STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 19

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Barnside, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays. Waiareka Kailway Junction, Juesdaya Fortnightly. Biversdale, Fridays (March, April, and May). WaUacetown, Taesdays. Ashburton, Tuesdays. Thursdays. Winton, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays.' Balolutha, Fridays. Gore, Tuesdays. ' Monthly.

Monthly (continued).. Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday. Woodlands, 3rd Wednesday. Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thombury, Ist Friday. Otautau, 2nd Wednesday. Biversdale, 3rd Friday (except March, April, and May). Waikaka, last Friday. Clydevale, last Friday Periodically at Advertised. Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Waimahaka, Waikouaiti. Biverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Salsa.

Edendale, Ist Monday. Palmerston, 4th Thursday.

Winton, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday. Tokanui, 4th Monday.

OTAGO. Seasonal winter weather was experienced, throughout Otago during the past week; snow on the highlands in the Central, and moderate frosty days with slight snow' i along the coast. A little rain fell, and = V -as welcomed, and team work on the farms was not affected. BURNSIDE MARKET. The entry of fat cattle at Burnside on ' Wednesday last totalled 360, or about 20 '. more than the previous week. The quality was very mixed, some excellent bullocks being included, also young heifers and old cows, but both medium steers and indifferent cows were featured throughout the yard. . The demand was not too bright at any time, but prime quality bullocks and heifers about held last sale’s rates, beef of 1001b e3t qua,ity realis ’ n S up to 35s per The yarding of fat sheep (3008 compared with 3182 the previous week) proved over large, following, as it did, upon two successive big weekly entries. The quality was patchy, some extra wethers being included in an entry comprised for the most part of prime handy-weight wethers and medium to heavy ewes. The demand was somewhat uneven for all but light prime ewes and wethers, other sorts selling at about Is 6d under last sale’s average rates, butchers’ sheep making to 5d per lb. The fat lambs penned comprised 1428, as against 1502 the previous week, the quality except for a small tail being very fair to good. There was a capital demand, and last week’s values were obtained, manv of the lambs, as is usual now, being on the heavy side. Lambs sold to Bid per lb. I he store cattle pens were filled to overflowing, about 150 good station three and four-year-old bullocks and speved heifers and cows being noticeable. The balance of the entry comprised the usual offering of boners and oddments. Mature steers in forward condition sold well at up to £ll lis.&l, medium cattle were quiet and ordinary sorts changed hands at last week’s Dairy cows, good sorts, made £8 to sb 12 Ivs. Althougn the entry of fat pigs was not large, prices were weaker, while stores also were dull of sale. Baconers may be quoted as making to 7d and porkers to 7|d per lb.

STOCK NOTES.

Stock business is fairly quiet at present in Otago, fat sheep alone having inquiry; but there is faith in the future of both fat sheep and cattle, although the market of late at Burnside has been more or less wobbly. The big yardings iolknv ing close upon one another was not conducive to steadiness, and if buying for Canterbury on a moderate scale ‘had not eventuated last Wednesday the fall would have been much greater than it was.

Some useful dairy cows were sold at -Burnside, and met with good competition at up to £l2 10s. The only other store animals which held attention was the consignment of cattle from the Lakes these well-grown, well-bred, and niceconditioned bullocks, despite their arduous journey, looked wonderfully well and were quiet and apparently not much distressed. The biggest of the entry, probably about 30, made £lO to £ll 17s 6d and will be topped up on Taieri land’ the balance, good-looking sorts, sold fairly well, but possibly there were too one , tlnie I° r the buyers present. . J hc J ceen demand for fat lambs is an interesting development in the stock business this month, and there should be a satisfactory clean-up this season, as Jambs on feed are doing well—putting on condition and also growing good wool" the latter no doubt being a factor which has a stimulating effect upon the ideas of exporters, who perhaps foresee an improved demand for wool. Fat sheep at Addington have apprecirlatS’ may ,la PPen that £° rth Island fatteners will try this market, and then again they may not. There was one draft at last week’s sale, from a station 70 miles from Wellington, which met with a good demand. Prices for prime cattle also appreciated. In the North Island the demand continues brisk for fat sheep, while breeding ewes of merit always command attention. At Feilding two-tooth in-lamb ewes made 26s four and five-year-olds 1/s Rd to 21s, two-tooth wethers 22s to 24s 9d, small 20s, three-and-a-half-year-old- steers £6 13s, and weaner Jersey heifers £3 7s 6d. At Marton Augustcalving cows made £7 10s to £9 10s, late calvers £5 to £6 ss, and early sorts to £l2 15s, with average for herd of £8 Is. In 1926 a total of 41 head of purebred dairy cattle was exported from New Zealand. Of these 14 went to Argentine, 23 to Australia, three to Fiji, and one «4? nea^,^ eir total declared value being £3021. This compares with 93 head of a value of £5200 exported for the preceding year. -It will be noted that, though the number of cattle exported shows a tailing off, the average value per head shows a very marked increase.

A joint committee of both Houses of I arliament in Tasmania has lately been considering a proposal for the establishment of an artificial silk factory in the *' State. The proposition was brought forward by Signors Allamel and Taufani,

representing Italian interests, and if accepted by the Government operations will be begun immediately. It is said that English underwriters have agreed to make the necessary capital (£700,000) available, but the company is asking the Government to guarantee interest at the rate of 64 per cent, on a certain number of debenture shares. A considerable proportion of the raw materials required are available in Tasmania.

A MILKY FRIESIAN.

Bainfield Topsy 14th (Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield 29)a purebred Friesian cow belonging to Mr John I. Roy ds, of Fendalton, Christchurch, is a granddaughter of the world’s champion longdistance cow Burkeyje Sylvia Posch, and a great-granddaughter of Oakwood Topsy. Her ancestry reads: “Five tested dams, averaging 17,8191 b milk, 7151 b fat, with an average test of 4 per cent.” Bainfield Topsy 14th has just completed a 365-day private test at her owner’s place, Fendalton, with a total production on twice-a-day milking of 17,6801 b milk and 710.31 b fat. On the 365th day, a day of cold southerly wind and rain, she gave 3111 b milk with a 4.9 per cent. test. Her average test for the year was over 4 per cent.

It is interesting to note that Bainfield 29 (the dam of Bainfield Topsy 14th) was the result of mating a full brother •and sister, as both her sire and dam were by Longbeach Major out' of Oakwood Topsy. .This inbreeding has in this case had no ill effects, for Bainfield Topsy 14th 1 ?./ 1 F dairy cow of undoubted constitution and great capacity. WOOL PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA.

A statement, relative to the sheep industry in Russia, furnished bv the Amtor°* Trading Corporation of New York, the corporation that handled the accounts for previous Russian purchases in U.S.A., appears in the February issue of the National Wool Grower. From this it appears that Mr Max A. Deitch, vice-president of the All-Union Sheep Raisers Corporation, Moscow, recently arrived in the United States for the purpose of making arrangements for large purchases of breeding sheep. Mr Deitch had just previously visited GerPlany ™ th r?, simi,ar .object in view. The AIl-Lnion Sheep Raisers’ Corporation is the farm that has been buying extensively in America the last two years, and will continue to do so' in future. It owns 17 farms, with 459.000 acres and 125,000 sheep; but is planning to increase its holdings to 1,209,000 acres with 304,000 'Jl*' } in . a , year - It buys .not only for itself, but also the Selskosojus (Union o Agricultural Co-operatives) and certain peasant associations.

