OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 4085, 28 June 1932, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WOOL SALES. The following is the roster of wool sales in New Zealand for the 1932-33 season;— DECEMBER. 1932— - —Auckland, 9 a.m. 6 —Napier, 9 a.m. 10— AA’ellington, 9 a.m. 14—Clhristcliurch, 2 p.m. 16—-Timaru, 7 p.m. 20- —Dunedin, 2 p.m. JANUARY, 1933— 6—AVellington. 9 a.m. 11— Napier, 9 a.m. 16— Wanganui, 9 a.m. 20—Auckland, 9 a.m. 25—Christchurch, 2 p.m. 30 —Dunedin, 9 a.m. FEBRUARY, 1933— - —lnvercargill, 2 p.m. o—Timary, 8 aun. 10—AVellington, 2 p.m. 14—Napier, 2 p.m. 17 — Wanganui, 7 p.nr. 23—Christchurch, 9 a.m. 28 — Dunedin, 9 a.m. MARCH. 1933— 3—lnvercargill, 2 p.m. 9—Wellington, 2 p.m. 1-3 —Napier, 2 p.m. 17 —-Auckland, 9 a.m. 23 —Christchurch, 2 p.m. 27 —Dunedin, 9 a.m. 29— Tirnaru, 7.30 p.m. APRIL, 1933— <3—Wellington, 9 a.m. 6—Napier. 2 p.m. 10 —Wanganui. 8 a.m. THE WEEK. . _ Although but little rain fell in Otago during the week, the weather was wintry, v.ith snow on "the highlands, and comparatively few hours of sunshine. BURNSIDE MARKET. Fat stock continues to be freely yarded weekly at the Burnside Metropolitan Market, but consumption is limited, and the low* values are getting, not only monotonous, but are of a ruinous nature. With I beef of prime quality making around I 20s per 1001 b, butcher's wethers with i excellent skins making to 2|lb per lb, and fat lambs in the neighbourhood of 4ld per ll> little or no headway is being made by the farmers of Otago and Southland.

The offering of fat cattle on AA’ednesday comprised some two races of wellfinished average to heavy-weight bullocks, some few prime heifers, and a number of heavy cows and unfinished bullocks. The entry totalled 255 (171 last sale), and although at times values of prime cattle improved about 10s a head, on the run of the sale prices cannot with justice be said to be any better than at the previous sale, prime beef making up to 21s per 1001 b, and much good stuff considerably under this figure.

The fat sheep entry was made up for the most part of good old to prime young ewes, with pennings here and there of medium ewes, together with a small but ample sujTpl.y of open and elose-woolled wethers. The demand in places for wethers was about Is better than at the previous sale, but soon faded away, some pens being passed. Light sheep were cheaper. Butchers wethers made to 21d per lb.' A small yarding of fat lambs (some 160 in all. compared with 615 the previous week) elicited a good demand from butchers, who paid about 6d above last sale’s values. The quality was satisfactory, some heavy prime lambs being included. A’alues may be quoted as ranging from 41d to 4jxl per lb. The fat pig section was well supplied, 111 (70 last sale) moving off at par to 3 s under the previous week's values. Prime porkers sold well in comparison with plain -sorts. Small stores, totalling 57 (60 la-.t sale), made much the same mom-y as a week ago. Porkers of quality made to (>d and baeoners to -Ipi per lb.

