OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO.

The weather, although seasonal, has not been conducive to generous growth in Otago, it being cold at times with too little sunshine. A welcome rain was experienced during the week-end, and at the moment of writing it appears to be more settled, and the sunshine is welcome. BURNSIDE MARKET. There was a good attendance of graziers, inclusive of the usual town butchers and some outside buy’ers, at Burnside, but prices were in all sections lower than those ruling the previous week. The entry of 287 fat cattle was comparatively a large one, there being 221 the previous week. The quality was good, including some extra heavy prime bullocks and prime heifers, and the usual admixture of fair to good cows. There was a moderate demand, and sales were somewhat difficult to make at a reduction of about 15s per head. Beef may be quoted as making to 43s per 1001 b. The fat sheep yarded, 2727 (2433 last eale), comprised good well-woolled wethers, a number of heavy ewes and light prime wethers, together with some pennings of medium sheep. Some 100 well-grown, well-finished hoggets were also yarded, a great line, while the first of the season’s shorn ■wethers were offered. The demand was weak. Heavy wethers and ewes' declined Is 6d to 2s 6d per head, in places more, medium-weight wethers par to Is down, and light ewes firm. Butchers’ wethers made to 4Jd per lb. The fat hoggets made 26s to 295, and medium 15s to 16s 6d.

About .100 store cattle, half of them being fair to good steers, the balance mixed cows, met with a slow sale, and some passings occurred. Good three-year-olds made to £9 Ils, fair £8 to £8 15s, in-calf heifers £5.

An entry of 70 fat pigs and 78 stores, mostly small sorts, met with a fair demand. Porkers and baconers about held last sale’s rates, while the best of the stores were taken at unchanged values. Bacon pigs sold to 91d and porkers to lOd per lb. COUNTRY STOCK SALES. M’NAB. The fortnightly stock sale was held at M'Nab on Tuesday before a fair attendance of farmers. The entry of sheep comprised about 600. The fat pens provided a larger number than usual at this time of the year, and included some good lines, which made good competition. Fat wethers fetched from 23s lid to 30s, and fat ewes up to 23s 9d. There was little interest shown for breeding ewes, which realised up to Us Bd, while sound mouths made 18s 3d. Ewe hoggets realised 16s 3d, while wether hoggets made 10s 6d. The entry of cattle comprised about 20 head. No_ fats were included, and in the store section dairy cows made from £7 17s 6d to £ll. Dairy heifers changed at £6 12s 6d, yearling heifers £2 5s to £2 15s, and yearling bulls from £1 7s 6d to £2 15s. BALCLUTHA. The yarding of sheep at the fortnightly stock sale on Friday comprised 530 fats and 3500 stores. Prices showed a drop compared with the previous sale, and there were numerous passings in the store pens. Fat wethers sold at up to 32s 9d, fat ewes to 25s 6d; ewe hoggets, to 15s and 18s; wether hoggets, 8s 2d to 10s 7d; best quality, 13s lOd; failing-mouth ewes, to 16s; old ewes, 8s to Us Id; two-tooth wethers, 15a to 17s.

Fat bullocks sold at up to £l5 15s; cows, to £ll 10s; fat heifers, to £9. Good store bullocks made up to £ll 2s 6d. Yearling steers (in poor demand) sold at £3 ss. A line of old cows in poor condition were passed at £1 14s. Dairy cows sold at up to £ll. Other prices were £lO, £9, ‘£B 10s and down to £5 10s; heifers, £4 15s to £6 10s. A yarding of 75 pigs met a brisk market. Ten suckers offered on behalf of Mr Arthur Twaddle made 30s to 33s 6d. Small suckers were sold at 20s. Forty nice slips sold on behalf of Messrs R. and S. Mills at 26s to 495. HELD-OVER WOOL. Figures relating to the stocks of wool held in the Dominion on June 30, 1930, are given by the Government Statistician in the latest abstract. The information has been compiled from returns obtained from woolbrokers, woollen mills, freezing works, wool-scouring works, shipping companies, harbour board stores, farmers, and the New Zealand Railways Department. As in-past years, farmers comprised the only group from which a full response was not forthcoming. The great bulk of these, however, furnished returns, and consequently the figures are complete enough for practical purposes. The total quantity of wool returned was 75.396,6361 b.

