddenklau expressed surprise that the court should make an award of that kind. It was cventally decided that the communication be received. TOP-DRESSING PASTURES. At the meeting of the North Otago Executive of the Farmers’ Union on Friday Mr R. B. Tennent, of the Agricultural Department, gave an address upon the subject of the top-dressing of postures. Mr Tennent expressed regret that the services of the department were not being used as they should be for the advantage of the farmers of North Otago. He stated that what he should .like to see was a sub-committee set up by the Farmers* Union to co-operate with officers of the Agricultural Department in conducting experiments. It might then bo decided. w-hat fertilisers were best adapted to the different portions of the district. He pointed out, oy means of illustration, that experiments in the past did not make sufficient allowance for the variations in soil in a paddock. A new alternating. system was, being introduced, which would definitely discover the fertiliser best adapted to all portions of a paddock. The new system of experimentalisation would involve greater labour, but the department was quite willing to undertake it. An illustration was given of-an experiment made last year at Crookston. The true value of this experiment would not be known for several years. To his surprise, the first year had shown us value from lime, but the probability was that next year the lime would give definite results. At Awamanga, on the other hand, the experiments had shown exactly opposite results. It was hoped, in the. course of four or five years, to give definite information which would enable the farmers in these districts to discover .what manures were best adapted I to their soils. In South.. Otago there were 20 experimental plots, while in North Otago there were none. He was exceedingly anxious that a sub-committee be set up in •North Otago, so that farmers would, know, from definite -and accurate experiments,' , what was the best, manure to use for the ■restoration of their pastures. What was

wanted were' plots of 1U acres," in" different localities, which could be shut up for six weeks in the year, - 1 In arlswer to a question, ■ Mr. Tennent stated that tho department would be quite willing to fence off tho plots. Tho Chairman (Mr Meek) spoke highly of the attitude of the department; in 1 this matter, and on his motion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Tennent. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs R. B. Meek, A. Murray, G. Ruddenklau, and A. allentire (Duntroon) was set 'up to co-oporate with the department. Mr Tennent stated that probably abbot 20 plots would be established in different parts of North Otago. LONDON WOOL IMPORTERS. The following were the importers of wool of 1000 bales and over from "Australia, New Zealand, and Gape Colony for the London market in 1926 :—-53,894 bales, Sanderson, Murray, and Elder (Ltd.) (Murray. Roberts and Co.. Ltd., agents); 30,784 bales, Dalgety and Co. (Ltd.); 29,104 bales, Union Bank of Australia (Ltd.); 26,841 bales’ Bank of New Zealand ; 24.791 bales, New Zealand and Australian Land Co. (Ltd); 24,607, bales, Australian Estates and Mortgage Co (Ltd.); 19.347 bales, London Produce Co. (T.tdJ; 17,284 bales, Elder, Smith, and Co. (Ltd.); 16,374 bales, Bank of New South Wales; 15.203 bales. E. Holt and Co.; 14.028 bales, George Sturgeon and Sons-. 12,676 bales. James Morrison and Co. (Ltd.); 12,513 bales, New Zealand Refrigerating Co. (Ltd.); .12,127 bales, Antony,-Gibbs, and Sons (Ltd.); *12,115 bales. New Zealana Loan arid Mercantile Agency Co. (Ltd.); 10,421 bales, /Australian Mercantile, Land and Finance Co. (Ltd.); 10,347, bales., Thos Borthwick and Sons (Ltd.); 9530 bales, Scottish Australian Investment Co. (Ltd.); 9013 bales, Bank of Australasia; E 827 bales, H Dawson Co. ; 6434 bales, Gilbert. Anderson. and Co. (Ltd.); 6104 bales. National Bank of New Zealand (Ltd.); 5381 bales, W. Weddel and Co. (Ltd.); 5031 bales, Australian Agricultural Co. (Ltd.); 4885 bales. G. H. Wedekind and Co.; 4836 bales, National Mortgage and Agency Co. of NewZealand (Ltd.); 4659, hales. F. W. Renaut ;. 4509 bales, Gordon, Woodroffe. and Co. ;T,td.); 3213 bales. Gilbert J. M'Caul and Co.; 3136 bales. Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney (Ltd.); 3106 bales. Wright, Stephenson, and Co. (Ltd.); 2966 bales, African Produce Co (Ltd.); 2821 bales. National Bank, of Australasia (Ltd.); 2582 bales, R. P. Short and Co.; 2474 bales. Peel River Land and Mineral Co. (Ltd.): 245; bales. \V. Angliss and Co. (Pty.) (Ltd.), 2284 bales, Goldsbrough, Mort, and Co. (Ltd.); 2200 bales, George .Wills-and Son. (Ltd.) ; 2121 bales. Robert Brooks and Co.; 1574 bales. Overseas Farmers’ Co-operative Federation (Ltd.): 1448 bales. Peacock Bros, and Co. ; 1415 bales, John Connell and Co. (Ltd.); 1268 bales, Sinclair. Hamilton. and Co. ; 1189 bales. G. C. Kean and ■Co. (Ltd.); 1069 bales. Commercial Bank of Australia (Ltd.).