A*»sma!l entry of store cattle of indifferent quality faced unresponsive buyers, but two good pens of fresh bullocks made £4 15s ami £6 3s per head. Other soils .-old at unchanged values. MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD. An advertisement appears in our advertising cidumns dealing with the election of two producers’ representatives on the New Zcahmd Meat Producers’ Board. The regulations under which the election is conducted provide that the various districts shall elect 25 delegates who w'ill constitute an Electoral Committee. This committee will .assemble in AA’ellington on August 31, 1932, to consider the board's annual report and balance sheet and to elect two producers' representatives on the board. In accordance with the provisions of the Meat Export Control Act, the members of the board who are to retire in August are' Messrs James Begg. Dunedin, ami T. A. Duncan. •Iluntei ville. These gentlemen offer themselves for re-election as producers' representatives on the board. BURNSIDE MARKET FLUCTUATIONS. In the first week in January in 1930 beef at the Burnside Metropolitan Market realised up to 48s per 19i)lb. and toncned its lowest value early in April at 36s per 1001 b, rising gradually until the last week in July, when 48s per 1001 b was secured, then declined to 40s to firm up to 50s per 1001 b in the first week of October, at which figure the price continued till the end of November, to fall rapidly to 39s per 1001 b at the end of December, The following year, 19.31, early in January, prices quickly receded from the opening rates of 40s to 26s per 1001 b in February, rising to 32s in March, and then declining to 27s in May, moving to 38s per 1001 b in July and with considerable fluctuations to the end of the year w-ent out late in December at 25s per 1001 b. The opening of the present year saw beef at 31s per 1001 b, gradually falling week by week, touching 20s at the end of February, to rise early in March to 325, falling away again weekly to early in April to 225, continuing at this figure till May, when 20, s was again touched, remaining round about that value to end of

June, when 21s per 1001 b was approximately the top price for prime beef. Tn January of 1930 fat lambs were selling at Bid per lb. in February at 8-jd. in March at 73d. in April 7LI, in Maj- 7d, in June and July 7-jd. Spring lambs in late September touched Is 6d per lb. falling through October, November, and December to Is, lOd, 8d respectively. In 1931 lamb opened in January at 6Jd. touching 5d in March, fairly steadj' to end of April, rising to 6d in May. running out around 5Jd to end of August. Spring lambs selling at end of September at not dissimilar prices to those of the previous year. In 1932 lamb was gold in January at sjd. continuing with but slight alteration to the end of Alay, but in June values ruled at 4Ad. In 1930 fat sheep opened in January at s|d per lb, easing to 5d early in February and continued with some slight variation to end of September, when sld was about the top price for full-wooiled wethers.

In 1931 4’,d per lb was being given for wethers, falling to .3d in February, and continued at this figure to end of June with but slight variation, when 3.1 d was touched, and then to 3Jd in Julj - and August to 4<l in September, and 4ld to 4Jd during the latter part of September and during October and November. In 1932 in Januarj- butchers' wethers were making 33d per lb. falling to 3d in Februaiy, and continued with but slight variation above and below this figure, mostl.v |d per lb under, running out throughput June to 23<l per lb. CHEESE-GRADING PRIZE. An alteration has been made to the placings in the cheese grading competition at the Port of Bluff for the Sir AVilliam Hunt prize, ‘the results of which were published in the Otago AVitness of June 14. The Oware Dairy Factory now takes third place with an average grade of 93.45 G, replacing Seaward Downs with an average grade of 93.507. CLYDESDALE INTERESTS. The New Zealand Royal Agricultural Show will be held next year at Invercargill. ” Tinies here are the worst possible and not improving.” writes a Canadian farmer and horse breeder. ” About the only bright spot seems to be that the depression is going to send farmers back to the horse and away from the gas machine, which no farmer can now drive and live. We keep a number of stallions, and apparently • they will do more business than for years. AA’e have had a veiw open winter, but jve are not to have an early spring.” Air James Clark, Windlaw, Carmunnock, has sold the three-year-old colt Glendower (21880) for export to Air Nathaniel Ramsey, Prospect Farm. Newbridge. A’ictoria, Australia (says the Scottish Farmer). Glendower was bred by Aliss E. Al. Reith. Kennerty. Petercidter. and was foaled in April, 1929. His sire was Agent (20609). a popular son of Dunurc Footprint (15203). His dam. Jewel of Petty (49592). was bj - the famous Alontrave Alac (9958); second dam. Flenders Bess (A’ol. XLIA’I. b.v Rarity (16767); third dam bj" Baron Kinloss (13993); fourth dam bj- Alontrave Sentinel (10094). At Glasgow Stallion Show he was fifth in a strong cihss, the only time shown. The Clydesdale stallion AA’oo<lbank Alaronis (21824), the propert.v of Air Allan Clark, AA’oodbank, Windygatdfc, Fifeshire, was killed, on the road near Cumbernauld Station recently bj r a heavy motor chassis, and the groom in charge, Mr William Stewart, was so severely injured that he died shortly after being admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Mr Stewart, who was 30 years of age, resided at Knightsbridge Bungalow, Dechmont. AVhen he was struck bj- the vehicle he was badly gashed about the head and rendered unconscious, and it was at once apparent that his injuries were very serious. The new motor chassis, which was being driven from