The quantities held by the various interests, but not necessarily owned by them, were as follow:—

Woolbrokers (holding permits) 32,928,184 Woollen mills 4,447,353 Freezing works 7,825,599 Wool-scouring works .. .. 3,239.995 Shipping companies .. .. 5,083,502 Harbour Board stores . . .. 1,007,225 New Zealand Railways Dept. 335,690 Farmers 20,529,088 Total 75,396,636

In the course of his address the president (Mr G. Dalziel Kelly), of the Graziers’ Association of Victoria, said at the annual meeting:—"After a careful survey I can find nothing to warrant the expectation of a material advance in wool prices in the immediate future. My optimism is, however, encouraged by the fact that, despite pessimistic utterances early in the year that there would be a large carry-over of wool, the deck is clear, and also by the fact that in the consuming countries very little, if any, stocks of raw wool are held.”

The idea of a wool futures market has been revived in the United States, and the New York Exchange has appointed a committee of seven members to inquire into the feasibility of trading in wool futures on the same lines as cotton futures

(says the Textile Argus, Bradford). A few years ago a similar inquiry took place, and it resulted in an adverse report. The committee did not think the scheme was practicable. Now the matter is to be reconsidered. It may be that the successful rival of the Antwerp futures market for tops has had something to do with it. Opinions as to the desirability of a futures market in Great Britain are sharply divided. There are influential advocates of this form of trading, including Lord Barnby, but there are many who regard it as a near approach to gambling, or at any rate, to such a form of speculation as that associated with the stock and share market. There is, however, a deal to be said in favour of futures. »' hen used by bona fide traders as a means of insurance against future fluctuations in prices, futures transactions can be made to serve a useful purpose, but, so far, it has not been possible to secure adequate support for such a market in Bradford.

ADVANCES AGAINST DAIRY PRODUCE.

Regarding advances against dairy produce, Joseph Nathan and Co., Ltd., report that “ during this season it is intended to review the market position monthly, and advances will be based on 80 per cent, of the estimated value. Operative as from September 5, these will be as follow;.—Butter lid per lb, cheese 6d per lb. Many factories who have been holding for some considerable time have at last apparently despaired of obtaining their limits, and have reluctantly released their holding for sale, an action which has led to stored butter being extremely difficult of sale even at a discount of 2s per cwt.” ROTATIONAL GRAZING. Mr John Ward’s 50-acre farm at Manawaru is divided into 16 three-acre paddocks, the remaining two acres being occupied by house, garden, and buildings. During the past three seasons, manorial experiments and rotational grazing have been carried on, says a correspondent, rhe dairy herd consists of pedigree FnesiciDs.