PAYMENT FOR BUTTER-FAT. IMPORTANT TEST CASE. CHRISTCHURCH. March 4. An important test case involving farmers* interests came formally before Mr 11. A. Young, S.M., but was removed to the Supreme Court, where it will be threshed out. Walter Frederick Kerr, Oxford, a farmer, sued the Avon Dairy Company for £l4 9s fid, balance of the purchase price claimed to be due to him on 1158.61 - of butter-fat he sold to the company at tho rate of 3d per lb, or the balance of the purchase price of butter-fat sold in London by the company as Kerr’s agent. The- company went into liquidation in November. 1925, but Mr Justice MacGregor granted Keir leave to bring the action in spite of the liquidation. Kerr, in the 1924-25 season, supplied the company with 1158.61 b of butter-fat. receiving advances the average of which was Is 3?d per lb of butter-fat. The company has not paid any final [layment or bonus to its suppliers for that season. I_he .statement of claim set out that I.lie ruling price paid by the majority of the companies tit Canterbury for that season wa' Is 7jd per lb. Kerr contended, that a final payment was due to him and that vu per >b was a reasonable price. The question is whether the payment was straight-out final payment that the suppliers are entitled to as a matter of right, or is merely a bonus payable at the discretion of the companv. In the present case between £4CO9 and £5OOO is invoked in respect to al] suppliers to the Avon C ompany, tait other companies are interested in the decision, and the total, it is stated, is very large , VVr ‘Sht appeared for Kerr and Mr Dormelly for the company. An application by Mr Wright that the claim should be increased to £25 6s lOd, making the sum per lb s{d instead of 3d, was granted Mr Wright asked that the case should be adjourned sine die to enable it to be taken to the Supreme Court. Mr Donnelly said that counsel had arranged that course. 1 he Magistrate said that it was desirable that the case should go to the Supreme Court, and that application also was granted. RIVERSDALE SALE. {From Our Own Correspondent.) „. GORE, March 5. first fortnightly sale-, for this season was held at liiversdale on Friday, when tnere was a good attendance of farmers, which would have been larger but for the fact that many wore harvesting. he yarding was all store sheep, over--BCQ3 being penned. The. market was &retty well maintained, although a Brunei of lots were passed in at auction. A lot of business was done privately, howeve.r» a ud on the whole the sale was quite satisfactory. A large number of lambs yore forward, and recent market values jus>t about maintained.- A number of lines of good ewe lambs were on offer, and sales were made at from 22s 6d to 23s 3d. Good lambs realised values ranging from ■LJs 2d to 20s Bd. and smaller sorts from 14? to 16s Bd, while good mixed sexes went at from 20s to 21s 9d and smaller ones 13s fid to 17s. A few pens of store -wethers were forward, sales of four, six, and eight.tooths being made at Jgls Id, while twotooths made up to 20s. A large number of breeding ewes were on offer,- two and fourtooths realising up to 28s, while fresh and good-conditioned full and failing sorts mad®

