THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 4041, 25 August 1931, Page 14

THE NORTH ISLAND.

GENERAL. The present weather conditions in Hawke's Bay are ideally suited to both dairymen and sheepfarmers and are conducive to a continuance of the pasture growth, which has hardly stopped in some areas this winter. If we get a continuance of the present springlike weather, we may expect a good flush of feed in the course of the next few weeks, while even the present growth is more than sufficient for sheep rations.

It is many years since the Waikato, has experienced such severe weather conditions as have prevailed during the last few months. Mortality among calves and lambs has been unusually high, and mature cattle in southern areas of the Waikato have suffered severely. A valuable cow, owned by a Mangamutu (Bush district) farmer, recently developed a strange malady, and, in spite of its owner’s efforts, died (says the Dominion). It was not until he wai skinning the beast that,the farmer discovered the cause of its death. The carcass was riddled with cartridge pellets.

Figures of the killings at the Gisborne Refrigerating Company’s works for the season just closed show a considerable increase on those of the previous season. Sheep increased by 20,000 and lambs 55,000, the actual figures being as follow, figures for the previous season being in parentheses:—Sheep. 284,950 (265.059); lambs, 267,651 (212,989); cattle, 7511 (8056); calves, 8418 (3); pigs, 1322 (1038).

A proposal that persons driving stock on roads at night should take adequate precaution to prevent accidents by having lights carried in front and at the back of their herds was contained in a letter from the Manukau County Council, received at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Automobile Association the other evening (says the Herald). It was stated that complaints had been received from motorists of cows being driven along the Panmure-Howick road between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., and that two or three collisions had occurred. The matter was referred to the North Island Motor Union.

“ No, I would not claim to be exactly an expert farmer,” said plaintiff in a case of a dispute over a farm which was before the Supreme Court at Wanganui the other day (says the Chronicle). “ How many years have you been farming? ” asked counsel. The plaintiff replied that he had had 28 years’ experience of farming. “ Then how long do you think it would take to become an expert farmer? ” continued the counsel. “ Oh, anything up to 100 years,” replied plaintiff. Some farmers needed more experience than others, he added. Opinions everywhere about Hawke’s Bay just now seem to presage a good season for the provincial farmer (states a writer in the Telegraph), but none that. I had heard expressed previously carried as much .weight as those expressed to me by a man who has been actively engaged in farming in Hawke’s Bay for over 50 years. “I have seldom

seen our Hawke's Bay country looking in better order and for this time of the year, the state of the provincial pastures is almost unprecedented within living memory,” said this man, who went on to remark that all indications at present seemed/ to point to a highly successful season in Hawke’s Bay this year, at least as far as production was concerned. Opinions from a source such as this must carry weight, and it is only to be hoped that such prophecies are realised in the months to come.

GISBORNE HORSE FAIR. The annual horse fair conducted by the Poverty Bay Stockbrokers’ Association gave striking evidence of the passing of the horse. In past years a feature of this sale was the entry frqm several stations of unbroken three and . four-year-old draughts, and keen competition from wagoners, contractors, and dealers. At this fair not a single straight station entry of this type was submitted. Light unbroken horses from a few stations were yarded, but these were generally only in medium condition, realising from £1 to £3, while several failed to bring a bid. Broken-in horses were numerous and there was a fair demand for good farm workers. A few of these made from £2O to £2B, but many were valued at £l4 to £l6. Many good run-bred upstanding hacks, with a fair amount of weight, were submitted, but the demand for these was very easy, and few fetched more than £4, while nondescript sorts were hardly saleable. The sale generally was disappointing, and would show smgll returns to the promoters. DAIRYING AT TOLAGA BAY. If normal weather conditions are experienced, the Tolaga Bay Dairy Factory should show a substantial increase in production during the season just opened. The factory commenced operations a little more than a week ago, and the supplies already are encouraging. Preparations were made for an increased output last season, but unfortunately the drought caused a decrease. A few Native properties have been taken over, recently by Europeans who have purchased dairy herds, while some of the large herds of cows on sheep stations are being increased at the expense of the flocks. One station with 100 cows in milk last season will have 130 this year. In addition, a few sheep men who have not yet entered dairying, are contemplating running some dairy cows. Some of the small dairymen also are increasing their herds. Indications are for such a large increase that the directors would not be surprised if the season's total output touched the 300 ton mark. THE TUTIRA DISTRICT. Lambing has commenced in the Tutira district, and the lambs look remarkably well. Sheepmen thus far in this area are well pleased with the results, and there has been actually very little trouble experienced. The lambing in this area has been earlier than usual this year, although most of the smaller farmers concentrate on fat lamb production. One of the most noticeable features of a trip up the Wai-

