SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 15

SOUTHLAND NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

BRIGHTER DAYS.

August 28. We are now at the end of August, the sun is getting up a little earlier every morning, householders are buying seed potatoes, and generally there is a tinge of spring in the air, at least there is at the time of writing, but it is hard to say what the next few days may bring forth. We have had a long, hard winter, with an over supply of both rain and cold weather, but it is surprising how much spring there is in tne grass already, and a few varm days will work wonders. In spite of the snowfalls, etc., winter feed Ins lasted well on the whole, and in many dirtricts there are turnips, enough to last for the next month at leass" If the ground has been too wet for ploughing it has been in great order for drain ploughing, and a big area of this work has been done this last two months. Many farmers , like to get their oats sown in August (if on lea land), but very little if any land has been fit to work for this purpose this year, and although conditions vary in different parts of the province, it does not appear likely that the total area of oats sown will be any larger than last, year. A few early lambs are to be seen in the paddocks, but our general lambing will not start for nearly a month yet, so there is plenty of time for the grass to get a good start before then. September will see the opening of the dairy factories for another season of toil for the cow farmer, who will certainly have to earn every shilling he makes, but he will have the doubtful consolation of knowing that nearly everybody is in the same boat. VERY LITTLE DEMAND. There appears to be little or no demand .for anything in the live stock line, either fats or stores. The yardings of fat cattle at Lorncville have been smaller than has been the case for years, but even this does not seem to have helped prices, and there is an idea that some growers are holding their supplies back, which may cause . bifrger yardings when turnip feeding is finished. Fat sheep are also barely holding their values, and in another month dry ewes will begin to come on the market in competition with wethers, so it is hot probable that any distinct rise will take place in the meantime. Dairy cows have been selling freely at clearing sales in different parts, and bringing really good money’ when the prospects for butter-fat arc considered, but there has not been the same quantity of cows sold this year as usual. A few odd pens of store sheep are selling at country sales, and the range of values is about on a par with those of a month ago. Farmers, who bought wethers in March at about 7s have been quitting them at a good profit, one or two lots showing a margin of 100 per cent, for five months’ feeding, which is good payable business. One class of live stock that has been in keen demand is young draught horses, which are readily placed, in fact the supply’ of good sound young mares and geldings is not equal to the de : mand. At district horse fairs up t0.£45 has been given for mares, and although this figure is not often reached at auction, any amount of private sales have been made at round about it.

A RIPPLE IN THE CALF POOL. An interesting situation has arisen in ' the bobby veal trade which has for some years been handled solely by the South Island Dairy Association. Messrs Borthwick and Sons, the well-known meat exporters, have come on the market, and are . buying straight out for cash direct from the farmer. It is understood that the Dairy Association have already sold the coming season’s veal and skins amounting to about 90,000 carcasses, and should Borthwicks secure a fair number of calves it will mean that the association will not be, able to fulfil their contracts. Should , v ' this happen and any claims have to be ' paid, the money’ will have to be found by the farmers who trade with the association. It is reported that the forward sale made will return about 3s 6d per calf to the growers after paying ex- ■ penses, and although many’ people have expressed their intention of sticking to the association, hard cash is a severe test on loyalty, and any amount of farmers will sell their calves where they can get the biggest price, especially if it is a definite cash sale with no fear of reclamation.

PASTEURISED MILK AND SHOW CHEESE. At the annual meeting of the Awarua Dairy Factory the manager (Mr T. King), in answer to a question, stated that the cheese with which he had taken second prize at the London Empire Dairy’ Show had been made from pasteurised milk, and he went on to sav further that all the cheese sent from New Zealand last season to compete at this show was made from milk which had been pasteurised. No doubt Mr King, as ■well as other managers who sent entries to this important event, was fairly particular as to the milk he chose to manufacture this exhibit, even if it was pasteurised, but it shows that those who blame this process for the bad name our cheese has made have rather exaggerated, the, effects. The chairman of the meeting, in his address, mentioned the subject and very rightly said that a better solution of our quality problem than abolishing the pasteurisers was to improve the milk so that they were not required. DAIRY FACTORY MEETINGS. Many of the Southland factories have been holding their annual meetings of suppliers during the past fortnight, and, although the attendances have been large in most cases, very little argument has taken place and nearly everywhere the retiring directors have been re-elected unopposed. Whether this state of affairs is due to new men being unwilling to take on what is a most thankless job or whether it shows that the suppliers are well satisfied with those in charge is hard to say. In some places a few of the suppliers who always know more than the directors (or who think they do) have been making loud pronrses of what they were going to do at the annual meetings, but •when the night arrives these wiseacres seem to be attacked with stage

fright and those who attend the meeting to hear some plain talk are disappointed. The chairmen at these gatherings have not as a rule painted the future prospects with bright colours, and suppliers to-day are prepared to accept the market value with the best face they can. The new Government regulations compelling factories to maintain a temperature of not less than 55deg in the curing rooms will mean that many factories will have to install steam pipes for heating, but if this results in better cheese it will be money -well spent.

THE SOUTHLAND FARMERS’ CO-OP.

The annual balance sheet of this concern, which has just been published, shows that the depression has had a marked effect on its earnings. In round figures the gross revenue amounts to £21,000 and the expenses to £lB,OOO, leaving a net profit of a shade over £3ooo—- — a high figure on a capital of £200,000. During the , year the association has made economies in several directions, but the figures show that it will have to make more, and not be too squeamish in doing so. The balance sheet states that the association is holding over £30,000 of depositor’s money at call, in addition to £40.000 on fixed deposit; and the former item is rather a ticklish one in these times, especially as the bank overdraft is shown at £60,000, a figure which will increase from now until the revenue from the farms starts to come in. The association numbers among its clients and depositors many of, the best and most financial farmers in the province, and the service it gives to its customers is tip-top, its w’hole crew from the chairman of directors (Mr Adam Hamilton, M.P.) down being men who have the confidence of the farming community. However, it has not escaped the slump, and could not be expected to do so, and it will have to trim its craft to the bare poles to keep off the rocks that threaten almost every business to-day’.

SMALL CHEESE SALES. A fortnight ago Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. bought the September-Octo-ber outputs from the Hokonui, Otara, Toi Tois, and Grove Bush factories -at 6d per lb f.0.b., but as these are all small concerns the total purchase will only be about 30 tons. The political situation in England, with the possibility of tariffs and the uncertainty of the exchange position, has caused buyers to suspend business in the meantime as regards straight-out f.o.b. offers. When the air clears and buyers are on the market again there will be plenty of factories ready to sell for the whole season at 6d, if this figure is obtainable, as with reduced costs this price will enable a better payout than that of the year just closed. Of course, there are some directorates of factories on which the strong men are and always have been advocates for consigning no matter what price was going, and these men are able to carry their fellow-directors with them, sometimes to the supplier’s advantage and sometime not. There are several factories in Southland where about two directors do the business and the other seven agree with whatever is done.