up to 12s, mediums 8s to 12s, and culls up To 4s 6il, THE BUTTER MARKET. FURTHER REDUCTIONS. AUCKLAND. March 6. Eurtlicr reductions in the controlled prices for New Zealand butter on the English market are announced in cablegrams dated London, Friday. March 4, received bv Auckland merchants. During the weekend New Zealand unsalted was further reduced by 6s and salted by 4s. The prices named by the Dairy Produce Board are 164 s for finest butter and 162 s for first grade, and new season’s butter from New Zealand outside the control of the Imard is now quoted in London at 4s to 6s below the named prices. The cablegrams add that the market is stagnant. Up to the last week, in February the named price for New Zealand finest butter was 1765, but the slowness of sales brought about a reduction on February 23 of 8s in price. The drop in the quotations evidently did not have tile desired effect of stimulating consumption to such a degree as would enable accumulated stocks and heavy arriving stocks to be cleared, and the latest decline may be taken as evidence of a further attempt on the part of the board to clear the market to some extent. The . latest quotations are equivalent approximately to I-3.55d per pound, f.0.b., the butter fat equivalents being l-4.57d to suppliers of home separated cream and l-3.65d to whole milk suppliers.

DAIRY EXPORT TRADE. CURRENT SEASON’S SHIPMENTS. The estimated production of cheese in Zealand for export to the United Kingdom for the period August 1, 1926. to July 31, 1927, is 1,035,000 crates. Arrangements were made for this produce to be shipped as follows:— 1926- ’ Crates. September 20,382* October ... 48,584* November ... 84,311* December ... ... ... ... 109,797* 1927. January 131,700* February 125,000 March 131,000 April £19,226 May ." ... 125,000 June 100,000 July 30,000 August — 1,035,000 ’Already shipped. The estimated shipments of butter for the 12 months ended August, 1927, will be 2,490,000 boxes as against 2.135,355 for the same period last year. This year’s total shipment, however (says the Dairy Exporter) will include approximately 100,OCX) boxes) which were shipped in August and September of butter graded prior to August 1. Therefore, assuming that all butter is shipped promptly at the end of the season, our total exports for this season’s butter will read 2,390,000 boxes, as. against 2,235,355 last year,- an increase in actual\ production of approximately 155,000 boxes.

The Government, grading figures at the end of January ehow an increase, of 111,090 boxes, but up to date approximately 90,000 boxes have been shipped of this season’s butter to Australian and American ports, and are not included in the above total bf 2.490.000 boxes. . ' ' was £52,549,798. On a per capita basis the gross debt works out at £42 15s, as compared with £22 10s 8d 10 years ago and £2? 12s 3d five years ago. The annual charge on the debt was £3,740,6t7, equal .to £2 13s Id per head of the total population. In 1916 the charge was £1,339.420 (£1 3s 3d per head), and in 1921 £1,755,951 (£1 7a 7d net head). The amount of loan money actually raised during the year 1925-26 was £6.153.062. or v. hich cities and boroughs took £2.476.566; electric powe- boards, £1.876.350; counties, £822,776; and harbour l>oards, £479.500. At the end of the year local bodies held iincxnired authorities to borrow a further £10,007.851. the principal holders being boroughs. £3.303.765; harbour boards, £2.670.350; electric power boards,, £1.961,421; and comit’es, £1.241,793. Information given below showing by quinquennial periods the maturity dates of the loans (exclusive of Government) of all local authorities. 'lJje years are calendar years: Year of Amount, maturitv. £ 1923 - 2.388,949 ’ 1929-33 10.473,245 1934-38 7,078,078 1939-43 10.618,355 19/14-48 6.022.652 1949 and after®. 15,145.618 z Total £51,726,897 Of the total of £51,726,897, i iio sum of £19,940,272, or 38- per cent., matures within the next 12 years z\t March 31, 1906, slightly more than 50 per cent, of the local bodies debt (excluding loans from Government) was domiciled abroad. Since then the great bulk of the borrowing by local bodies has been done iti the Dominion, only per cent, of the debt at March 31, 1926, being domiciled overseas. The figures as at March 31, 1926, are: — Domicile. £ New Zealand ... ... 34,863,971 United Kingdom ... ... 12,404.290 Australia 4,458,636 Total £51,726,897 The average rate of interest works out afe £s.®) per_ cent-., as compared with £5.49 per cent. 30 years ago. The municipal debt at March 31, 1926. was £28,922,687, made up as follows:’— £ Cities qnd ooroughs 25,607,439 City and suburban drainage boards 1,986.600 Christchurch Tramway Board ... 1,075,600 Hutt and Petone Gas-lighting Board ... ... 64,441 Fire boards 188’607 Total £28,922,687