DISTRICT JOTTINGS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 11

DISTRICT JOTTINGS

P.B. Sheep to Hawke's Bay.

The return published on Tuesday as a result of a tally kept by Mr. N. Alackav, of To Allaire, .showing thu number of stock which passed over the Wairoa-Napier road in the direction of Hawko's Bay credits the Gisbornc district with sending 30,190 sheep in that direction. The figures were taken over 1- months ended March 31 last.. J i should bo pointed out that of this total very few were despatched this season. 'Last season large numbers, particularly wethers, were sent from Gisbornc to Hawko's Bay, unci many of these were on the road in April, and therefore, would be included in the above figures, a comparatively small percentage i of. which could be credited to this season's business. Gisbornc stock men consider that it may be overestimating the position to say that; 10,000 of the 30,190 quoted above went from Gisbornc this season.

Fat Stock Killings. ' Both, the Kaiti and Taruheru freezing works have, been kept busy.lately,, mainly with sheep, but some lambs also have come forward. The conditions recently have been more conducive to lamb fattening than they were during the greater part of the .season, but although some fat lambs are offering it is too late to expect a great number from now on. The last two weeks have been busy ones at the Kaiti works, and the killings were so heavy this week that some work had to be completed on Thursday, which day was earmarked as a holiday in that respect. After this week there should be a falling off in the killings. Practically the same position appears to rule at the Taruheru works, and the bookings were so heavy for this week that even as early as last week further bookings for this -week had to be refused. No change in the buying rates was announced during the week, but some buyers appear to anticipate a further reduction in the near future. The Stock Market.

There i.s a reluctance on the part of Poverty Bay stock owners to part with their sheep at present in view of the low values. There is plenty of feed in the country, thus making it possible to hold the stock for a longer period than is usually the case. The Matawhero sales have attracted but small yardings during the past few weeks at a time when the yards are expected to be well fdled. In addition, the stock which was diverted from.the South Island does not appear to have come on to the market locally, and they, too, have gone to swell the unusually large holdings of stock in the district. The freezing works have absorbed more fat stock this season than up to the same period last year, but the killings do not appear to be much above normal, although they are heavy at present. To experienced stockmen it is something like a mystery where all the sheep are being kept, for the number despatched to outside districts this year was smaller than usual. In addition to owners showing no anxiety to sell, they refuse to negotiate sales unless . they are offered attractive values by those who suggest buying in the paddock. Prices and Production.

The advice invariably given at times of low prices to increase production as an offset to poor values is applicable to the present position in Poverty Bay. Even at a reduction of 3d per lb. in the price of the March Imtterfat dairy farmers' total cheques just distributed were larger than for the corresponding period last year. A southern >papcr recently made the assertion that dairymen are milking their herds at a loss, but no such complaint has been made in Poverty Bay, for if they were making a profit last .season at Is 3d, they should be increasing their profit now at Is with production that is over 30 per cent, greater than it was a year ago. When the whole of the season's payments are averaged up, however, the farmers will notice a decline in their receipts, for not only will their final payments, or bonuses to use the more popular word, be smaller, but the lower advances for the major part of the season can hardly be offset by the larger production, for the increase for the season to date is comparatively small. It was only during the past two months that the increase in production was substantial enough for the extra bntterfat to make up the deficiency. However, the season .should not be as bad financially for the producer as the market reports would seem to make it. to be.