According to Mr Deitch, there are at present about 120,000.000 coarse-wool sheep in the Soviet Union, mostly in peasants small flocks. Fine-wool sheep 4nn n nnl> a ly i • T erino ’ , nun »ber but some 4 ?°’2?^/ vlllch necessitated the purchase of £6,000,000 worth of fine wools abroad ast year. The object of the company is to breed up fine-wool flocks so as to obviate oversea purchases, and its plans provide for the annual purchase of an average of 3000 rams and 15,000 ewes for the next 10 years. These rams and ewes are to be crossed with the indigenous t^' pes -., Tlle corporation anticipates obtaining the greater part of its nne-wool sheep requirements in U.S.A. THE WHITE BULL. .?i° mc ox chango comments as follows :— Mr Thomas Elder, of Stevenson, Haddington. i a stillpuzzling over Mendel’s Law as -?eo le^hnrih he br 2 cd i n ” result s in his pedigree bhorthorn herd. For two seasons running the mating of his white bull Mille±„ Au t OCrat ul l9^ sB! ' vith cows bedcolours brought hmi 45 calves, all either reds or roans There was not a white calf whbp 6 °ir 1 i IS s ® ason lle has had his first > on!y ? n& ~ b y the same sire, and nothing else could be looked for considering that the dam was also white. All the others are reds or roans. Prosecuting further, we find t hat M ’ H h ,lls Autocrat, now four vear s old was got by a white sire, Millhills Diamond whose sire, the famous Cupbearer of ColWaS a ™ rk roan ’ and his dam a Di9mnn^ W ’ Thf grandsires of Millhills Diamond were both roans. The red touch comes into .the dam of Autocrat, the mater nal grandsire bcmg also red, but her dam "randoms ’ 130111 h T er - R rantJ sire s and k W f r ?™ OanS ' is nofc surprising peihaps that The Laird of Stevenson” is beginning to think that “>E dunno w’ere e aro m regard to the Mendel’s Law theory. At any rate, it i s an extremely interesting instance of the theory failing to work out quite so absolute as sonic it’must 5 ’ latllCr dogmatically, suggest that AUSTRALIAN DAIRYING. dairy industry for the season 1926-27 at the annual conference of the Australian Butter and Cheese Facprtes Managers and Secretaries’ Association, Hie. Commonwealth Supervisor of Dairy Exports (Mr P. J. Carroll) said that the export season about to close had not been as satisfactory for dairymen as could have been wished. Victoria was the exception, because owing to seasonable rains the export surplus had exceeded that for the previous season. Victoria showed an increase of export butter for the season, so Ma’ °C Cent ’ over last season; New South V ales a decrease of 28.0 per cent. ; and Queensland a decrease of 29.36 per cent The total gradings for the ComW nr_ W^ a U l 4’ C on f ar ’ for tb e P res ent season cle boxes. For the previous season they wore 1,736,287 boxes-a decrease of 342,407 boxes, or 13.96 per cent. 1,” did the climate of Australia vary that Victoria, the principal exporting State in the greater part of the season was not now producing enough butter for local re- ? J™?’ r For „ tho 1926 ' 27 gasoil 1,628,424.1 b of New Zealand butter had been landed ir, Australia. If it was considored’mportant that marketing in Great Britain should be organised, surely it was more important that sane and organised markket.ing should be practised in Australia which was the largest market. . Speaking of the need for the better feeding of dairy stock. Mr Carroll said that under present conditions it would -be econonaical to' convert 35 per cent, of dairy cows into beef, and make available to the remainder the amount of fodder that was consumed by existing herds. The loss in production due to food shrtage amounted to millions of pounds a year. The estab-

lishment of demonstration farms, dairy colleges and research facilities for experimenting witli fodders would greatly improve dairy farming. Referring to the cheese industry, Mr Carroll .said that there was something wrong wren Australia exported large quantities to other markets, and, at tne same time imported 1,500,0001 b of cheese. A law should be passed making it an offence to marxet cheese less than three months old. Not only should Australia supply all its cheese requirements, but it should supply the Eastern and South African markets.

A demonstration of a process invented by Mr S. Hartmann, of Messrs Bell and Co., for the regranulat’no - <-f b-tfr.- . at the premises of the Gippsland and Northern Co-operative Company, Eiu., 28 to delegates attending the conference of the Australian Butter and Cheese Factory Managers and Secretaries’ Association (reports the Australasian). Professor Hunziker. the American expert on dairying questions, and Mr P. J. Carroll. Commonwealth Supervisor, of Exports, were also present. I'he aim of the invention is to arrest the process of manufacturing the butter at a stage immediately after- the formation of the granules in the churn, and Mtor washing operation. The partially-made butter would then be placed in boxes and stored in cool stores of a low temperature for shipment abroad. The regranula tin <r. salting, and working of the butter would, be completed at the port of destination" overseas. It was claimed that this process would result in a saving of freight on account of the low moisture content of the butter. The total saving to the dairying industry was estimated at £400,000 a year. The butter would reach its destination on the other side of the world in the same fresh slate in which it left the churn.

THE YIELD OF BUTTER-FAT.

After much careful research, many interesting facts been brought to light by Danish, German, and Swedish cow-testing associations. Not the least interesting are those connected with breeding, and, among other things, investigations show that the possibility of increasing the percentage of butter-fat in the milk is beyond all doubt feasible through careful selection (says an exchange). That when a herd is divided into two sections, namely, those that throw after the bull and those that throw after the cow, the owner is able to substantiate with considerable precision the influence of each parent animal on the progeny. That the influence of bulls may be traced by comparing the average "milk yield and fat percentage of the heifers sired by them with that of their dams, and, if possible, their granddams, at the same age.

That the influence of the bull’s dam and granddam on the fat percentage of the heifers sired by him has been clearly proved. It is precisely' the percentage of the milk of the bull’s dam or granddam that is transmitted to th e heifers sired by him.

That the hereditary influence of the male animal, with regard to the fat percentage, shows itself thus: A bull with a certain hereditary influence regarding the fat percentage can increase the average of the herd whose average in this respect is lower than that peculiar to the bull itself.

That the fat percentage of the offspring will be lower than that of their dams if the same bull should be paired with cows that have a higher fat percentage than that inherited by the bull itself. That mala and female animals transmit to their offspring a fat percentage conforming with that which either parent animal has inherited from its dam or granddam.

Provided that the fat percentage inherited by the parent animals is the same, the influence of both animals on the offspring seems to be equal; but, of course, the bull exercises a proportionately greater influence on the herd, owing to a greater number of offspring sired by him. That regarding the hereditary transmission of the fat percentage variations continually’ occur, sonie offspring having a higher and some a lower percentage of fat in their milk than is peculiar to either one of the parent animals. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. An unusual incident occurred recently while a large flock of 3000 sheep was passing through Morere, en route to Feilding. Some of the sheep took fright, and leaped into the raging flood waters, and but for the sagacity of a dog others would have followed. The sheep which jumped into the water were washed down the stream. Some interesting samples of wheat have been received by Mr W. G. Gallagher, of Ashburton, from a _ West Australian farmer who recently visited New Zealand (says the Guardian). This wheat was rrown on sand plain country, the purchase price of the land being 5s an acre, spread over a term of 20 years. The average return was from 10 to 15 bushels an acre. The varieties of wheat are: Hard Federation, Bold Early, Balotta Wonder, and Mabama. In order that their suitability for this district may be tested, the samples have been handed to Mr M‘Kay, of the Ashburton Experimental Farm, who has consented to conduct experiments. It is interesting to. state that in Australia the wheat is obtained by stripping, and that the straw is not handled.