SOUTHERN DAIRY FACTORIES. PINE BUSH. The annual report of the Pine Bush Dairy Factory states that the milk supply increased over last season. A uniform payment of Is 3d per lb butter-fat has been made during the season. A further penny per pound is now available, and will "be paid immediately. The season’s output has been shipped on consignment. Early in the season it was anticipated that as good, if not better, prices would be realised on consignment as were being offered for f.o.b. purchases. Unfortunately world-wide depression of all kinds of produce set in and continues. A considerable quantity of our cheese has yet to be sold, so that a final settlement for the season cannot be made for some time. A plant for waxing our export cheese was installed, and is doing good service, an immediate saving of at least 1 per cent, in shrinkage being made. The buildings and plant are all in good and efficient state, and everything is in order for the incoming season. The directors regret that a number of suppliers have decided to leave and take their milk to Mataura Island. The immediate effect of this will be a very much reduced output from Pine Bush. The directors deplore the want of loyalty to the district that is taking place and the unneighGourly action of another company. During the past season Mr George Knox has given excellent service to the company. His grading has been uniformly high, and he takes the keenest interest in his work. The company will be fortunate if it is able to retain his services. It is recommended that a dividend of 5 per cent, be paid on the paid-up capital of the company. The retiring directors at this time are Messrs W. S. Andrews and J. A. M’Kenzie. Both, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. It will also be necessary to elect a director in place of Mr Robert Smith for a term of one year. FAIRFAX. The eighteenth annual meeting of the Fairfax Dairy Factory Company, Ltd., was held in the Fairfax Hall, when Mr A. Bulman, chairman of directors, presided. The annual report stated that the milk intake for the season was 2,549.6421 b. as compared with 2.510,5841 b for the previous season. The butter-fat produced was 93,3211 b, and the cheese manufactured 245,9501 b. The output of cheese to the end of December was sold at 8 U-16d, to the end of February BJd. and the balance at B}d. To the end of December Is 6d per lb butter-fat was paid, and for the balance of the season the pay-out was Is sd, and an additional Id per pound has been paid since the books were closed for the season. Since the closing of the factory a number of improvements have been effected. The factory and plant are in first-class order for the incoming season. The manager and staff are to be congratulated on the excellent quality of the cheese manufactured, the factory having eecured the South Island championship at the Invercargill and Waikato Winter Shows, and also first prize at Dunedin Winter Show It is anticipated that the milk supply for the incoming season will be materially increased.

The retiring directors, Messrs_.T. Beck, T. Helm, and A. Johnstone, were reelected unopposed, and Messrs R. B. Caws and Co. were re-appointed auditors. Messrs Beck, Helm, and Johnstone returned thanks, stating that the suppliers were evidently well satisfied. Tlyjy would endeavour to look after the interests of the factory to the best of their ability, and trusted they would have another successful year.

Mr Brownridge complimented the directors on the very able manner in which they had managed the affairs of the factory, and on behalf of the suppliers Mr Stalker moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bulman for the good work he had done

as chairman, this being carried by acclamation. Mr Bulman suitably returned thanks.

The chairman expressed his pleasure at the large attendance, and said he could not tell definitely when the factory would re-open, but when sufficient milk was forthcoming this could be done immediately. At a subsequent meeting of .the directors Mr Bulman was re-elected chairman for the incoming year. EDENDALE. The annual report of the Edendale Dairy Factory is pleasing. The following comparative statement gives the figures for the past five seasons: — Year. Lb. milk. Lb. fat. 1926 14,228,330 485,040 1927 14,481,007 504,417 1928 14,172,355 488,414 1929 14,357,222 504,724 1930 14.967,316 527,099 The average test for the season is 3.52. One pound butter-fat made 2.7981 b cheese, and 10.141 b milk to 11b cheese. The quantity of cheese made was 658 J tons, butter made 19,2001 b. The payments made to suppliers have been as follows:—To April 30 Is Bd, MayJune Is 3d. A further payment, to end of April, of gd will now be made, making a total of Is Bfd for the season to end of April. May-June cheese nas been shipped on consignment, and final settlement for those months cannot be made until the shipments have been sold. The company was very fortunate in having made such a satisfactory sale of its output to April 30, 1930, at 8?d per lb f.o.b. Manufacturing Costs.—These work out approximately as follows:— <l. Fuel and power . . . . 0.078 Manager and assistants 0.410 1 Materials 0.334 Waxing 0.015 1 0.837 Charges and storage . . 0.232 All other charges (except milk) .. .. 0.363 1.432 per lb cheese. 4d per lb butter-fat. A public meeting was called by the Dairy Producers’ League to consider the Group System ” of marketing. The matter has since been carefully gone into by your directors, and they have unanimously decided not to have anything to do with the.movement. Mr George Dickson continues in his position as manager. He has carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the board. His “ grading ” records have been uniformly high, only a small percentage being under “ finest,” while his management of the factory leaves nothing to be desired. CORRIEDALES FOR EXPORT. By the steamer Mamilius, which left Wellington on Wednesday, Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushey Park. Palmerston. Otaao. shipped to Montevideo, South America, for transhipment at that port per s.s. Orita, 10 Corriedale stud ram hoggets from the Bushey Park flock to a customer at the Falkland Islands. This is the third order from the same estancia, which in itself affords the best evidence that the flock to which they are going has Genefited from the use of Corriedale rams.

