OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 19

OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY.

WINTER SHOW. Each year the committee is finding it more difficult to provide space for the proper display of goods entered for competition at the Winter Show, and to meet the demand of manufacturers and others. For the display of exhibits the Space Committee has so far allotted space for 62 stands, and the balance of the applications will require to be held over until the committee can 'ascertain what space will be required for sheep, cattle, and other sections. The demand for schedules has been so heavy during the last few days that applicants have been asked to return them as soon as they have made their entries. The executive recognises the necessity of closing the entries at such a date as will give the staff reasonable time to complete and issue the catalogues. Howevet*, to give those who have only received a schedule during the last few days, the executive has decided to extend the date for receiving entries until Friday, 18th inst. Numerous meetings have been arranged for Show Week. The more important fixtures so far made are:—Monday, the annual meeting of the society. Tuesday, meeting of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, the Otago Fruitgrowers’ Association, and the Clydesdale Horse Society. Thursday, meeting of South Island Dairy Association.' The society will carry out its original programme. Judging will start in most sections at 9.30 a.m. on June 2, and the show will be officially opened, probably by the Minister of Agriculture, at 2 p.m. on that afternoon. FARMERS FROM THE WEST COAST. A meeting of the committee appointed to make arrangements in connection with the visit of farmers from the West Coast was held on Friday afternoon. There were present Mr W. O. M’Kellar (representing the Otago A. and P. Society, in the chair), Messrs E. A. Rosevear and H. P. West (representing the Chamber of Commerce), Messrs D. M. G-. Reid and S. P. Cameron (the Farmers’ Union). Cr Campbell (City Council), Messrs Young and Payton (Licensed Victuallers’ Association), Messrs Greigg and Barnes (the railway), and Mr W. H. MacKenzie (tramways manager). The Chairman explained that in accordance with the arrangements made at the previous meeting the manager of Bushey Park Estate had been communicated with, and had agreed to have his stock handy for inspection by the visitors, and the residents in the district had generously offered to provide afternoon tea. Unfortunately, all these arrangements would now have to be cancelled as the farmers’ special train would not. arrive in Dunedin until about 9.54 p.m. on Monday, June 4.

Mr Greigg explained that the department had tried hard to carry through the previous arrangements, but the farmers in Westport objected to being landed in the city over Sunday, and insisted on arrangements although it was pointed out could leave their homes on Monday morning. aud arrive back on Saturday night. It was agreed to accept the altered arrangements. although it was pointed out that it might affect, the accommodation the licensed houses could provide.

After a full discussion a tentative programme was proposed, subject to any alterations if found necessary. In the original programme it was decided that his Worship the Mayor would be asked to meet the visitors at the station, and

extend to them a welcome, but owing ta the late arrival of the farmers this part of the function will be abandoned. On Tuesday morning an official visit will be made to the Show, and in the afternoon observation cars will run on various routes. On Wednesday the Winter Show and the Dunedin Jockey Club’s races will be available for the visitors. On Thursda ty, subject to the approval of the manufacturers, visits will be made to all the important factories, and in the afternoon a trip may be arranged to the Taieri. On Friday the Railways Department will run a special train from Dunedin to Park, leaving Dunedin at 12.00 p.m., giving farmers and others interested in stock an opportunity of inspecting Mr J. A. Johnstone's stock of horses, cattle, and sheep. CANTERBURY CHAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. . CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. The position recorded in regard to oats has not altered to any extent. On Wednesday, however, there was a further advance, and business was done at 4s 4d, f.0.b., s.i., for A Gartons, as high as 3s 7<l being paid on trucks. This, however, about represents, in the meantime, the peak of values, which may be described as steady. There has been an exceptional amount of speculation during the week. Most of the holders have taken their profit, a_ fairly substantial one, and “got-out.” Values on trucks at Canterbury stations are 3s 6d to 3s 7d for A Gai tons, and 3s 2d for B’s. The foregoing values are in advance of the export parity, latest offers from England notifying a firm market with no change in values. Tc date about 24.000 sacks have been shipped Home with more to go by the next few boats. Singularly enough the value of Algerians has shown no reflection of the Garton position. There has been some business between merchants at 3s 9d to 3s ICd foi good quality, but offe'rs to farmees range about 2s 10d to 2s lid.