roa road just now is the manner in which | top-dressed paddocks stand out in the gen- | eral panorama. Superphosphate is cer- I tainly playing a very important part in I the development of this district, and the appearance and composition of the areas treated, with the returns from these areas, show very clearly that the use*of this manure is economically sound. HAWKE’S BAY RYEGRASS. The most progressive step which has been yet taken by Hawke's Bay ryegrass and white clover seed growers in the direction of protecting their interests and guarding in some degree against outside > competition was the forming of a growers’ association at a special mdSting held in Hastings recently, when the attendance was evidence of the interest displayed by those most affected. The meeting was convened by the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society as the result of certain aspects of the situation placed before them recently by Mr H. Woodyear-Smith, Government instructor in agriculture for Hawke’s Bay, and the members of that body are to be heartily congratulated on their enterprise in setting the ball rolling. The meeting realised that it was impossible to determine the position without placing before the seed growers of the district suggestions for the formation of .1 body of thoroughly qualified men, elected by the seed growers, to go fully into the various questions affecting the industry, such as: —

(1) Attractive displays at A. and P. societies’ shows throughout the Dominion or at any recognised gathering held for the benefit and education of- farmers generally. (2) Full publicity through the press in the form of good, sound, substantial articles, showing how essential it is to insist on procuring seed of recognised strain, type, and production. (3) Production costs, including all charges. The idea being to suggest practical means of reducing overhead expenses. (4) Working in close co-operation with research workers.

(5) Going thoroughly into the question of economic exploitation. (6) Keeping in close touch with every movement affecting seed production generally throughout the district. (7) Soliciting the interest and assistance of all concerned in the industry, such as merchant, mill-owners, etc. It was therefore resolved to call a general meeting of seed growers and all interested, in order to place before them the position, which appeared to have such a vital bearing upon the future prosperity of both district and individual. THIRD GRADE LAMBS. Delegates from the** Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheep Owners’ Union to the Meat Board electoral college were instructed to bring before the assembled delegates in Wellington the protest of the Poverty Bay stock owners against the Meat Board's embargo on the export of third-grade lambs. It was pointed out that a proportion of the Poverty Bay hill country will not fatten lambs to meet the second grade laid down by the board, and if the outlet is cut off, in regard to third-grade lamb, a serious handicap will be placed on stock breeders in this district. The further point was made that the whole industry would suffer indirectly, by the diminution of supplies'of Romney ewes, for which this district is a recognised breeding ground for New Zealand.

The question was raised by Mr J. C. Graham, who pointed out that the Meat Board had instructed its inspectors not to permit the export of lamb of a quality lower than the second grade. The board put forward the view that third-grade lamb, if placed on the London market, would tend to detract from the general reputation of New Zealand meat on the overseas market. Mr Graham contended that the same observation must apply to the export of old ewe mutton, a great deal of which was sent overseas from the districts where fat lambs could be turned off practically every acre depastured. The diffiulty with regard to the third grade lamb here was that a certain proportion of Romney wether lambs, about 9000 head last season, had to be disposed of somehow, and if they were to be barred from export, the farmers who bred them would have to carry them over as hoggets, with the result that ewe lambs would have to be sacrificed to spare the grass for the hoggets. The country could not have the fine supply of breeding Romney ewes now obtainable from Poverty Bay without giving some outlet for the disposal of Romney wether lambs. Mr Graham contended, and the Meat Board should be called on to remove the handicap placed on the breeders of this district. In the course of a discussion, Mr E. M. Monckton mentioned while visiting Smithfield three or four years ago he had seen some lambs from Scotland weighing about 171 b apiece, ‘'miserable little carcasses without a scrap of fat.” He had been told that there was quite a ready’ sale for these lambs, as some consumers would not buy meat with any fat on it at all.

Other speakers agreed that there was a market for New Zealand third-grade lamb in the Home country, especially in the manufacturing cities of the Midlands, where lean meat, and not fat, is required by the operatives. It was suggested that the attachment of a tag or other indication that the lambs were third class would remove any danger of injury to the reputation of the first and second grades, and indeed should serve to strengthen those grades. When it was pointed out that the prohibition of export applying to thirdgrade lamb had the full approval of the fat lamb breeders of other districts, especially in the South Island, Mr Graham claimed that it was from these districts that most of the old ewe mutton was exported; that old mutton, he claimed, was quite as likely to damage New Zealand’s reputation in the meat market —and even more likely—than the export of carcasses of under-weight lambs which were plainly marked with their grading.