AYRISHIRE BREEDERS’ COUNCIL. A council meeting of the Ayrshire Breeders’ Association was held in Wellington on Wednesday, August 20. There were present Mr A. M. Weir (m the chair), Messrs J. G. Donald, F Mills, A. Atkins, C. Morgan Williams, J. Aitcheson. C. W c bb, W C. Wallace, C. Morgan. and R. M‘Cay (secretary). Mr W. Hall, president of the New Plymouth branch,

was also present by invitation. It was decided to make a donation to the Royal Agricultural Society of 30 guineas for the show to be held this year at Hastings, the money to be allocated as follows:—Three guineas to each of eight classes—two guineas first prize and one guinea second prize, in addition to the prize-money already offered by the Royal Society; and, further, that two guineas be offered fol the champion bull, one guinea reserve champion, and two guineas for the chamT” 011 cow, one guinea reserve champion. Ihe following new members were elected: —Messrs A. A. Potts (Peria), W. J. Westney (Forest Lake road, Frankton), G A. Jenkins (Wright’s Bush), R. A. and H. W. Smith (Te Iloro), Janies Lambie jun. (Lakeside), P. G. Olson (Egmont \jllage), John Mossop (Tokoroa). Resignations from Messrs S. E. Henry (le Akau) and H. F. Louch (Ngatea) were accepted. It was decided that in future no donation be made to any agricultural association or club, with the exception of the Royal Agricultural Society. Accounts totalling £39 14s 6d were passed for payment. A NOTED AYRSHIRE SIRE. By direct steamer from Canada there arrived at Wellington recently what is believed to be the greatest butter-fat bred bull in the world among Ayrshire cattle. His three nearest dams have the wonderful average butter-fat backing of 10051 b. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., who imported the bull, advise that he was selected and purchased in Canada I*7 the president of the New Zealand Ayrshire Breeders’ Association' (Mr A. M. Weir, of Edendale, Southland), and is destined eventually to head his famous Ivanhoe herd. The bull, who was selected when only a calf, has the distinction of being a double grandson of the world’s champion cow, Nellie Osborne of Elm Shade XV I, which, under official test, in 305 da ys 27,1981 b milk and average test 4.5. The advent of Mr Weirs latest importation coming on top of the distribution of five great butterfat bulls imported from Canada a few nionths ago means that a great acquisition of the best Ayrshire blood in the world has been made to New Zealand herds. CLUTHA A. AND P. SOCIETY. Mr A. H. Moffat presided over a good attendance of members at the last meeting of the General Committee of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society. The Mayor (Mr S. V. White) and Messrs J. M‘Nainara, J. Henderson, and J. L. Gormack waited on the committee as a deputation from the Sports Ground Committee with a proposal that the two bodies “ pool ” their resources and combine to make of their grounds one big sports ground for the people of Balclutha and district. It was pointed but that as the grounds were contiguous there should be no insuperable difficulty to the proposed amalgamation of interests in respect to the grounds.—lt was finally agreed, on the motion of Messrs W. A. Begg and H. C. Anderson, that the Management Committee of the society meet the representatives of the Sports Ground Committee at a later date to see if a practical scheme could be evolved that would prove acceptable to all parties. The following new members were elected:—Messrs VV. C. Benson (Warepa), James Dippie (Barnego), A. A. Campbell (Balclutha). Mr Robert Moffat reported a successful canvass of Balclutha in the interests of the prize fund, and canvassers and donors were heartily thanked.