Some time ago the operation of "walking off the farm” was very popular, but it is highly probable that many of those who did so are now sorry for their hasty action (says the Stratford Post). One does not hear so much of it now, perhaps because dissatisfied farmers recognise that work is difficult to obtain. Those who left their farms and entered the casual employment market have probably now awakened to the fact that, hard as the life on the farm may have been, they were much better off as they were. On the farm, no doubt, they had little enough cash, but were in a safer economic position than they now are, drifting into debt through lack of employment. The suitability of day-old calves as food is being recognised in the Waikato, where for many years the practice Las been to' destroy all unwanted calves (says the Waikato Times). A number of settlers have considered means of exploiting the potential market for this class of veal, and an effort is being made to place the project on a business basis, and thus establish another profitable adjunct to dairying.

Arrangements have been made to purchase from July 1 all unwanted calves. Already 150,000 have been procured. These will be taken to the Horotiu freezing works, killed and packed for export. The necessary permisison has already been obtained to kill these calves and export the carcases for human consumption. The first lamb of tho season in South Canterbury made ifs appearance on Monday last (states the Ashburton Guardian) in the St. Andrews district, when a sturdy looking little halfbred was born on the farm of Mr D. M. France.

Evidence of the remarkably dry weather experienced during the last few months in some parts of Canterbury is afforded by the fact that a Methven millowner who has just completed his season, threshed the remarkable total of 132,000 bushels of wheat and oats, with a loss of only one working day. This surely must constitute a record for the district. The time occupied in putting. through this tally was 18 weeks. Previous seasons have resulted in larger quantities being threshed, but the. time occupied has been considerably longer.

“While we are exporting one we are killing six,” remarked Mr J. S. Jcssep, vice-president of the Ntw Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, during a short talk with the Poverty Bay Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union the other day on the matter of the Dominion’s beef industry (states the Povertv Bay Herald). He said his effort was to urge farmers to replace the other five in exportable carcases.

“Tlie farming industry, is in a bad way, and the man why says it is not is putting Lis head in a sack,” said Mr J. S. Jessep, vice-chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, at a recent meeting of the Poverty Bay Provincial Executive cf the New Zealand Farmers’ Union.

THE BANK AND THE FARMERS

A STRIKING TESTIMONY. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand on Friday, Mr William Reece said: You aro all aware that, during, the past few months, a good deal of criticism of the bank has appeared in the papers and been uttered by gentlemen who have been speaking in public. These criticisms have largely referred to the bank’s attitude as a lender towards farmers who desire to be borrowers, and it has many times been suggested, or stated, that tho attitude of the bank has not been as helpful as it should have been. I havo now been a director of the bank for many years, and havo had full opportunity of seeing what has been the bank’s policy and practice in the matter of loans against farming securities and I have no hesitation in saying that every application which has come before the bank has been dealt with upon its merits, and that, during the -9J o.VBq om floiqai qSnoatp poi.tad qpioigip cently been passing, no farmer applicant has beep refused an advance if he was in a position to give tie bank satisfactory security. There have no doubt been cases where the bank’s idea of satisfactory se-> curity has differed very materially from that of the applicant. Our criterion has been that of productive capacity of the land, and, in valuing securities offered to us, we look mainly at that factor and estimate the value for security purposes upon the rf-tSf-'/j. w&frk land has produced over a series wt normal years. Were w© to adopt any other basis of valuation, we should be running risks which we could, not justify. As evidence that the bank has not been unduly exacting in its relations with its farming customers, I might

®dd that the greater part of the losses for 'which we have Jjjad to make provision during the past few years have been made on the accounts of farmers and of farmers’ companies.

DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL

MR PATERSON INDIGNANT. ; LETTER TO MR W. GROUNDS. WELLINGTON, June 14. Messrs Morison, Smith, and Morison, solicitors for Mr Stronach Paterson, late Government representative on the London agency of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board, to-day forwarded the following letter to Mr William Grounds (chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Export Control Board). Dear sir,— We write to you as solicitors for and under instructions from Mr Stronach Paterson, until lately New Zealand Government representative on the London agency of your board. Mr Paterson has had brought under his notice various New Zealand newspapers, including the New Zealand Dairy Produce Exporter of March 26 last, containing what purports to be your version of the history of Mr Paterson’s actions in his capacity as such Government representative. You were, of course, aware at the time when you made your attack ' upon Mr Paterson, that even if he desired to reply, it was impossible for him to do so for a period of at least several weeks. To reply in detail now, after such a lapse of time, is obviously of very little use, particularly because such reply might well give rise to further controversy, and again Mr Paterson’s reply to you could not by reason of his absence in England-be published until the lapse of many weeks after the publication of your own statement. Mr Paterson, therefore, does not consider it necessary, or desirable, that we should at this stage enter into a discussion of the merits or demerits ' of price fixation of dairy produce in London. That issue, he points out to us, is already settled, unfortunately at the expense of New Zealand in general, and the New Zealand dairy farmers in particular. ' Nor does Mr Paterson regard it as his concern at the moment to answer what he regards as the

specious propaganda circulated by yourself and some of your supporters, , whose policy has brought the actual

results, achieved by price fixation, to “the dairy industry of New Zealand anti the interests of the Dominion as a whole, but it is his concern—and it is for that purpose that this letter Is written—to repudiate what he regards as your gross misprepresentation of his actions as the New Zealand Government’s representative on the London agency of the Control Board, and in that connection Mr Paterson would welcome the opportunity, before a Royal Commission or other appropriate tribunal, appointed to inquire into the reasons for the failure of the board’s policy of absolute control and price fixation, of having his own actions fully investigated. . Mr Paterson also desires us to remind you that, while you were in London, you had several conversations with him under a clear and definite pledge of strict confidence on both sides. He desires us to point out that for the purposes of your attack upon him you have not hesitated to refer freely to those conversations. In his view your attack contains some complete misstatements of fact. It distorts and represents both his confidential conversations with you, and the general aims and effect of his works, and it insinuates responsibility on his part for many of the happenings with which he was in no way concerned. It would be useless to. attempt to carry matters further at this stage, because as we have already said, Mr Paterson is still in London, and unable by reason of his absence to continue a controversy with you now, but he expects to be back in New Zealand not later than October, and if you then desire any public investigation such as that, for example, which would be afforded by a Royal Commission into the affairs of the Control Board, and the true history of the actions of its chairman and certain of its members, and of himself as Government representative on the London agency, and into the real causes of what he alleges are the disastrous results of the board’s policy, we assure you that Mr Paterson will be delighted to join with you in endeavouring to have such an investigation brought about. In view of the fact that your attacks on Mr Paterson have been of a most public character, we are instructed to hand copies of this

letter to the newspaper press, and we are accordingly adopting that course. MR GROUNDS’S COMMENT. WELLINGTON, June 14. Mr W. Grounds, interviewed to-night on the matter, made the following comment: ‘‘There has been no misrepresentation and no misstatement of fact, and if a commission of inquiry could remove the harm that has been done, I would gladly welcome it, but the damage can never be repaired. I shall be prepared for the fullest investigation at any time.

REPORT BY MR W. A. lORNS.

STRONG LIGHT ON SOME OBSCURITIES. The meeting of the Dairy Produce Export Control Board yesterday dealt with the following report by Mr W. A. lorns (a member of the London agency), which he stated contained several matters with which the board should be acquainted. He pointed out that it is in no way an account of his stewardship, and assured the board that it was presented without acrimony and without any recriminations.'. The report stated, ‘inter alia: PRICE-FIXING BLUNDER.

