A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 20

A. AND P. NEWS.

It is stated that 20 cheese factories in Otago and Southland have sold their outputs to the end of December at 9Jd or 9 9-16 d. Some factories are holding for lOd.

The Winter Show Building, Wellington, covers an area of about three and a-half acres of floor space, and will, when completed, be the largest area under cover in the Capital City. At a recent meeting of the Balclutha branch of the Farmers’ Union, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, a very interesting and instructive lecture on Clydesdales was given by Mr A. Reid. A large number or lantern slides of the best-known horses of Scotland was shown by Mr M'Cutcheon, Mr Reid having something of interest to relate about each horse. At the close of the address, on the motion of the president (Mr I. J. Ross), a hearty-vote of thanks wa s accorded to Mr Reid.

Active cultivating operations are proceeding at Ratana in' the vicinity of the pa, and 100 acres of wheat have already been sown (reports the Wanganui correspondent of the Dominion). Some years ago the same area grew some remarkable crops of wheat.

Mr Oswald Brown, of Toorak, Melboiu'ne, expressed himself in Auckland as being very optimistic about this season’s wheat crop in Australia (says a northern exchange). He owns a station in the Winnnera district, in the wheatgrowing area of Victoria. “ I have about 5000 acres in wheat this year,” he remarked. v and there was every prospect of a good return. Last year we did verv badly.”

That the value ofjand should be estimated on its productive value, and not on its probable selling price, was urged at the meeting of the North Canterbury ■provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union recently (reports the Lyttelton Times). The subject was brought up through a circular from - the Wanganui executive of the union, urging action along these lines. The chairman reported that the Dominion Executive had dealt, with the matter, and was urging on the Government the need for productive value being regarded as land value.

“ South Taranaki has not had nearly enough rain this winter,” declared a leader of the dairy industry recently (says an exchange). “The ground has never been properly soaked—the winter has been so mild—and to ensure a good and continuous growth of grass, heavy', soaking rain in the winter is essential. Again, it js required for watering the farms, filling the creeks, and boosting the springs. Without plenty of easily-accessible water the herds will not give of tbeir best. Farmers would be well advised to install water in every paddek, so as to save Hie legs—and the butter-fat—of the cows.” A new regulation fixing charges for the carriage of frozen meat by Tail has been gazetted. Meat is now charged at class C rate, with a reduction of 30 per cent, in the case of frozen beef and veal, and of 20 per cent, in the case of mutton, lamb, and pork. The department is now authorised to decline the respective rebates when frozen meat is consigned “by any person or firm utilising other means

chan the railway for the carriage of byproducts, such as pelts, skins, tallow, wool, etc., from the works' of such person or firm,- where the railway is available for the transport of such by-products.” The freezing companies in New Zealand have informed the district unions that they intend to seek an amendment of freezing workers’ awards. The proposed o Iterations mostly deal with the conditions qf work. The companies’ claims will be heard in Wellington on August 23 and 24, and in Christchurch probably some days earlier. i. i of the executive of the Otago A. and P. Society on Wednesday the following resolution was passed, and the secretary was instructed to forward a copy to Mr Tennent;—“ That this meeting desires to place on record its congratulations to Mr R. B. Tennent on his appointment to the responsible position of superintendent of the Department of Agriculture for Otago and Southland. Mr Tennent for some years has been closely associated with the farming community, and has taken a keen interest in carrying out various experiments. He has rendered valuable assistance to farmers throughout Otago. It is gratifying to the committee and to farmers generally to learn that his headquarters will be Dunedin, and the Government is to be congratulated on recognising the merit and ability of such a capable officer, so well qualified to fill this responsible position.”

Mr E. Bruce Levy, agrostologist at the Plant Research Station in connection with the M-assey Agricultural College at Palmerston North, paid an official visit to Otago last week. Mr D. McGillivray, instructor in agriculture at Invercargill, has proceeded to Christchurch, bn transfer to the Canterbury branch of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture. ■ “The time taken in Swift’s meat-pack-ing works In Chicago to kill a pig and

turn him into canned pork is three minutes 20 seconds, exclusive of the two days when the animal is in the coolin" chamber,” said Mr J. L. Wild, in addressing the Palmerston North Rotary Club. A telegram from Hamilton states that accommodation for 25 additional cadets will be available shortly at the Ruakura State Farm of Instruction. The manager has moved into the new homestead, and the old homestead is now being converted for the use of cadets. The departmental officials expect that there will be keen competition for the vacancies.

A good augury for dairying production in the Auckland province during the new season (says our special correspondent) is contained in the figures for July. The total produce in terms of butter-fat received into store during the month was 1,-420,5311b —an increase of 415,0301 b, or more than 40 per cent, compared with July of last year.