CLYDESDALE HORSE PARADE. Entries for the annual Clydesdale horse parade, held under the auspices of the Otago A., and P. Society, closed on Wednesday with a total of 27 entries, as compared with 30 last year. In the class for stallions, four years old or over, the following animals will compete:—Brunsdane Duplicate (2049), Hero Bold (2168), Golden Knight (2073), King of Kintyre (2082), Seamer (2223). M'Quaid of Ochtertyre (2186), Royal Risque (2219), Windermere OGligation (2243), Sir Lockie (2226), and Cannie Scot (2141). The decision of the judges, Mr Robert Kennedy (Otautau) and Mr John Tisdall (Oamaru), will no douGt" be awaited with considerable interest.

In the class for the Clydesdale Horse Society’s (Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co.’s), Perpetual Cup, two entries have been received. These horses will be examined by Mr C. V. Dayus on the grounds on the morning of the parade. The conditions attached to this class are that animals have to be certified as being free from certain hereditary diseases before they are allowed to compete. No animal which has received one win, and whose name has been inscribed on the cup, is eligible to compete again. The cup has been competed for since 1924, and the following are the names of the Gorses which have so far been successful:—l924, Scotland’s Victor; 1925, Medrox Print;

1926, Ray of Hope; 1927, Archaic; 1928, Desire; 1929, Brunsdane Duplicate. The following is a comparison of the entries received this year and last (the figures for 1929 being given in parentheses) :—Stallions—four-year-old or over, 9 (10); three-year-old or over, 5 (5); two-year-old or over, 3 (3); yearlings, 6(6): Wright, Stephenson’s Challenge Cup, 2 SALE OF STUD JERSEYS. HAMILTON, September 17. The national Jersey bull sale opened today with an average of 44 guineas for 71 head sold. The top price w’as paid for Waipiko Love Boy, on account of Mr C. G. C. Dernier, Feilding, by Mr A. Crowther, Matamata. Waipiko Caravel, on account of the same vendor, was purchased by Mr J. B. Aicken, Pukekohe, for 235 guineas, and 170 guineas was paid for Meadowvale Oxford Sultan, by Mr C. Stevens, Whangarei. Mr S. Irwin Crookes, Whangarei, secured the four-year-old Santa Rosa Golden Chimes for 135 guineas. War Bride Prince, on account of Mr, H. Salway, Bell Block, changed hands at 102 guineas, the purchaser being Mr R. J. Botham, Te Aroha. The g»nior championship of the show was won by Mr J. A. Mitchell’s Santa Roca Golden Chimes. Mr C. G. C. Dermer’s Waipiko Love Boy, which was sold for 270 guineas, won the two-year-old championship. PYNE, GOULD, GUINNESS’ REVIEW. The annual review issued by Messrs Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., for the season 1929-30, provides a welcome summary of past happenings in the agricultural and pastoral world in New Zealand, in addition to a judicious summing up of the factors likely to affect the future demand for our primary products, together with some weighty advice to producers, bearing upon the importance of lowering the costs of production, and yet increasing their output. The position generally, in so far as the conditions make for the prosperity of the Dominion, are clearly set out in this review, which is compiled by Canterbury men closely interested in our primary industries, and with the will to assist those who aim to -—as their slogan puts it—“ increase production and avoid extravagance.” JOTTINGS. Although growth of vegetation in Otago is slow, fattening stock on roots have been “doing” well, and the quality of the yardings at the Burnside Metropolitan Market has been good for some considerable time. A local invention in use at the wheat research station at- Lincoln College to sow 25 grains of wheat by the same expenditure of labour as it formerly took to sow