Very shortly after his arrival in London he realised that any attempt on the board’s part. to cut out any legitimate channel of distribution, or any medium between the producers and the consumers that already was serving a useful purpose would bo disastrous. This had been demonstrated clearly enough by the investigations of the British Food Department during the Great War and by the failure of the prolonged and costly efforts of a great American concern to establish a meat monopoly. If any further demonstration had been required it would have been furnished by thir own recent attempt at price-fixing. The adoption of this policy drove a number of operators into the arms of the Dominion’s rivals and immediately resulted in the lessening of the premium which had existed for New Zealand produce and the widening of the premium for Danish. This dictatorial attitude on their part, opposed to all British; methods, had it been prolonged, inevitably would have driven the big buyers in England to the formation of a “Buying Committee,” which would have deprived New Zealand producers of the advantages of trade competition. To prove this, the report included the following letter, which points out the gravity of the situation:— ?, Messrs the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board, Adelaide H6use, King William street, E.C. Dear Sirs, —At a meeting of the agents of the New Zea-

land Dairy Produce Board held to-day I it was resolved to urge upon the board the necessity for immediate consideration of the present situation of New Zealand butter and cheese, as otherwise they would be neglecting the duty imposed upon agents to advise their principals of any circumstances that have an important bearing upon their interests. The board commenced to function more than five months ago, and according to information provided by the board as at March 4: (1) The estimated total output of New Zealand butter for the current season is 65,000 tons, of which sales by the board up to date amount, including sales to other countries than Great Britain, to about 13,763 tons. (2) The estimated total output of New Zealand cheese for the current season is 72,000 tons, of which sales by the board up to date amount to about 12,500 tons. From these figures the conclusion appears unavoidable that unless some means a.e found, immediately of increasing the sale there , must be a larger surplus to carry. It must also be borne in mind that to carry stocks over long periods deprives the Dominion of the advantage it undoubtedly has when its produce is distributed to consumers while it is in best condition. As a result of these conditions the position both for the producer and the agent has become unsatisfactory, and a continuance must inevitably lead to acute financial barrassment to the producers. The' present unsatisfactory sales position of New Zealand butter and cheese is due, in our opinion, to a large extent to the loss of the goodwill of New Zealand produce among the distributing trade, which is shown by the persistent and determined efforts on their part to boycott the board’s produce as far as possible. The principal reasons for the hostility referred to above and also for the present position are as follows: (a) The fixed price policy adopted by the Central Board; (b) fixed prices nullify the value of experience and judgment both of buyers and sellers and bring about a lack of flexibilitj 7 in the market, and a lack of security in the buyer’s mind consequent on artificial movement of price as against the market being governed bj’ natural competition; (c) the failure of the board to carry out its declared policy to always maintain prices at economic sales levels. The London agency has reversed this policy by maintaining prices at a level which has not resulted in a satisfactory clearance of arrivals. Under the present system there is no effective arrangement in being for the co-opera-tion with the trade to carry out the policy of fixing prices always at sales levels. It is our urgent recommendation that, if the whole industry is to avoid a severe crisis, immediate steps should be taken to do away with the fundamental causes which have brought’ about the present position.—Yours faithfully, C. J. Pollard, chairman. Having quoted these high authorities on the effects of price-fixing it -was scarcely necessary for him to weary them with the other overwhelming evidence he had on the subject. Quite probably those members of the board and others who still clung to the delusion that they could compel the British merchants, distributors, retailers, and consumers to submit to such terms as they eared to impose upon them, if they only hung on long enough, would say that the people who were rejoicing over the collapse of price-fixing -were animated only by the prospect of making more money for themselves out of the “unfortunate New Zealand producers.” He would not follow them in their reiteration of this silly story, but it was only due to the fiends the industry had at Home to say that it amounted to nothing less than a gross slander. He had no fear of the experiment being repeated in his time, but he wanted its incidents definitely placed on record. HENRY LANE & CO.’S VIEWS. Before leaving this subject, however, he hoped they would bear with him while he read without comment,a letter addressed to the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board, on February 9, 1927, by Henry A. Lane and Co., a firm far too Well known to require any introduction. The managing director wrote as follows:

We believe you will admit that our attitude to control from the earliest days has been a friendly one, and our influence has always been in the mollifying direction which was so often necessary. Therefore, any views we may venture to express, will, we feel sure be received in the right spirit. Whilst always recognising the right of the New Zealand producer to have a voice in the disposal of his goods, we have consistently pointed out what we considered were the dangers attending a policy of price fixation. Our attitude is on record in the New Zealand press of 1923. and ■we feel present conditions justify our opinions. It is generally admitted there • is something wrong with the butter and cheese markets to-day. There is an indifference producing a sort of inanimation and the cause of it would be removed with the removal of the price fixation policy. The board could still control weak sellers or too free sellers. We are speaking now of the trade as a wlTole, that independent and larger constituency. We see a Vast body of wholesalers throughout the United Kingdom doing all they can to find _ something other than New Zealand dairy produce to work, not from resentment, but from sheer discouragement, and it is making all ing stocks, pushing the goods, etc., with the result that the importers here are _carrying the f stocks and' the trade are using minimum quantities. New Zealand dairy produce cannot be dispensed with, a certain quantity will be required whatever the conditions are, but what is necessary is to win back • the previous interest and enthusiasms for the goods. There is a growing desire to support .. Empire products; we have increasing evidence of it all. the time, but the distributor must sell the goods which help to pay his way. Our remarks leave out of the question exceptional conditions where interwoven interests of one kind or another ensure the. preference for New Zealand produce. We are speaking of the trade as a whole throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and, in a minor degree, Ireland.'

When he was in Holland recently several Dutch merchants stated that they

had regarded the embargo placed upon their meat as the first step towards a “British Empire Preference” scheme that would shut them out of the English market. .But their fears had been relieved. Tho indignation aroused in England by New Zealand’s attempt at price-fixing, they said had so angered the consumers that there was not likely to be any further talk of preference. While in Denmark ho heard the same opinion expressed quite openly by responsible people. GOODWILL IN TRADE. He was astounded by Mr Goodfellow's statement, reported in the newspapers a little while ago, to the effect that there was no such thing as goodwill on a wholesale market. Every wholesaler handling New Zealand products in London spoke of goodwill as an important factor in his business, and if Mr Goodfellow had been up against the “ill-will” the London agency encountered while it was trying to establish price-fixing ho would have realised what the other term meant. British goods in general, and New Zealand goods in particular, made a very real appeal to the British consumer, and it was only when the agency attempted to fix prices that he had begun to kick. He was satisfied that if in any reconstructed scheme, any company, or any group of companies, employed similar tactics the result would be detrimental, not merely to the dairy farmers, but as well to tho great body of New Zealand producers. TWO QUALITIES IN CHEESE. Before leaving New Zealand Mr Motion and himself were asked by the board to consider carefully whether or not a “superfine” grade should be provided for cheese. They gave a good deal of attention to the matter on arrival in London and after a thorough examination of the facts had come to the conclusion that it would be a mistake to introduce another grade. He had been satisfied by actual demonstration that it was impossible in grading cheese a fortnight after it had been made to discriminate between “superfine” and “first.” The fact was that buyers could not see the difference in value of Is per cwt. between the two brands. But notwithstanding their advice and a strong recommendation by tho allottees, the board persisted in the two grades and the two prices, with the result that the agents were instructed to sell more “first” of recent arrival till they had cleaned up the accumulated stocks of “finest.” This meant that a great quantity of “first,” which otherwise would have been sold without any carrying charges, had to go into store. Many times they were approached by the importers with a request to release the “first” stocks, but, because the allottees were not allowed to sell until the “finest” had been cleared, buyers left the floors to make their purchases from one of the Dominion’s rivals. The extra grade was a mistake, and a grave injustice was being done to those markers of “first” by paying 3s 4d a crate to factories that turned out “finest” which had been in store only 14 days. LONDON AGENCY IGNORED. He had never been able to understand why the board had not paid more attention to the representations made to it by the agency. Tho manager’s practice of consistently communicating with the chairman of tlie board and Mr Goodfellow without even informing the representatives of the board of his intention to do so caused an undercurrent of uneasiness. There could be no “team work” in the office undei- suclx conditions. There was a widespread feeling at Home that the administration of the agency in London was not altogether impartial, and that it was swayed to some extent by old trade associations. Tho appointment by the board of a big London firm as its selling agents in the United States and Canada was quoted as a case in point._ This was the occasion of a good doal of. irritation to other sellers of New Zealand produce. He said definitely that equality of treatment to their customers did not exist. There could be no doubt that much harm had been done to the interests of the producers by the publication of the Dairy Exporter newspaper under the auspices of the board. There was a free press in this country, which the whole world was commending, and surely this ought to be good enough for all. One of the large dairy companies in New Zealand had asked each of its agents to contribute £250 towards the institution of the Eyporter, and the paper was now being used to further the ideas and interests of individual members of the board. ADMIRATION OF PRIME MINISTER.

