OUT AND ABOUT

Southland Times, Issue 23047, 14 November 1936, Page 14

OUT AND ABOUT

Live Stock Embargo Question SEASON PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY There has been much publicity recently on the facts of the embargo on direct importation to New Zealand of livestock from Great Britain, and this and the previous Government have been accused of being afraid to face the issue because of the risk of political unpopularity. The Minister of Agriculture has issued the customary official statement, that “the Government will take the necessary steps to have an investigation made.” There has been plenty of investigation, and opinion seems unanimous now that there is no danger of disease being brought into the Dominion provided the quarantine regulations are strictly observed. Stock is brought in after stopping awhile in Canada or Australia, so that, if the experts are satisfied, there would appear to be no earthly reason why direct entry should be prohibited any longer. Certainly Mr Nash may have some awkward questions put to him when he pleads for the continued free entry of New Zealand’s meat to the United Kingdom. Stubbornness can be carried to excess. New Zealand cannot expect to have it every way, and it would seem that action by the Government, in the near future—and by “action” is not meant “the necessary steps to have an investigation made”—would not be untimely.

In 1933, when wool values were particularly high, New Zealand’s cheque for the season was £10,500,000. Last year it was a little over the £10,000,900 mark, and there is every possibility that this season it will climb back to the level of three years ago. The season opens this month, and there is everything to suggest an advance in values. The statistical position is strong and in view of the world-wide demand for crossbred wools, New Zealand should receive more than usual attention from buying countries. The consumption of crossbred types has increased considerably recently, and the Dominion’s clip is dominated by crossbreds and strong wool breeds. Bradford advices indicate that British interests will require more than the 150,991,0001 b of New Zealand crossbred wools that they took last year. Wool growers have reason to be optimistic.

A few more complaints of losses in. lambs due to pulpy kidney and wool ball have been heard lately and, as usual, the finest lambs seem to have been the victims. Mortality in Southland from this source does not seem to be any heavier than usual this season and probably the rate is not as high as it has been in some years. It has come to be a recurring loss in a lot of cases, though, and there is no doubt that a fortune awaits the man who can find an adequate and inexpensive cure.

After the setback caused by the unsettled weather of a week or two ago, the season is progressing smoothly. It has been a good season for grass pastures and dairy men are pleased with the production of their herds. It is estimated that the intake at factories is from 10 to 15 per cent greater than it was last season, which, of course, was a bad one. Most farmers are busy at present either sowing turnips or making preparations for this work, and a good deal of chou mollier is also being put in. The high prices ruling for ewes and lambs and for ewe hoggets have made many farmers afraid to stock up. They consider that values are too high and those who have land suitable for dairying prefer to buy additional cows to keep feed in check. The result is that dairy cows at a moderate price are easily disposed at present.

Fat sheep advanced sharply in value at Lorneville this week, but beef prices slumped just as sharply. The sheep entry was a small one and the quality was not much above the average, but the sale opened firmly and prices advanced by 1/6 a head throughout the sale. Good quality woolly wethers made from 33/- to 35/9, medium quality from 30/- to 31/6, prime heavy shorn wethers up to 28/6, good quality from 26/6 to 27/6, medium 25/- to 26/-, and unfinished from 22/- to 23/-. Prime young woolly ewes made up to 33/6, prime heavyweights from 28/6 to 30/6, good quality from 26/- to 27/-, medium from 23/6 to 24/6, and unfinished down to 20/-. Prime quality young shorn ewes brought up to 23/- prime heavyweights from 19/- to 21/-, and medium

quality from 17/- to 18/-. A few fat lambs of good quality were entered, the best of them making from 27/6 to 28/6, good quality from 25/- to 26/- and medium from 23/- to 24/-,

The beef entry, which was bigger than that of last week’s sale, included a good proportion of cattle of attractive quality. There was not a big ring of buyers, though, and values dropped 30/- a head. Prime heavyweight bullocks brought up to £l4 5/-, prime quality from £ll 10/- to £l2 10/-, good quality from £lO 5/- to £ll, and lighter weights from £8 15/- to £9 10/-. Extra prime heavy cows sold at up to £lO 7/6, prime quality from £8 10/— to £9 5/-, good quality from £7 5/- to £B, medium from £6 to £6 15/— and unfinished from £3 5/- to £4. Primes quality heifers brought from £8 10/- to £9 10/-, good qoolity from £7 5/- to £B, lighter weights from £6 to £6 15/-, and small and unfinished from £4 15/- to £5 10/-.

The store cattle yarding was not as big as it had been for the previous week or two. Empty cows made up most of it and values for them ranged from £3 5/- to £3 16/- with poorer sorts down to £llO/-. A pen of empty heifers made £4 5/- and a small line of two and three-year-old steers sold’ at £5 16/-. Two-year old steers brought £4 1/- and £4 7/-, and mixed sex yearlings sold at from £2 8/- to £2 18/-. Good dairy cows were wanted and sold at from £4 15/- to £6 2/6. There was very little in the store sheep at from £4 15/- to £6 2/6. There was very little in the store sheep section, and lines of ewes and lambs brought 12/10, 15/2, 15/4 and 16/-.