one has resulted in a saving of £6O in the labour bill for the year. Some particularly well-finished, wellbred bullocks have been offered weekly at Burnside, while the supply of finished heifers has been a noticeable feature for some time now. On Wednesday some 40 heifers made from £l2 5s to £l3 15s, extra £ls to £l7, while cows ranged in value from £ll 5s to £l3 ss. The first shorn wethers of the season were yarded at Burnside last week, and they appeared to have been shorn for some time. They realised 245, and were of prime quality, and would weigh around 721 b. It is earlier than usual to see shorn sheep in this market, and it is hardly likely there will be many offering for some time yet. Captain N. Milne Harrop, of Garthgynan, Ruthin, North Wales, reports that his non-pedigree dairy Shorthorn cow, Lucy, that won the Harold Jackson Cup against all breeds in 1928 by averaging 1806 gal of milk for the preceding three years, has completed her first 2000 gal yield. Calving on August 23 with ber seventh calf, she has yielded 20,007i1b in 326 days, and is still giving 2gal daily. I he Kaikoura district has suffered very bad weather during the last few days, and there has been a fairly heavy mortality among the lambs (says the Marlborough Express). Last Saturday advice was received of a slip blocking the inland Waiau road, but travellers were able to walk across it to cars on the other side, and it is not believed that it will prove serious. Heavy snow has fallen in the back country, and one pig-shooting party was snowed in for five days. The New Zealand-bred Friesian bull, Totara Domino Anzac (Dominion Matador Dutch Boy—Bainfield Sylvia Princess Second, 736.871 b fat at three years) exported to New South Wales last year by his breeders, Piri Land Co., Auckland, was second in a very strong class of yearling bulls at the recent Sydney Royal Show. His new owners, Department of Health, New South Wales, are very pleased with Totara Domino Anzac, and report that he is developing into a first-class herd sire. New Zealand pork export trade is likely to have competition from Australia. Experimental shipments are on the way and with cheaper grain feed than in New’Zealand, Australia may be able to produce and sell at a greater advantage than this country. The Metropolitan Meat Board of Sydney has resolved: “That it be a recommendation to the pig-raisers New South Wales that in order to produce a standardised article for local and export markets, they should specialise on a combination of and Berkshire breeds for the production of bacon, hams, and frozen carcasses for pork.” Messrs Dalgety and Co.,* Ltd.,' held a most successful clearing

sale on Tuesday on behalf of Mr A. S. Edgar, of Tapanui, when a complete clearance was made. The following are the principal sales:— Geldings: £37 10s, £34, £25, £2O 10s, £2O, £l7. Mares: £36, £2l, £l7. 10s. Cows: £ll ss, £lO 10s, £lO, £lO, £9, £8 10s, £8 10s. Tip drays: £lO 10s, £lO. Spring cart, £l2 10s. Harrow’s £G 10s, £4 10s, £4 10s. Roller, £l3 ss. Digger plough, £B. D.F. plough, £6. The waxing of cheese, said the chairman of directors (Mr H. C. Taylor) at the annual meeting of the Ngaere Dairy Factory Company, was still a debatable point. Some people, at Home favoured waxing, saying that the cheese was cleaner and easier to strip. Others said that waxing stopped the maturing process, but that might be because the waxing was done too soon or because the cheese was badly made. Waxing made for a saving as regards shrinkage, but it was stated that waxing and standardisation had resulted in a substantial lowering in the price of New Zealand cheese. A number of hoggets in Otago have died lately, but not so many as earlier in the year. The cause of death in many instances was the result of parasitic infection, but many died as a result of indifferent feeding. Deaths amongst lambing ewes have been fairly numerous, and mortalities were observed over a wide area in this province. Deaths occurred from a variety of causes, all more or less indicative of _ a lack of care from the period of tupping time right on to lambing time, or to scarcity of suitable feed in early spring. Where the feed W'as adequate and of a suitable nature the losses of ewes were small. Otherwise the prospects of a fair to good lambing appear promising.It is an acknowledged fact that Canterbury lamb is not so popular to-day on Smithfield market as the North Island meat. Mr Bernard Tripp, who has been visiting the market, has come to the conclusion (writes our London correspondent on August 15) that the reason for the deterioration in the Canterbury meat is that farmers have not been using the Eng-lish-Leicester strain as much, as they did previously. He realised that'the farmers needed the Corriedale and the Romney strains for the hill country, but he thought the English Leicester, which was one of the best-shaped freezing sheep, should be used much more in the future; ' The other day a Christchurch Press reporter had a .run over the small corner of about 3000 acres of flat adjoining the Kaikoura township, which is largely devoted to milking. In appearance it is more like the dairying country of the. Manawatu or Waikato. During the “boom” days sales of it. were made at £IOO an acre, but ’n the present bad times farmers who know it estimate its value at over £6O. Howeve.r, ..from this

