CANTERBURY BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 17

CANTERBURY BUDGET.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ADDINGTON MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH. December 12. Those in a position to hold a few extra sheep had another good opportunity of stocking up at reasonable prices in the store pens at Addington this week. There was a fair average offering of dry sheep, but with the limited demand for them the sale was a dull affair, and those who did want a few had things much their own way. Eveu with prospects as they are, few of the deals that were made carried much risk with them. A good fall of rain would make the sheep bought during the last three weeks extremely good buying. Most of the entry consisted of wethers, the bulk of them young station halfbreds that looked a little the worse for travel. There were also several pens of the big Romneys from the Chatham Islands, and they yarded up iu fairly good condition. Buyers were a good deal more interested in the sale of the Romneys than they were in that of the smaller sheep, and. as is usually the case, the former sold more freely. None of the halfbred lines was overburdened with condition, but most of them had something to start on. and in many cases they looked better buying than the biggerframed and more showy sheep. They were of the class that would develop into light freezing weights in good time, and return their owner his purchase money, with a little margin, more quickly than the Romneys, which would require to be held much longer. Many purchased at this time of the year are held until the autumn, by which time they have fattened into big weights. The best of the Romneys made 12s fid. There was only a small line of them, and they were well-grown fourtooths in forward condition. Up to 9s was paid for the halfbreds, this price being given for a truck-lot of four and eix-tooths. They' were sheep that would not require holding for a very long time. Another pen of similar sheep, most of them four-tooths, sold at 8s Bd. The hogget offering was confined to two lines of attractive three-quarterbreds that had come up from Invercargill. They were some of the nicest hoggets seen in the yards for many' weeks, and they’ attracted a lot of attention. The ewes, which were sold at 17s, were well-bred, well-grown sorts, and would make worthwhile flock sheep. The wethers made 14s 4d, a price that was a little on the dear side when compared with that paid for the ewes. Both lots were in the wool, and they carried good bright fleeces. Contrary to the usual experience, the schedule for fat lambs has shown no alteration during the week, and buyers have still been operating on a basis of sfd for the 3Glb lamb. As a rule the prices offered at the opening of the export season provide a fairly’ acceptable premium

to those who have drafts ready for the works, as the limits move back almost immediately after the first week. .Last Beason provided a case in point. At the first sale the price was 8d a lb, but the following week it had dropped back to 6Jd. No information is available as to how long the present figure will hold. Rumour has it that it may ease back a little next week. Buyers have been busy in the paddock during the last week,’ and their purchases have been fairly extensive. The result is that the works are going at big pressure; one of the big works has already got a board of nearly CO slaughtermen, and another has the same number, while most of the smaller works are fully manned. A big drop in the entry at Addington this week did not give the export men a chance of- taking much. It was a butchers’ market, and the trade took most of the 866 lambs penned at prices that were equal to 6d and in cases 6Jd a lb. This represented a rise of from 2s to 3s a head on last week. The best of the lambs made 24s 4d, this price being secured by Mrs C. Kevern (Eyreton) for four. Following the rather_ short entry' the previous week, and with fewer lambs than usual available, mutton prices remained very firm over a steady sale. In some cases the betterclass sheep were about Is a head dearer, but on.the average there was no quotable alteration. The offering totalled 4200 head, and most of it was taken by the butchers, the export buyers purchasing • only a few light sheep that suited their requirements and came within their limits. From the point of view of quality the entry was not as good as it has been lately'.. Up till now there have been some exceptionally even yardings. but the effect of the dry weather showed itself on Wednesday in the number of lightly-finished and hard looking sheep penned. Only one lot of sheep made over 20s. This was a pen out of a fine line of 60 sold on account of Mr F. Leonardo (Le Bon’s Bay). Six of them made 20s lOd, and the balance brought from 17s 4d. Not for many' months has there been such a disappointing showing in the fat cattle pens as there was this week. There was any amount of beef forward—in fact, -too much—but the bulk of it was such that it would have looked more at home in the store cattle pens. The shortage of feed was to blame. Out of the 350 head penned, there were not many' over 100 that could be described as prime, the rest showing the want of proper finishing. They had obviously been forced on to the market through the lack of feed. Butchers naturally were not particularly interested, and it was only the best of the beef that attracted their attention. The short supply of this caused a hardening in prices, and good beasts were anything from 10s to 20s a head better. There were not many, however, that shared in the improvement. There were a lot of cows and heifers that made round about £4 and £5, and sales of steers at £G and £7 were not uncommon. The highest price for steers was £ll 17s fid. POOR WHEAT CROPS. A striking indication of how the dry weather is affecting the wheat crops in North Otago and Canterbury' is supplied by first-hand estimates of yields that have been secured in the various main wheatgrowing areas. The forecast, which covers nearly 100 farms, shows a very’ serious reduction in yields. In many cases where the land is light, stock have been turned on to the crops, which no amount of rain could benefit now. Those on heavy land are a little better off, but they need rain very soon if the yield is to be any good. The following figures showing the yield in bushels to the acre, give a fairly good idea of how anxious things are for the growers.—

NORTH CANTERBURY. 1931. 1932. 1931. 1932.

In some districts the outlook is not nearly' so unfavourable, and there are crops that promise increased yields, as is indicated by' some of the following figures:—

ROYAL SHOW LOCATION. A movement to have the location of the Royal Show fixed alternately at Palmerston North and Christchurch has been started by the Manawatu A. and P. Association. and the proposal finds a good deal of favour. These two centres are the natural centres for a fixture like this, and it is considered that if the location were settled as suggested the show would tend to attract a bigger representation of the Dominion’s stock. Speaking to the writer about it, Mr M. E. Lyons, secretary to the Canterbury’ A. and P. Association, said that a large number of exhibitors would prefer an arrangement like this, and among members of the council of the Roy'al Agricultural Society’ there was a large body of opinion in favour of it.

Since its inception in 1924, the Royal Show has been held outside these two centres on only three occasions. In 1924 it was held at Palmerston North, in 1925 at Christchurch, in 1920 at Palmerston North, in 1927 at Christchurch, in 1928 at Auckland, in 1929 at Invercargill, in 1930 at Hawke’s Bay. and this vear at Christchurch. Next year it is to be held at Palmerston North.

Farm. Actual. Est. Farm. Actual. Est. 1 4G °9 6 24 20 *> 35 7 37 25 3 2 5 20 8 28 25 4 38 25 9 20J 19 5 32 20 10 30 24 JHDCANTERBURY. 1 50 30 6 32 25 48 33 7 o a 15 3 39 25 8 35 24 4 30 30 9 40 28 a 49 38 10 41 36 SOUTH CANTERBURY. 1 53 28 6 40 25 *» 57 30 7 48 40 o 42 8 40 28 4 77 40 9 46 25 5 35 15 10 5 i 30 NORTH OTAGO. 1 62 10 5 41 15 2 28 15 6 38 15 a 45 20 7 30 20 4 42 16

NORTH CANTERBURY. 1 20 25 6 o 30 2 481 30 7 37 25 3 20 30 8 29 O“ 4 36 36 9 27 30 5 30 20 10 oo 35