He could not conclude without expressing his own very high appreciation of the services rendered to the board by the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Government’s representative at the London agency, Mr Stronach Paterson. He had read reports of the criticism levelled against Mr Coates’s attitude towards th2 board wliile in London by members of the board and others, which he would like to believe to be a misrepresentation of the speaker’s words, biit as they had remained uncontradicted that satisfaction was denied him. Tho truth of the matter, which could be verified by any number of witnesses, was that while in London, Mr Coates strove to the utmost to bring about a satisfactory settlement of tho difficulties besetting the agency and the trade. He spared himself in nothing. Hp gave no thought to politics or popularity. The interests of. the producers were his on© concern. Tho suggestion that he sought to undermine the statutory authority of the board was simply an outrage upon truth and decency. No one in the circumstances could havo borne himself with greater candour and propriety than the Prime Minister did. MR PATERSON’S SERVICES. As for Mr Paterson, the Government’s representative at the agency, he spoke with a very intimate knowledge of that officer’s services when he said they were invaluable, not only to the agency and the board, but even more so to the producers. Ho was always courteous and precise, and yet always insistent upon the rights of his position. Ho had gathered, since his return to New Zealand, that some members of the board thought it was tho duty of Mr Paterson to say “Aye” when the agency said “Aye,” and “No” when the agency said “No.” Had that been tho beginning and the end of his functions they might just as well have been performed by a junior clerk from the High Commissioner’s Office. Mr Paterson took a very different view of his obligations, and on occasions insisted upon certain courses being followed in order that he might supply the Government with the information that was expected from him.

He also thought it within his sphere to criticise fairly severely certain expenditure which was not in the interests of .the producers. Objection had. been raised here to the' Government’s representative introducing a deputation from the importers and wholesalers to the Prime Minister while he was in -London. Mr Paterson was asked by tho members of the deputation to introduce them to Mr Coates, and when ho asked the writer’s opinion on the subject he had told him he thought he was the proper person to perform the ceremony. He understood that, beyond introducing the deputation, he took no part in the proceedings.. He was very sorry indeed to hear of his resignation. His business experience and understanding, his knowledge of the whole busi-ness-of the board, and his proved integrity made him the ideal man for the position ho occupied, and whoever his successor might be, his services would bo much missed. ABSOLUTE CONTROL ABANDONED. BOARD’S FUTURE FUNCTIONS. WELLINGTON. June 16. The regular meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Export Control Board was held on June 15 and 16, there being present Messrs W. Grounds (chairman), T. A. Winks, W. A. lorns, J. R. Thacker, W. Bryant, J. R. Corrigan, W. D. Hunt, H. D. Forsyth, W. Good’fellow. W. Claud Motion, T. M. Timpany, and W. E. Reynolds. The members of th e London agency were welcomed on their return. Both submitted reports. The points mentioned in these reports were -dealt with in a general discussion, and at the conclusion the thanks of the board was accorded to members of the agency for their reports, permission being given them to publish their reports in the press. Mr Goodfellow’s notice of motion that pooling should be terminated was considered, and it was agreed without a division that the pooling of produce should be terminated, in respect of butter graded up to and including April 30, 1927, when the second creamery blitter pool ended, and that the pooling of cheese and whey butter returns should end with the cheese and whey butter graded up to and including July 31, 1927. It was further agreed that to avoid any delay in the making of advances in connection with butter graded from May 1 onward, the board would attend to drafts, invoices, etc., as in the past, unless the dairy companies or owners of the produce concerned advised the board or its agents that they would themselves be attending to these details or making an alteration in. destination or the method of marketing. This provision was also to apply to cheese or whey butter graded up to July 31, 1927. The board would continue to handle all bills of lading and arrangements for insurance as in the past. Arrangements were made for the reconsideration at the next meeting of the board’s previous resolution regarding the taking of absolute control, with a view to its modification and to provide for limited control. The details of the extent of limited control were exhaustively discussed, the conclusion being reached that it should cover shipping, insurance, advertising, market reports, and information, cold storage, and auditing. Instructions were given for inquiries to be made to .facilitate a decision upon these points at the next meeting of the board. Notice was also given of the intention to reconsider the question of the London agency, also advertising methods, including the sales of carton packages. THE NEW BOARD. POLICY IN MELTING POT. 5 WELLINGTON, June 16. As the result of the election on Wednesday, the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board is now constituted as follows:— No. 1 Ward (North Auckland). . Mr W. Grounds (Hokianga). No. 2 Ward. Mr W. Motion (Waiukti). No. 3 Ward. Mr W. Goodfellow (Hamilton). No. 4 Ward. Mr J. B. Hine (Tikorangi). No. 5 Ward. Mr J. R. Corrigan (Hawera). No. 6 Ward. Mr W. A. lorns (Martinborough). No. 7 Ward. . Mr H. T. Chapman (Leeston).