The chaff market is unaltered. Wheat is being offered more freely. Sales up to Gs 2d, f.0.b.. s.i., for Tuscan were made early in the week, but this is not available to-day. Business at 5s 9d on trucks was transacted, and at the moment 5s 8d may be quoted. Fowl wheat is slightly weaker and spread MayNovcmber delivery has been quoted at 5s IOJd, f.0.b.. sacks extra.

Potatoes are little changed, though the atmosphere in the North Island is improved. To date z this season shipments north exceed those for the corresponding period last season by over 20 per cent. “ Prompt ” f.0.b., s.i., prices are £4 15s to £4 17s Gd, June £5, and July £6 2s 6d. At the equivalent on truck price of these figures farmers are slow sellers. Onions are still weak, and all classes of small seeds are unchanged in value.

DISSATISFIED SHEEP FARMERS

GISBORNE, May 13. Many farmers in Poverty Bay are dissatisfied with the low prices paid by buyers for stock, and the matter was ventilated at a meeting of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday. The Chairman (Mr F. S. Bowen) said that Poverty Bay stock prices were well behind those of other parts of the Dominion. Sheep sent away made vastly superior prices in other places, so it was not the quality of Hie stock that caused the lower price. He shipped away one line that he could not get 20s for locally and received 275. In another case he was offered 18s lOd, but sent the line to Whakatu and got 24s Bd, and after paying all charges he was 2s per head better off. Similar instances were quoted by other farmers. Mr J. C. Field said the Meat Board was not any use to the Poverty Bay farmers. It simply looked on and took the easier road. Mr W. D. Lysnar, M.P., said he was glad to find people waking up to the true state of affairs. He had slackened off his complaints somewhat in anticipation of the farmers realising for themselves the true position. “ There is no doub: there is something wrong, and the centre of the wrong Is the Meat Board,” he said. The board was simply coquetting with the big man, and was not worrying about the interests of the small farmers. The board should be composed of farmers. Mr Coates had said he could not do that until the farmers all over the Dominion had asked for it. The Chairman, in reply to a question, said the Meat Beard had Ho right to fix freezing rates. Mr Lysnar said that if they had a board acting in the interests of farmers it could do a lot by the force of public opinion. He suggested that they should go straight to Mr Coates with the matter. Finally a resolution was passed, asking the meat buyers to meet the executive of the Farmers’ Union in conference to discuss the meat prices. AGRICULTURAL ano pastoral NEWS. With reference to the sale of strychnine by the live stock division for rabbit poisoning purposes, farmers and others concerned are notified that the price for quantities of lOOoz or more has been reduced to 2s 6d per oz. The price for lesser quantities remains at 3s per oz. Ranger Campbell has been giving a little attention to the district of late (states the Wyndham Herald). A jveek ago he got opossum skins taken by three individuals, and more recently he “ collected ” some more skins at Mokoreta. The different parties will have a special interest in the next sitting of the S.M. Court at Wyndham. Tht Southland Ploughing Match Association has just reorganised for the season. Mr W. R. Ronald is president, and Messrs L. Ronald. A. S. Ronald, and I James Ronald are members of the largo ! committee.

For the year ended June 30, 1927, the production of phosphates at Nauru and Ocean Islands amounted to 594,825 tons, and sales by the British Phosphate Commission realised a total of 1780,000. The commission’s assets were valued at £3,730,000. Liabilities included £1.440,000 owing to the British Government, the same amount to the Australian Commonwealth, and £548,704 to New Zealand.