rich pocket and other dairying land in the district the local dairy factory put through £44,000 worth of butter last season, this, in addition to the cream collected by lorry for transport to one of the Christchurch factories. The distribution of this £44,000 has an important influence on the prosperity of-the town of Kaikoura.

One of the departments of State activity upon which the public has reason to congratulate itself is the forest service. The annual report of the director, presented to Parliament last w’eek, is a record of progress of which the country may well be proud. The total plantation establishment now covers 253,603 acres. “This, as ar . as a tf° res tation is concerned,” says the director, “makes the Dominion the leading. State in the Empire.” It will be noted that the export trade which is being assiduously fostered by the department in co-operation with private enterprise shows a steady increase. It will be a pity if the necessities of State economy are permitted to stint expenditure upon this valuable public service, which, in course of time, should be able to return to the country handsome dividends upon the capital invested. Of the total number of certificates of merit issued by the British Ministry of Agriculture in 1929 one-fifth were awarded to cows of the Red Poll breed. These certificates are of the greatest possible value, ‘ seeing that they are awarded only after consistency in milk production and breeding qualities are well proven. No cow is eligible for one of these certificates that has not calved three times during a period of three successive milkrecording years, or failed to give during that period less than the prescribed quantity of milk laid down for the breed. The three Red Poll cows yielding the highest averages for the three lactations w'ere Mendham Strawberry (42.814i1b. milk), Longwood Star Rose Third (35,428|1b milk); Sporle Example (35,248Hb milk), lhe record for one lactation bv a Red Poll was 15,4391 b milk, produced by the first named.

The appreciably closer relation between the farming community and the town interests is welcomed by us because we have consistently advocated the necessity of united action if Canterbury is to hold the position in the Dominion to which it is entitled (states the annual review issued by Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd.). The assistance given by the Chamber of Commerce in supplying evidence to the Wheat Duties Commission and the collection of evidence to prove the hardship incurred by many Canterbury farmers through the imposition of the super land tax are two several instances where the town influence was able to assist the country during the past year. Once the value of true co-operation is realised, many real benefits will result, and possibly no better example during the coming year could be found than to seek jointly a means to reduce production costs of the farmer and the manufacturer.

The need of removing the protection on stoats and weasels, which are a danger to bird life, was stressed by Mr S. Saulbrey. at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society Councl. He stated that at a recent meetng of the W.aipa County Council a motion expressing approval of the suggestion had been carried. The farmers realised that insect pests were extremely dangerous to their crops and to keep the pests down bird life was essential. In any case, it was doubtful whether stoats and weasels did very much to keep down rabbits. . Mr F. E. M'Kenzie expressed the opinion that more opposition to the proposal was being made by the Department of Agriculture than by the farmers. He suggested that representatives from the country districts should obtain the opinions of their local bodies on the question. A petition asking for the removal of the protection, signed by over 30 farmers in the Coromandel district, w’as presented to the society for forwarding to the Government.

m © si to g Season. o o ! £ © u g § m r* © © £ p < O <! a <; a 1926-7 8 8,043 27 298 160.8 1927-8 10 10,173 32 318 230.4 1928-9 13 10,624 37 287 212.4 1929-30 16 11,110 36 308 222.2