London, failed to negotiate the beml after crossing the railwaj' bridge, and it struck the stallion with great force, killing it outright. AA’oodbank Marquis was lured to the Slamanuan District Agricultural Society for this season, and to the Stockton District of Countv Dtirhaiii for 1933.

SHORTHORN FOR AUSTRALIA. Air Edward Smith, acting on behalf of Air E. Craig Tanner, F.yton of Severn, AA roxeter. Shewsbury, who had a commission to purchase ” the best Shorthorn bull available " for a client in .Australia, paid a visit last week to the herd of Mr A. J. Alarshall, Bridg.-bank, Stranraer (says th<- Scottish farmer).

There he purchased a roan two-vear-old bull in course of preparation fot this year’s Royal and Highland Shows, This was Cruggleton Author 24.3275. sired by the Royal and Highland Societj- champion, Bridgehank Vulcan, dam of the famous Augusta family, which at Bridgebunk has produced so many champions and high priced animals, and bj’ the thro ■ times Royal and Highland Society champion Bridgebank Paymaster, gr. dam by the 3300 guinea Balcairn Baronet, third dam by the famous 5000 guinea Gainford Ringleader, fourth dam b.v the homebred bull Fortunatus, and fifth dam bjDiamond Fancy, one of the good sons of Mr James Durno's Diamond Mine, followed. by such noted sires in succession as AA'averley, Cap-a-pie, Cetewayo and Lord of the Isles. Cruggleton Author is one of the host bulls the Stranraer herd has produced. Ills breeding is exceptional, combinin':, as it does, all the finest breeding bulls of their respective days, and he is certain to be one of the most impressive prepotent sires that ever left this cotiut ry.

Mr Alarshall was anxious to retain this bull until after the Royal and Highland Shows, but he has passed satisfactory tests to Air J. B. Manuel, and all arrangements for shipping have been made, and he has to go into the quarantine station, London, at once, COUNTRY STOCK SALES, BALCLUTHA. -At the fortnightly Pale the yarding comprised 524 fat sheep and about an equal number of stores. Prices were depressed, having sunk to still lower levels for fats particularly. Fat wethers sold at Us 3d to 12s; fat lanflxs, 9s 3d to 14s; fat ewes (butchers’), Ss to Ss 6d; freezing ewes, 4s Gd to ss. Tn the store* sheep section lambs ranged to 4s Gd, wethers 5s Gd. and ewes 2s to 4s. There was a small yarding of cattle. Store bullocks made £3 10s. two-year-old steers £2. and cows £1 12s 6d. A wellbred young Shorthorn bull made lO'gn.s. A small yarding of sucker pigs sold nn lei keen competition at 9s Gd to 18s 6d, DANISH FARMING. In its February' issue the Danish Foreign Office Journal states that the earning capacitj r of agriculture has suffered a hard blow, as is made clearl.v evident: in the communciations issued by the Bureau of Farm Management and Agricultural Economics, an institution that deals with the accounts of many Danish farm properties of various sizes and lying in different parts of the country. The average net return shown b.y the accounts handled by the bureau and expressed in percentage of the farm capital was as follows:— Per cent. 1916-17 to 1929-30 6.4 1929- 5.6 1930- 3 Under the conditions now prevailing it ma.v easily be quite negative this year, so that the farmer must abandon all thought of receiving paj- for his work, and may even have to make inroads upon any accumulated capital he may possess.