The Queensland Minister for Agriculture (Mr Forgan Smith) announced recently that the Ministry intended to establish two banana experimental stations, one at Pawngilly, in the Russell River district, North Queensland, and the other in the Gympie district. The banana industry, declared Mi* Smith, was capable of considerable development. The Customs duty imposed by the Commonwealth Ministry helped the Queensland product. He was pleased to observe that the industry was developing considerably in the north. At present the banana crop of Queensland was valued at about £750,000 a year.

Inaugurating a campaign to urge farmers to achieve a 50.000.000-bushel harvest in the 1929-30 season the West Australian Minister of Agriculture (Mr Millington) said that the Ministry had unbounded faith in the future of the State for agricultural production. WonJmrful progress had already been made. The State had to import\vlieat in 1904, but in 1916-17 it had a yield of more than 16.000.000 bushels. By 1926-27 the yield had increased to more than 30,000,000 bushels, and the estimate for the last harvest was 35,000,000 bushels.

Though the market for potatoes is as yet not very bright, it is anticipated that demand will be better later on. Digging operations are now in full swing in the Stirling-Inch Clutha district, where the crops are averaging about nine tons to the acre (says the Clutha Leader). Mr J. Bell, Stirling, who is probably the largest potato grower in the district, had 26 acres in potatoes this yetfr, and earlier in the season shipped 40 tons of the King Edward variety to the Auckland market, where they met a good demand. MiBell is at present digging his main crop, and estimates the yield per acre to be about 12 tons of table potatoes and two tons of seed.

“ I hope you do not let that gorse spread too far,”, remarked Mr A. D. M’Leod (Minister of Lands) when addressing the Kopane soldier settlers recently after having observed a gorse hedge growing nearby (says the Wellington Evening Post’s Palmerston North correspondent). A Voice: “It does not spread in this district.” The Minister: “ I have a holy horror of noxious weeds.”

The Voice: “It has been considerably cut down in the Kopane since you were here last.” The Minister: “Then keep it cut down a bit more.” At the monthly meeting of the Masterton Dairy Company it was reported that the amount of butter manufactured during April exceeded that for the corresponding month last year by 51,0001 b, an increase of 64J per cent, (says the Do-

minion’s correspondent). Butter-fat supplies to date for the season totalled 1,201,4911 b, as against 994,1061 b for the corresponding month last year, an increase of 207,3651 b. A large quantity of butter was being consumed locally. The total amount of butter manufactured to date this season was over 640 tons. But-ter-fat received’for April was 116.1091 b as against 70,3641 b for the covrespon-lin. month last year, an increase of 45.7451 b. or 643 per cent. “The first wheat crop harvested in Whangarei by a European was grown in 1841 by my uncle. The wheat field was situated in the locality now known as Avenues, and the grain was ground in a grist mill erected by the late Mr Robert Mair in the vicinity of Mair Park, the waterwheel being turned by the Latea Stream.” This was one of many interesting bits of information relating to old

Whangarei given by Mr W. A. Carruth in the course of an address to the St. Andrew’s Society in Whangarei the other evening.

A casein factory is to be erected at Midhirst for the Midhirst Co-operative Dairy Company at a cost of slightly over £5OOO (says the Taranaki Herald). As this will be the pioneer casein factory in Taranaki it will probably be the forerunner of a number of similar factories. That banana growing can be successfully carried on in tnc north is evidenced by the fact that Mr J. R. Reyburn has brought to maturity a banana tree on his property at Parua Bay road (reports the Northern Advocate). The fruit, which is now ripening, is quite edible, and has a good flavour. NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. During the 26 years that this show has been in the hands of the Manawatu and West Coast Metropolitan A. and P. Association there have been many memorable events, and the forthcoming one fixed for June 19 to 23 will mark another red-letter function. Palmerston North is a meeting place par excellence, as is indicated by the regularly fixed annual gatherings of the various animal and poultry breed and other associations which are held’ in specially provided accommodation at this famous show. After a lapse of several years the National Dairy Association has arranged to hold its annual meeting and conference in the lecture hall at the show. The conference of North Island A. and P. Associations also will be held at and during the show, and it is estimated that there will be at least 800 or 900 delegates to one or other of the meetings.