CURRENT NOTES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17181, 11 February 1930, Page 9

CURRENT NOTES

Sheep Values Store sheep values at the Matawhere salevards recently appear to have 'l>oon steadily declining. One of the reasons for this has been the inferior quality of the offerings as compared with those a short time ago. It is held, however, that a decrease in recent values is a natural corollary to the state of the wool market, although the comparative strength of the fat sheep and lamb markets no doubt has kept store sheep values on a good level up to the present. The Maize Crops Poverty Bay maize crops, which were very backward at the beginning of the season, are making a good recovery, and many appear to be almost as far forward as they usually are at this time. Some of the maize paddocks show every sign of the unfavorable early season, but such crops are the exception, and the general appearance of those on the flats near Gisborne makes a pleasant sight. Providing normal conditions are experienced until harvesting time, the maize crops should suffer little from the unfortunate opening to the season. Demand for Maize Although the South African shipment is to arrive in Auckland next month, the prices for Gisborne maize have kept up to a high level during the past few weeks, but there appears to be a sign of a weakening tendency in the market. Some lines of locallygrown grain changed hands during the past ifew days at (is per bushel, f.o.'b., while together with these lots some parcels bought forward for a smaller figure a short time ago are being shipped to Auckland. The Auckland merchants, however, do not appear to be as keen as they were a short time ago in giving orders for maize at the current price, according to information to hand to-day. Little Business in Cattle Despite the high prices being offered for beef at present, very few sales have been made in Poverty Bay either with immediate or forward delivery. A few figures were quoted last week in respect of yearlings and 21-year steers, for delivery in April, but there appears to be little business of this nature doing. One lot of 800 bullocks is at present on its way from this district to Hawke’s Bay, but. otherwise very few lines are changing hands at present. The high rates offered for beef have kept the values of stores also at a high level, but the fact that on most stations even more cattle than those available at present arc required is apparently influencing the owners to keep what they have, for the present, at any rate. Ewes for the South The tone of the market at Addington to-morrow will have a great deal , to do with future shipments of store sheep to the South Island. Last , week about 2500 2-th breeding ewes . were despatched from Gisborne to Lyttelton, and are to be offered at j Addington to-morrow. If they meet | tv.ith a good market it is anticipated ' hat fairly large consignments will ‘ follow last week’s lot, but if the prices are not satisfactory some other nitlet will have to be found for the * surplus ewes of Poverty Bay this season. The values received for the ! Poverty ißay ewes sold last week in 1 the Frnnkton salevards were esti- ' mated to be just sufficient to pay for ’ transport and selling charges. Most ’ ivf those despatched for the Waikato * this season from Poverty Bay, how- 1 ever, will not find their way into the salevards, but will proceed direct to 1 farms for which they were bought. 1 Grading Points for Cream The grading of cream received at ] dairy factories and payment according to quality doubtless has been rc- , sponsible for dairymen taking more ‘ .‘are in order to secure the maximum ( price for their butter-fat. It is claim- . 3d, however, that 'a still greater incen- j five could be given to farmers if . points were awarded according to the quality of the cream, instead of mere- . y grading the supplies as finest, first Trade, or 'second grade. The argu- 1 nont in favor of this is that someimes a cream is on the borderline jetween, sav, finest and first grade, uid that it is often given the benefit if the doubt and is graded finest. In 1 such a case the supplier is given no - neentive to improve his product, or ip may be perplexed if, next day, bis 1 ■ream is not given the benefit of the loubf and his docket is labelled only ‘first grade.” If points were award- | >d, n farmer in such a case would at ( nice see that his cream was just on the <. underline, and would take steps to j mpi'ovo the quality in case next day r i very slight difference would be suf- J. icieiit to have it graded first grade. ii other dairying districts a system of ] ;lading on points, which are made | mown to thi* suppliers, is adopted by ] iomo of tin 1 dairy companies, and it fj ms been suggested that in this dis- ] ;rict also the same method would be j ulvantageous. Che Butter Market Allhough the present, season open’d with bright market prospects, there ins been a minor slump in butter , /allies for the past few months, comiletely crushing the opening optimism ’or the best season for some time in he matter of prices. According to yesterday’s' news from London, liow■ver, the prospects arc better for the •emaimlcr of the English winter. If liis expectation is realised, the bulk if New Zealand manufacture should licet, a fairly favorable market. The (via Ora Go-operative Dairy C'o., at least, should suffer little from the dump, for according to information made available to-day by Mr. ,T. 11. Sunderland, secretary of the company, :> ll l y two small lots of Kin Ora butter have been sold since the prices readied their present level. Il was recently decided to dispose of 1000 boxes a week, and 'these lots were sold at 155 s (id and 154 s respectively. According to a table of approximate values based on London prices, prepared by the Dairy Produce Board, butter selling at 155 s in London should return the suppliers 15.79 d per lb. of butter-fat. Sales of Kia Ora butter earlier in the season, however, realised considerably more than this amount, and, if the remainder of the manufacture can meet a more favorable market, the financial results so far as the supplier is concerned should be fairly satisfactory, although, perhaps, not quite so good as last season.