Naturally such conditions must bring many farmers into great difficulties in fact, have already done so—but as yet the machinery of production within Danish agriculture is untouched by the crisis. The fertilisation and capacity of production of the ground have been maintained, and the size and productivity of the cattle and pig stocks are as good as ever; hence, despite adversity and crisis, Danish agriculture still stands equipped to fill the place in the world’s housekeeping that it has captured by means of intensive labour and the application of practical and scientific experience. SHORT COURSES AT LINCOLN COLLEGE. A provisional syllabus for the 10-day course of lectures arranged at Lincoln College from Tuesday, June 28, to Saturday, July 8, for farmers and those interested in farming, has been drawn up. It embraces subjects of direct interest to the sheep farmer and to the man with the mixed farm, and includes instruction on breeding principles, sheep management, diseases, winter feeding and mineral requirements of stock, feeding ot dairy cows and horses, utilisation of pastures, top-dressing under Canterbury conditions, pasture establishment and improvement, questions relating to wool, farm accounting, farm implements, and use of manures. ... , A five-dav course for dairymen, from June 30 to July 5, has also been arranged. This consists of lectures on all phases ot dairy farming. Two days will be set aside for demontrations bv well-known judges on all breeds of live stock. Sheep on July 7 and cattle and horses on July 8. A new arrangement has been made whereby those attending the courses may reside at the college the whole time. Those who do not desire to do this may make use of the daily bus from Christchurch. The fee for the 10-day course is £3 3s, and where accommodation is provided the charge will be £5 ss. The fee for the dairy course is fl Is tor the lectures, and where accommodation is wanted. £2 2s.

JOTTINGS. Although not much rain has fallen in tlie weather continues cold and wintry. However, the province is well furnished with stock feed, and the mam trouble is the low range of stock tallies. Mr Charles Noone (Poolburn) on Wednesday sold an exceptionally well-finished line of vealers at the Burnside Metropolitan Market, the consignment of some l-i head realising from £2 7s 6d to £3 12s Cd. Mr Ronald Cameron, manager of the Otahuti Dairy Factory, has been appointed to the position of manager oi the Thornbury Dairy Company. there were 37 applicants. On a farm near Blenheim GO early lambs have already made their appearance. An abundance of grass and the favourable weather are combining to keep them in excellent condition. At the sale at Balclutha on Friday a line of fat wethers, which had cost the vendor 14s 9d two months ago, was sold for 10s 9d. In the interval they had eaten all his feed, and had to ue sold at a direct loss of 4s a head. •\ verv successful clearing sale was conducted ‘by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., on behalf of Maxwell Bros., at Stirling. The dairy cows were a good lot, and heifers sold at up to £6, and mature cows at from £5 to £ll Working horses brought £46, £4l ]os," and £3B, the lowest price being £l5 for an aged mare. Mr P. S. Macfarlane, an official inspector for the Australasian Corriedale Society, has examined (says an Australian exchange) and. branded 1038 Corriedales the property of Messrs L. F. Bennett, C R. Rawlins, D. C. Smith (New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Droniore Station), and Captain C. J. Chisholm. Twenty-four valuable stud rams belonging to Mr F. D. L. Young, of Winchester, strayed on to the railway line near Temuka last ‘Sunday week. Sixteen of them, valued at £2OO, were killed by an excursion train. A gate had been left open which allowed the sheep to wander on to the line. It is the second time recently that sheep bate been killed through straying on to the line.

