OUR FARM PRODUCTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 232, 22 September 1914, Page 4

OUR FARM PRODUCTS.

Prospects of Sale.

An Interesting Statement.

A very interesting and important statement summarising the position of the primary producers in the event of there being insufficient ships to carry produce to England, was made on Tuesday by Mr A. Schiuitt, secretary of the Auckland Farmers' Union.

" So long as there are ships to carry J4ew Zealand produce to Europe,'' s.iid Mr Schmitt, "we may regard the forthcoming season as one of the most profitable New Zealand has ever known. But there is some uncertainty as to whether there will be freights available after October, and the longer this uncertainty exists the woise will bo the effect upon business. Merchants do not report, as yet, that the export trade is otherwise than satisfactory, but there is a certain amount of uneasiness, whieh will become more pronounced as all the available ships and storeroom are booked up. "Buyers cannot, at present, draw upon their letters of credit, and advances cannot be obtained upon produce from the banks unless ship ment is certain. There is no disturbance of financial conditions at present, because there are ships in sight for all the produce offering ; but, as soon as freights are not available, sellers will not be liable |to get advances, and, where they cannot afford to wait indefinitely on their money, they will suffer incin j venience accordingly. As soon as ' the limit of the capacity of our cool | stores is reached, the freezing works ! must stop freezing, and the dairy factories must stop producing. " Personally, I think that if such a position is likHy to arise the freezing works should reduce operations ijuickly. Stock need not be lost, and can be fattened again, but it is much more difficult to alter the output of dairy factories. Cows must be milked, whether there are ships to carry produce or not. "We have every confidence in the Government. The Government evidently lealises the seriousness of tho position and the necessity of allaying anxiety by giving producers and exporters an assurance that chips will be available when the rush season of the dairying industry—November and Decemberlias commenced. But we cannot too strongly emphasise the real seriousness of the position, anil the need for tho Government to protect our export trade by prompt and comprehensive action.

'•At present, farming activities are going on just as usual, and they will continue to do so as long as sales can be made. But as soon as there is any uncertainty as to delivery, and buyers will not take a risk, there will be a severe handicap put upon farmers, and the country must begin to feel tho pinch. "It has been suggested that the -U German boats captured in Australian ports, should have been utilised as transports, leaving the ships which have now been fitted as transports, and which have refrigerating chambers, free for their ordinary work as carriers of produce. Certainly, the taking over of our produce-carriers should havo been adopted only as a last resort. With plenty of fhips, there need be no anxiety about the effect of tho war on this country ; without an adequate shipping service, we will suffer more or less severely. The sooner the Government can allay anxiety on this score the better. Under present conditions it is impossible to make forward contracts, beyond October, for dairyproduce or frozen meat " Trade generally is very good. Farmers are showing no hesitation in buying seed, manures, grain and other farm requirements. There is not, however, tho same tendency to buy new machinery and things of that kind when the old articles may be made to do in the meantime ; and there is certainly a marked restriction in tho purchase of luxuries, such as drapeiy, little niceties iu groceiies and things of that kind."

PRICES OF HEAT. " 1 do imt see any immediate I prospect of u decrease m the retail jiii< 03 of meat in New Zealand," said a leading Auckland auctioneer when interviewed. " The war has created an exceptional demand for fro/en meat in London. New Xt aland buyers, huying to meet that demand, have met the New Xoaland butchers in competition in tho stock markets, and the price of cattle has gone up by'Js or :>s per UlOlb. So long as ships are available, the buyers will continue these operations. It is bad for the New Zealand consumer, but very good for the producer, and the ultimate economic result will be to the great advantage of New Zealand. " At present there appears to be a sufficient number of .'•hips to carry away the meat, but the prospects of securing freights after October are not favourable. As soon as even it appears that there aie not sullicient snips available, and the stores are becoming full, the operations of buyers will be restricted. "In Auckland, the supply of stock otiering is not sutticient to meet tlio demand. The fattening of stock by the farmers is based entirely on a normal demand : if such an unexpected abnormal demand as this were to be fully satistied, the stock producers would have to have many months' notice of it. This abnormal demand win continue during the currency of the war, and stock-pro-ducers everywhere, of course, are now making preparations to take I advantage of it. " I am very hopeful that our ininsistent demand for freights will be ; provided for and this country will reap the benetit of the very high i prices now ruling for produce."