No. 8 Ward. Mr W. Bryant (Dunedin), No. 9 Ward. Mr T. M. Timpany (Woodlands). All the above are producers’ representa lives. In addition, the following have seats on the board :— Government representatives: Messrs T. Winks (Hawera) and W. E. Reynolds (Dunedin). Representative of the exporters and proprietary factories: Mr W. D. Hunt. As the result of inquiries made to-day, it was intimated that owing to the abandonment of price fixation of dairy produce in London, the board’s policy was in the melting-pot, and would have to be determined at the next meeting. MR W. C. MOTION’S REPORT. CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. WELLINGTON, June 16. In his verbal report to the Dairy Control Board, Mr W. Claud Motion said that the board would have come out all right had the original policy been held to, but that having abandoned price fixing, pooling should have been abandoned too. Since his return he had found, generally speaking that the depression ruling in New Zealand at the present time was more or less ascribed to the operations of the board. That was a fallacy. The depression was directly due to the industrial trouble of Britain. Although he admitted that price-fixing was not popular with a large section in London, he was satisfied that the board would have come out all right if the original policy had been adhered to. It was at the time of the depression that the Prime Minister was at Home, and there was no doubt that an organised effort was made to kill the operations of the board. None of the merchants wanted conrol. The original object of the board, primarily, had been to endeavour to supply the market with its requirements all the year round, and if the board had applied that policy to the end of the season, he was confident we would have received a higher range of prices, as the situation was sound. The position was certainly difficult because he knew what dairy farmers were. As soon as they milked the cow they wanted the full price, if it was at ail possible. It was difficult to get many of them to realise the need for some.portion of their money being retained in the form of produce. s o as to give as much as possible continuity of supply in the market. This was one of the strong features of the retail trade. If New Zealand were ever going to compete with the blender, we would have to face the problem of giving continuity. There had been a great deal of talk about goodwill. He doubted whether it actually _ existed in the wholesale market. ■The main thing was -the quality and the price that a man could buy at. The prospects for next season were good, and next season they should be getting back to satisfactory prices. CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. As stated in the mid-week report, wheat was selling sluggishly a few days before at 5s 6d to—ss 7d, but upon receipt of millers’ commissions it jumped to 5s 9d. As. a matter of Tact, as high as 6s was paid on Tuesday for Tuscan, and one or two parcels at nearby stations were bought at 6s Id. Tuesday, however, was the peak, the 20.000 sacks or more comprised in the order having then been purchased. On Wednesday a slackening developed. To-day it is doubtful if buyers can be found to pay more than 5s lOd on trucks. Although there is a feeling that the extent of the advance was not warranted by the circumstances, it indicates that the wheat now in growers’ hands is firmly held, and there is little chance of it slipping back to the original 5s 6d unless, of course, something unforeseen develops in the Australian flour market. Fowl wheat is quoted at 6s, f.0.b.. for piompt business. The market for white oats has eased about a penny a bushel, and 3s 6d, f.0.b.. was the limit of values yesterday for A’s. The business between the south and Sydney is jssumed to be for milling, and the margin is not very wide at the moment. The Canterbury business with Melbourne in Algerians continues, and further consignments are arranged for the next boat. The potato market is irregular, and apparently a little easier. “Prompts” are the weakest element, being quoted at £5 and Junes at £5 ss. Julys have eased from £5 15s to«£s 10s and July-Septem-

bers from £6 7s 6d to £6 2s 6d, Values on trucks at the moment are from £3 15s to £3 17s 6d, but the actual tuber is not much concerned in the present gyrations of the market. The Waipiata, which left during the week for Auckland, took 3100 sacks from Timaru and Lyttelton, 100 sacks being shut out at the latter port. The seed market is still dull. Ryegrass is scarcely so firm, but other seeds arc unaltered. THE NORTH ISLAND. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) The North Island has had a visitation snq pun ‘siso-q pun ‘aious ‘nrn.i in s been felt practically for the first time this season. There has been some very cold weather in Hawke’s Bay, and the rain that has fallen will do a measure of good. NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. The Manawatu A. and P. Association held its twenty-fifth annual National Dairy Show in the past week, the big exhibition occupying five days. A feature of the show was the special exhibits of the State Forest Service, the Department of Railways and Publicity, which took up considerable space and' gave comprehensive exhibitions of the various services. Dairy produce, fruit, farm produce, and industrial sections were all particularly well featured, and the display generally was very fine. The entries in the butter classes were the largest in the history of the association, and the quality was likewise ahead of that of previous years. This, of course, is just what might have been expected, in view of the hard tests to which the entries were subjected in the lengthy storage period of three months. The quality proved itself by the freshness with which it opened up after its long test. The flavour, body, salting, etc., and the general get-up of the exhibits left little to be desired. There was a good display in the fat stock section. Mr F. Steel, of Christchurch, who judged the fat sheep, said that in all his experience he had never seen such a good class of sheep at any show at any season. All the sheep were in excellent condition and of good, uniform quality. The two-tooths were as good as one could see anywhere, some of the lambs being particularly fine. Regarding the fat cttle the entries, even for a winter show, were not up to the usual standard, and the exhibits were not impressive. The poultry section was a credit to the district, and the ..canary division was claimed to be the best in numbers ever seen in the Dominion. Tho attendance at each day of the show was most gratifying, and it is believed that record figures will be shown. N.Z. HEREFORD BREEDERS. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Hereford Cattle. Breeders’ Association was held at Palmerston North during show week. The report presented was as follows:—The balance sheet discloses a small loss on the year’s working of £9 13s Id. The income of the association has been very considerably reduced during the past twelve months, owing to a number of members giving up cattle breeding and by reduced entries of other members, which entails a reduction in revenue. The accumulated funds of the association now amount to £736 13s 9d. The council would like to see the members of the association take more interest in the Hereford classes at the A. and P. shows _ held in different parts of the Dominion. In view of the prestige enjoy, ed by the Hereford as early maturing cattle, it is disappointing that entries at the Royal and other A. and P. shows are left to a few of the members. It is gratifying to record that Mr G. F. Moore gained the first prize for the champion bullock at the Sydney Royal Show with a New Zealand-bred animal, against the competition of the breeders of the whole of Australia and New Zealand. The printing of volume XXIX of the Herd Book is well advanced, and it should be available shortly to members. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr Short said that he had littlie to say, as it had been a very lean year for all. He stated that a good quantity of beef cattle must be maintained, as deterioration of land was due in a large degree to the fact that farmers did not stock as much cattle as formerly. Where cattle were stocked there was no second growth and no tern. “ To my mind,” said Mr Short, “ no breed is as satisfactory in this respect- as the' Hereford, as. even when knocked about, the breed will fatten. It is a well-known fact that running more cattle means running more sheep.” It was gratifying, he went on to say, to hear that Mr Moore had carried off the Australian championship—for all breeds with a New Zealand-bred Hereford, and also that a Hereford had won the fat beef championship at Chicago, beating the Aberdeen-Angus. He stated, however, that the export trade in beef was falling off, as in 1922-23 125,000 quarters had been exported, and last year only 30,000, a fact not altogether to be explained away by increased home consumption. In conclusion, he stressed the point that Herefords did better than other breeds on rough country, and expressed the opinion that breeders need have no fear for the future. The R eport was adopted as read. In reporting on the annual meeting of the council of the Royal Agricultural Society, Mr G. M'Gr.egor stated that two or three rather important remits had been carried, viz.: (1) That the importation of Danish cocksfoot should be prohibited; (2) that trespassing on a farm with a gun and dog should be considered a penal offence; (3) that the full contents of manures should be made known to farmers. Mr M’Gregor was thanked for his report. Correspondence was received from Mr G. F. Moore- asking for the association’s support to the proposal to convert the Royal Show from a spring to an autumn fixture. —The meeting was unanimously in favour of the Royal Show being held in the early autumn, as being cheaper and better for the cattle breeders. An election of officers was then held, resulting as follows: —President, Mr J. M'Kenzie; treasurer, Mr H. J. Dagg; members of council —Messrs E. E. Short, W. K. Morton, and H. B. Stuckey. Mr Short then vacated the chair, Mr M'Kenzie taking his place. After thanking the meeting for electing him, the new president proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Short, paying a tribute to the manner in which the outgoing president had fulfilled his duties. " ' It was resolved that the Board of Agriculture be requested to permit the breed