Despairing of obtaining relief from the Government, delegates representing 120,000 Japanese farmers are in lokio planning a direct appeal to the Emperor, in accordance with the Constitution. They assert that the northern districts are poverty-stricken, and are facing starvation. The situation has already led to serious conflicts between landlords and tenants, some involving bloodshed. The freezing season in Canterbury is now in its dying stages. The Fairfield works have already closed, and the Kaiapoi works will close on Saturday, July 2. Mr H. C. Revell, secretary to the Canterbury Freezing Works Union, told a Sun reporter that all the works would be closed by the end of July. Less than a third of the hands employed at the peak of the season now remained in their jobs.

An Argentine newspaper refers to the state of sheepfarming in Patagonia and the low rates ruling there for fat sheep that have been bought for slaughter in that part of the world. The prices paid by the freezing companies this year are twopence per pound dressed weight for lambs, a penny per pound for wethers, and three farthings for ewes. The article referred to states that a sheep in Patagonia is worth lees than a fowl in Buenos Aires.

The Government of the Irish Free State has decided to place a bounty of 2d per pound or half the amount of the tariff on the export of butter from the Free State. The Bill was introduced in the Dail recently. The money for the scheme is to he provided by a levy on production. "The opinion is held,” says The Times, “that butter prices on the British markets will touch low levels this season, and that the need for help for Irish dairy farmers is urgent. The bounty may be taken as the answer of the Irish Free State to the attacks made in recent months by Australian and New Zealand blitter shippers on North of England markets, where Irish butter has long held

Still another trouble has come upon the settlers in the north-western section of Victoria. Having experienced a long series of drought years, with two or three moderate to good seasons sandwiched in, they are now menaced by a horde of rabbits. The grey marauders are attacking the young cereal crops in countless numbers, and fears have been expressed that, unless drastic and concerted measures are taken to combat them, they will cause incalculable damage. Recently it was announced that more than a million rabbits had been dispatched from the Mildura railway station during the past year. The latest reports indicate that, notwithstanding this devastation among them, the rodents now appear to be more numerous than they were before. A meeting of the Palmerston-Waihemo Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held in the County Chambers, Mr Wedge presiding over a good attendance of members. The secretary was instructed to write to the Borough Council thanking it for the use -of the unemployed men who were employed in making improvements to the show grounds. It was left in the hands of the Grounds Committee to apply for free labour to mend the fences around the ground. In order to prevent people from trespassing on the show grounds, it was decided to lock the gates. After tlie business had been disposed of Mr W. B. Galloway, as the oldest member of the club, presented Mr R. C. Walker with a wedding present in the form of a seagrass chair as a small token of the society’s appreciation for his services during the past two years.. Exterminating rabbits is just as reproductive a work as cutting scrub or draining swamps. The announcement that the Unemployment Board is taking steps to absorb labour in a war on rabbits is therefore welcome. For some years the control of the pest appeared to be reasonably' effective, but two factors have loosened the hold gained. Both are the product of declining price levels. The slump in the fur market has extinguished the profit motive in trapping and poisoning.

The fall in wool values lias deprived the pastoralist of means to continue his active campaign. On the other hand, the rabbit’s rate of reproduction is geometrical. If the Unemployment Board can re-apply’ some of the brakes on his increase removed by the depression, it will be making a valuable and practical contribution to a real problem and, at the same time, engage idl* men in necessary work. “It has been suggested to me as a rather startling fact,” said Mr Burnett, M.P. for Temuka, “that the farmers as a class have practically all registered their cars this year. May I point out that the arrears owing to all Government departments have now reached figures of startling and wellnigh appalling proportions. The question wrn should all ask ourselves is what sacrifice, we, one and all, can further make, in an endeavour to keep the Government functioning? ” Mr Burnett pointed out that the question he would ask fellow-farmers was: “Is it fair and honourable, if a man cannot meet his obligations, to continue running a pleasure car, not used for purely business purposes? Can the average farmer at the present time continue to run a motor car, keep a telephone, hold a wireless license, many of them run a motor truck, and generally maintain a farm outfit on similar lines to the prosperous times of five years ago?”