FARMING IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1924, Page 16

FARMING IN ENGLAND.

DOMINION COMPARISONS. VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. PROSPECTS FOR. PRODUCE. “The prospects in England as far as New Zealand produce is concerned are excellent. Before I left England a rise in the price of wool was confidently anticipated. New Zealand frozen mutjton, especially lamb, is in great demand, and, provided small and prime carcases are sent, the demand will be unlimited.” Such was the cheery pronouncement of Mr. J. B. Reid, formerly of Eldersiie, Oamaru, on his arrival by the Rotorua after several years’ experience of farming in England. “One hears a good deal of talk,” said Mt. Reid, “about New .Zealand meat being sold a« English. This is all nonsense, as if such a taring were done it would mean that the purchaser would have to pay a higher price for it.” He mentioned that Argentine beef arrived in England in splendid condition and was very cheap. When the weather became warm a demand for prime lamb at once set in in 'England, and the demand for mutton also increased. Mr. Reid expressed the opinion that it was a pity that New Zealand farmers fattened so many lambs on rape. It was advisable, he considered, to have as many as possible frozen at weaning time.

Dairy-farming in England was a long way behind New Zealand, and could be enormously increased by adopting Dominion methods, said Mr. Reid. Questioned as to the financial position in Britain, Mr. Reid said that there was plenty of money available for investment, but, of course, any revival in trade would have the effect of at once hardening the money market. “New Zealand,” he declared, “stands higher than any other Dominion in the eyes of the English public. The people of Great Britain are anxious that the resolutions passed at the Prime Ministers’ Conference in London should be adopted. Some form of protection must come in the Old Country, and one hears on all sides the view expressed that the resolutions passed at the Economic Conference should be given effect' to. I do not find farming in England any more difficult than it is here,” he said, “except that there is no organisation for the marketing of produce, and we get actually less for our butter, eggs, and milk than do the farmers in New Zealand. Railway rates in England are excessive, and there is no method of collecting cream such as prevails in the Dominion. lam alluding to my own county, Cambridgeshire, which is a wonderful grass county.” ‘Mr. Reid explained that he had a farm of 420 acres near Newmarket. He had used solelj r New Zealand seeds, and had met with wonderful success, so much so that he believed that a great trade in ryegrass and cocksfoot would yet be done by *\ew Zealand with England. A great believer in the Suffolk punch breed of working horses in heavy land. Mr. Reid considers them just the class wanted in New Zealand. “They are active, strong, fast, and easily kept.” he declared, enthusiastically, “and never get greasy heels, which is a great thing. I started in England with the Shire breed, but found that they were subject to greasy heels, and I changed over to the Suffolk punch. I .should very much like to see someone start a stud of this breed out here. At present high-class four-year-old fillies to highclass stallions can be purchased for £lOO each.

“The Red Polled cattle are in great demand at Home,” Mr. Reid continued, “and are found to be the equal of any other breed for dual purposes. The same can be said of milking Shorthorns, which have reached a very high state of perfection.”