societies to prevent the export of bulls that were not considered true representatives of the species. A vote of condolence was accorded Mr Wackrill in his illness. Mr A. H. Maguire was re-elected auditor to the society. AYRSHIRE BREEDERS. Mr F. Mills presided over the annual meeting of the Ayrshire Cattle Breeders’ Association held at Palmerston North. A successful year was recorded in the annual report, a fair amount of useful work having been done. Financially, it could not be said that the association was the stronger for the year’s' work, the assets remaining about the same. However, on the expenditure side there were ' one or two considerable amounts that would not be recurring. The executive was satisfied that the ’ Ayrshire was steadily making progress with dairy farmers, and that the old prejudice against the breed was ’ being gradually broken down, mainly by the undoubted merit of the cow herself, which had been brought into prominence by her performances in public competition with other breeds. Also, by the good displays of utility Ayrshires at most of the leading shows, particularly at Invercargill and New Plymouth, where there had been very fine displays. The president spoke in appreciation of ..the increasing use of Ayrshires for cross purposes, and in this direction the breed was going to' prove eminently satisfactory. Even in districts where one breed had been favoured, the Ayrshire was gaining a firm place, and the speaker was confident that the bulls would improve the constitution and hardiness in the dairy herds of the future. The executive had discussed the allocation of championships, which at the present time were confined to the winter fixture to the detriment of the autumn show, and in this connection it had been decided to put up at the latter fixture a valuable challenge shield for competition. During the last year or so the exhibits of Ayrshires at some shows had been disappointing, but this had been more than balanced at other fixtures.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron, Sir Charles Fergusson; president, Mr F. Alills (Hawera), reelected; vice-presidents—Messrs A. H. Hansen (Terehunga), C. Webb (Levin), A. Weir (Southland). Vacancies on committee —Messrs W. H. Worster (Hamilton), C. Morgan Williams (Kaiapoi), 8. K. Gordon (Paerata); treasurer, Mr T. Webb (Palmerston North); auditor, Mr R. H. Fuller (Palmerston North). Southland forwarded a remit that it be an instruction to judges that in future no points be deducted from dehorned animals when entered for show competitions. Mr A. Weir, in moving the remit on behalf of Southland, said in his district the question was a big one as elsewhere. The association was not being asked that all animals be dehorned, but to enable breeders with -animals so treated to compete with other breeders on equal terms. The president said he was in accord with the remit, which he thought could do no harm. The remit was carried. A further remit was forthcoming from Southland, namely, that it be a recommendation to the executive of the association to encourage herd-testing in each district in the Dominion. Mr Weir said that lie admitted the group ’ system did not try out the top cow, but he thought it essential that every member of a herd should be tested. “ That is a matter of opinion,” said Mr J. Kyle (Aokautere). Mr Weir stated that it was necessary to test to find out the useless beast. Mr R. W. D. Robertson (New Plymouth) said it was a question as to which was the better system to employ. After some discussion the remit vas carried. CRUTCHINGS SALE. The first crutchings sale of the season at Wellington attracted a large number of buyers, Bradford, the Continent, Canada, Japan, and Australia, and Dominion wools being. represented. The total offering was 2146 bales. Superior _ lots of cww’hrorl crutchings met with keen competition, mainly from Japanese repro-

scntatives and local mills, and these sold at lOd to lid and exceptional quality occasionally higher, but the bulk of the offering, free from .seed, sold at about to lOd, whilst seedy and inferior sorts sold readily at 6d to B|d. The range of prices was as follows: —

FARMERS AND MONEY. A scheme to popularise lending at low rates of interest on rural securities by private parties who would be subsidised by the Government was outlined in a letter from Mr W. E. Kent, of Makaraka, at a meeting of the Poverty. Bay' executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. He suggested that the Governmeiit be petitioned to encourage private persons and otners to advance cheap money, say, at 4 per cent.,* on rural security by undertaking to pay an additional 2 per cent, or 21 per cent. ■ n loans approved by it, the maximum period for such loans to be, say. 10 years. The matter is to be fully dealt with later on. THE FREEZING INDUSTRY.

In the last days of May the Wairoa freezing works closed down for the season. The sheep and lamb killings exceedec. those of the previous season, but cattle and pigs and calves fell short of the 1926 figures. The returns are as follows, 1926 figures being given in parentheses:— Sheep, 70,540 (69,014); lambs, 50.244 (48.986); total, 120,784 (113,900). Cattle, 1066 (1645); pigs, 103 (191); calves, 95 (2714); totals, 1264 (4550). The better season as regards the weather is responsible for the great drop in the. matter of cattle and calves, as the farmers had not this season to kill cattle and calves to save their lives owing to drought conditions, but thej’ have been able to hold on to their stock to assist in breaking in the country. IS THE FREEZING INDUSTRY OVER-CAPITALISED ?

Some interesting figures relative to the freezing industry of New Zealand have been published by the Wellington Post. The figures have been prepared by Air O. G. Stringer - , accountant, «f Wanganui (and late manager of the Wanganui Meat Freezing Company) for the New Zealand Freezing Works and Related Trades Industrial Association of Workers. These figures are presented by the association as “ evidence showing the enormous over-capitalisation of the New Zealand freezing industry.” -The association will ask for a Government inquiry into the position of the industry based on Mr Stringer’s investigations. These take the form of the following comparison of the figures relative to the position in 1914 and 1924, and omitting shillings and pence: 10X4. 1924. Interest at CJ per cent. £ £ on stock killed . . » 846,297 Increase in annual interest charge , . 138,135

In the above figures estimates of £300,000 are allowed for the values in 1914 of the freezing works of Messrs Birt and Co., Borthwicks, Nelson Brothers, South British, and Hawke’s Bay and Longburn companies; and the estimated value in 1924 of Ocean Beach. Borthwicks, \ cstey Brothers, and Longburn works is put at a total of £625,000. An allowance of £598,989 is made for works ceased operation. Individual companies are dealt with by Air Stringer, also the wages costs in the various departments. - EXPORT AIATTERS. Several aspects of the frozen meat and dairy export produce were discussed at the monthly meeting of the Poverty Bav executive of the Farmers’ Union. The following remit to the Dominion conference, proposed by Air Al. T. Trafford, was carried: “ That ':he Government be asked to pass legis. tion that all exported New Zealand produce requiring cold storage pass .hrough New Zealand cold stores in London, where such stores are established.” A proposal “ that a conference of meat, butter, and fruit boards confer before obtaining cold stores in England,” was defeated. Other remits passed were:— “ That the met-.od of election of the meat and dairy control boards be revised by Parliament so as to eliminate all commercial interests and divide the Dominion into districts, so that the producers themselves directly eject the representatives.” That the New Zealand Grain and Produce Merchants’ Federation oppose the proposed reduction of 2s per cental upon imported maize.” POVERTY BAY MAIZE. According to latest reports from Poverty Bay the maize crops of the province show a good average yield, as well as first-class specimens. In both these respects the crops are far ahead of last year, when a drought had quite an adverse effect. The Poverty Bay Herald points out that the acreage of land in maize is increasing in the district year by year, and this season has seen another large increase in the total area planted. _ No definite figures are available in this respect, but general observations in several quarters go to prove that many additional acres were put into maize this season. Some of the crons are very heavy, and a number of instances quoted average from 90 bushels to 95 bushels to Die acre. Alost, if not all, of these have been grown without the use of fertilisers. What, then, could be done with the application of mantires? A splendid example of what can be achieved in Poverty Bay without manures is given by a Puha grower, who, from a small plot of about a quarter of an acre, estimated his yield to be 125 bushels to the acre. The whole crop of several acres averaged 95 bushels to the acre. This was on virgin land without the use of manure.Alaize has been a payable crop for some years, -and this year promises to be no The amount of grain lost 'iarlasx the heavy gale in March was not

extensive, and a comparatively small area of the crops suffered. Thanks to the embargo upon the imported grain the prices realised for locally grown maize have been such as to show a good margin of profit. Some sales have been made forward this season at prices ranging from 5s to 5s 3d per bushel, f.o.b. At this price, it is stated, the growers’ profit would ap-. proximate £lO per acre. As a basis of computing the cost of growing and the possible return from an average crop, the following is calculated to be a good guide: — Cost: Ploughing at 25s an acre, £62 10s; discing at ss, £l2 10s; harrowing at 2s, £5- seed • t 3s, £7 10s; planting at 7s 6d, £lB 15s; cultivator at 7s 6d, £lB 15s; harvest at 38s, £95; shelling at Is per sack, £5O; sacks t lOd.each, £4l 13s; cartage at 7s 6d per ton, £37 10; wharfage at Is per ton, £5; commission at 5 per cent., £43 15s; total cost, £477 2s (interest not included) ; profit, £397 18s. The estimate of the yield given here is a conservative one. and is by no means the largest possible in Poverty Bay, which’ is acknowledged as being the best and largest maize-growing district in the Dominion. Some very fine specimens of grain have been seen this season, it bejng well developed, and the cobs containing a large number of grain; several cobs seen during the week contained over 1100 pieces of grain, and it is quite usual to see cobs with nearly 1000 nicely shaped pieces. AIAORI FARMERS AND WEEDS" 3 ” Some Maori farmers are apparently under the impression that they are not expected to keep their properties clear of noxious weeds as the pakehas are, and to impress upon them that they are suffering from a delusion the South Taranaki weeds inspector brought cases against a couple of Maoris at Alanaia Court. In the first case the inspector said proceedings had been instituted to show that the law had to be complied with, as many Natives were of opinion that they were not in thb same position as a European farmer. A fine of 50s and costs (17s) was The second defendant, Tamanui Whakaneke, whose case was practically identical with the previous one, pleaded guilty, and explained that he had not been on the farm at the time of the inspection, but his brother-in-law had been -running it for him, and witness quite expected his brother-in-law to attend to the ragwort. In this case a fine of £1 and costs (15s) was imposed.

NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. A COMPREHENSIVE DISPLAY. PALMERSTON N.. June 14. The National Dairy Show of the Manawatu A. and P. Association was opened this morning in fine weather. The en-' tries all round compare more than favourably with those of past shows. A feature of the show is the excellent and comprehensive display of butter and cheese and farmers’ produce. Machinery and motor vehicles make up a large section of the exhibits. To-day was given over to the judging of all classes except poultry and fat stock.. Juno 18. Ths show was concluded on to-duy. The gate takings for the week, which totalled

£lBOO, showed an increase of £2O on the receipts at last year’s show.

BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE. The milling wheat market is firm, and prices are now on a level with those ruling when the first of the season’s wheat became available. Advice received from Canterbury states that 6s on truck, country sidings, has been paid for milling quality Tuscan, both Canterbury and North Otago millers operating at this figure. Hunter’s are worth up to 6s 4d per bushel on trucks, country sidings, and velvet is bringing up to 7s. There is not a great quantity of velvet available, and farmers who have this variety are firm holders. Fowl wheat has firmed in sympathy with the advance in milling wheat, and to-day’s price is 6s, f.0.b., sacks extra. Millers’ prices are as follows: — Flour: 2001 b, £l6 15s; 100’s, £l7" 10s; 50’s. £l7 15s, 25’s, £lB ss. Bran, £6 10s per ton. Pollard, £8 10s. Oatmeal: 25’s, £l9; 200’s £lB. Practically no shipping business has been recorded in oats during tne week, but prices remain steady. Odd lines only are offering from growers, as the bulk of the crop is now in merchants’ hands. North Island merchants are not. drawing supplies from this port, Canterbury merchants meeting their requirements in the meantime. Canterbury has also secured several orders from Australia during the week for both feed and machine-dressed clipped Algerians. The demand for heavy Gartons from Australia has eased in the meantime, merchants there having turned their attention to Algerians. The nominal quotation for A’s is 3s 6d. f.0.b., s.i. and for B’s 3s 2d. These prices are equivalent to 2s 8d and 2s 4d respectively, on trucks country sidings. Local requirements for potatoes are being drawn from Canterbury, and the position there so far as growers are concerned is very firm. The average yield this year in South Canterbury is much below the usual return. The shipping market in the South Island firmed earlier in the week, cut a little easier tendency is now apparent. I This easiness is no doubt due to the fact | that Auckland merchants advise that they arc in a position to secure their requirements from Australia if the f.o.b. price in the South Island increases to any extent. Good quality tables are worth £5 10s per ton, ex truck Dunedin. The demand for chaff is not.. ercat, and the small Quantity coming forward is quite sufficient to meet requirements. Prices are unchanged at round about £4 10s to £4 15s per ton. There is. not much business to report in seeds, and, so far as the wholesale market is concerned, practically no sales are being effected. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follows:—

Chaff, £4 10s to £4 15s per ton, ex truck, for best quality. Potatoes: Ton lots, £5 10s ex tnick. Eggs : Stamped, 2s 6d ; case, 2s 4d. Dairy butter: Milled bulk, Is 2d to Is 3d: pats, Is 2d. , Bacon, Is Id per lb. Hams. Is 2d per lb; boneless, Is 3d. Canterbury onions, 5s 6d to 6s per cwt. FRUIT REPORT. The market is well supplied with bananas, and prices are a little easier. A further shipment is expected ex the Kurow, due on Thursday. Island oranges are also in good supply. A shipment of Australian mandarins andnavels is expected by the Waikouaiti, due from Sydney on Tuesday. Good choice dessert apples are very scarce, and for this quality good prices are being obtained. Poor quality lines arc in over-supply, and are hard to sell. Choice cookers meet a sound inquiry. ■ Good pears are scarce, and prices are firm. Vegetables are in good supply, and meet a better demand. Current wholesale prices arc as follows :— Apples: Delicious, 10s to Us per case; Jonathans, 6s 6d to 7s 6d; Stunners — choice. 7s 6d to 8s; Cleopatras, 7s to 8s; prime cookers, 6s 6d ; inferior dessert and cooking, 3s to 4s. Bananas: Ripe, 27s 6d to 30s per case.

Pears: Dessert, 2)d to 3d per lb; cookers, 2d. Grapes.: Australian, Is per lb. Lemons: Californian, 42s 6d per double case; Auckland, 18s per bushel case. Mandarins: Australian, 22s 6d per case. Oranges: Californian, 425; Island, repacked. 255; Australian navels, 22s 6d per case. Pie melons : New 8s to 10s per cwt; Australian 16s.’ Potatoes, 6s fid per cwt. C’arrotSj 4s to 4s 6d per cwt. Pumpkins, to 15s per sack. Vegetable marrows. 2d per lb. Cauliflowers, 10s to Ils per sack (choice only); others, 4s to 6s. Parsnips, 7s to 8s per cwt. Cabbage: Choice, to 6s 6d per sack; others, 2s to 3s. Onions: Up to 4d per bundle. Celery, 9d to Is per bundle of three heads. Artichokes, 2d per lb. — Lettuce: Choice. Is 6d per dozen; medium and poor unsaleable.

Jlerino crutchings .. 10?»d to 113d Halfbred crutchings to ll?.d Pieces and bellies 5i|d to 12d Kocks and stained pieces 3*d to 7d Crossbred crutchings— Superior 10d to 112d Medium to good 8d to lOd Crutchings, seedy and inferior 4>d to SJd Lambs' 91d to 14gd Dead 7Jd to 151.d

Nominal capital . . , 1,005,070 5,582,155 Paid-up capital . . . 1,002,020 3,521,531 Bank overdrafts . . . 188,891 1,034,034 Credit at banks . . . 37,745 84,260 Buildings, plant, land 1,S17,59S 5,327,054