South Taranaki News

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1926, Page 2

South Taranaki News

(From Our Own Reporter.)

Telephone No. 596.

P.O. Box 133.

THE DAIRYING SEASON PRICES AND PRODUCTION. BRIGHTER PROSPECTS PREVAIL The recovery of the Home market during the last fortnight has placed an entirely dinerent complexion on the dairy season’s outlook. The good news has come as a very welcome surprise to dairymen and should materially affect Christmas trade, so that all classes of business should be stimulated as a result. Last Friday the market quotations for butter and cheese were: Butter, fineslt L6s; first grade 174 s: stored 16-Ib to 170 s acording to quality. There was reported to be less demand at the advanced prices. The ruling prices for cheese were: Finest 965, and first grade 955, the market being reported as steady. The importance of these recent advances in prices is realised when it is remembered that only a month ago the quotations for butter were 148 s to 150 s for new season’s, and 142 s to 146 s for stored butter, while cheese was from 956 to 80s. According to advice from a South Taranaki expert in dairy circles, the market has been stimulated with Mie possibility of a drought in Australia and of short suplies from this source, and in addition, Continental and American inquiry for butter. To-day’s market quotations will pay out to dairy farmers approximately Is--6d per lib butter-fat for cream supply, and about Is 7d per lb for milk supply. These figures show that if the market can be maintained the prospects for the season are much brighter than was considered possible a month ago.

The test will, no doubt, come after Christmas. There will be heavy arrivals of New Zealand produce on the Home markets during the month of January, February and March, and if the market can stand these large quantities without any material break in price the prospects for a good season would seem to be assured. Considerable sales of New Zealand butter to Australia are reported, and this situation is helping the New Zealand producers considerably. Good rains in Australia would, however, quickly stimulate production there. INCREASE IN PRODUCTION. The increase in production, in South Taranaki, reported for the months of August, September and October has been maintained for November, contrary to general expectation. It was thought that the heavy rainfall during November would militate against good milk returns for that month, but on the contrary factories throughout the district report an increase in production as compared with November, 1925, the common increase being about It) per «<it. The Hawera Dairy Company reports an increase in butter-fat production for the season to the end of November equal to 9.9 per cent., and 10 per cent, for November, as compared with the 1925 figures. In the case of Normanby for the month of November an increase of 4.6 per cent is shown in the milk supply and 8.2 per cent, in butter-fat. The increase for the season to the end of November was 7.5 per cent, in the milk suply and 9.4 in butter-fat. The manager of the Normanby company (Mr. A. J. Hopcroft) told a News representative yesterday that this very creditable increase in the butter-fat returns was due to the systematic culling of the herds and to the growing of good pasture for fodder. The test had crept up, from 3.5 some time ago to over 4 per cent, at the present time. This reflected great credit on the suppliers for doing, their part in supplying the highest grade article. The Kaupokonui company had a 12 per cent, increase for October, and this has been well maintained, the returns for November showing an increase of 10 per cent, over the same month of last year. AWATUNA 25 PER CENT. INCREASE. For October the Awatuna company was weh ahead of other South Taranaki companies with an increase of 30 per cent, in’the milk supply as compared with October, 1925, and for the season to the end of October an increase of 19 per cent, was shown. Advice received yesterday is to the effect that the increase in the milk supply for November is 25 per cent., and the increase for the present season to the end of November has improved from 19 per eent., as was the ease at the end of October to 21 per cent. It was considered -at least a possibility that the November figures might not maintain the increase of 10 per cent, shown by the majority of dairy companies for the earlier months,’but the fact that November has maintained this increase is evidence of the helpful rainfall and mild weather experienced. This is always a telling factor at this time of the year. In most cases the increase in the market quotations came too late to affect the pay-out on December 20 for November’s supply and the Dairy Control Board’s increased advances apply only to produce graded on and after December 4, which, of course, means the December make. The enhanced prices, however, if maintained, will undoubtedly reflect on the January pay-out.

SCUFFLE IN HIGH STREET. DISPUTANTS COME TO BLOWS. An argument in High Street on Monday afternoon led to the participants coming to blows, but they were interrupted in their method of settling their argument by Constable Lemm interposing and conducting them to the police station. As an outcome of the incident, the two disturbers of the peace, Harry Malcolm, of Hawera, and George Turnbull, of Patea, appeared before Mr. Blake, J.P., at the Hawera Court yesterday morning. Turnbull was fined £2, in default seven days’ imprisonment, and Malcolm was fined £1 for fighting in a public place. Sergeant Henry prosecuted and both de- , fendants pleaded guilty,

Sergeant Henry said that on Monday afternoon Constable Lemm saw the defendants in High Street arguing the point in connection with the recent dispute at the Patea Freezing Works, where Malcolm had been employed as one of the volunteer labourers. On one occasion the constable warned the two disputants and about twenty minutes later he noticed them both in a fighting attitude and one had his coat off. Turnbull had been before the Court on several previous occasions, and the sergeant read a formidable list of previous convictions. He also had several aliases. The police had nothing against Malcolm, who was a decently conducted young man. “This sort of conduct cannot be toler ated in the streets,”! said the sergeant. “If they wished to air their differences there is a proper place for it.” “I am rather pleased both defendants pleaded guilty,” said Mr. Blake in imposing the fines. Turnbull said he had no money and had a mother in Gisborne to provide for. Malcolm had chased him about the town and he had twice complained to the police about Malcolm molesting him. He had not started the trouble. Sergeant Henry said the police would give the defendant every assistance to secure the amount of the fine, but he opposed giving the defendant time in which to pay. The defendant said he was a stranger in the district and did not know anyone who would advance him the monev. In view of these circumstances the justice said he had no option but to impose seven days’ imprisonment in default of the payment of the fine. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES.

The installation of the automatic telephone system in Hawera is proceeding satisfactorily and the apparatus in the exchange is now practically completed. The district engineer at Wanganui, Mr. R. W. Lye, who is at preesnt in Hawera, staffed yesterday that the change over would probably take place towards the middle of January. During the last fortnight nine gangs of linesmen have been installing the new telephones in subscribers’ premises, and during that time about 800 ’phones have been put in. There still remain about CO to instal and these are expected to come to hand towards the end of the month. Mr. Lye said the installation of the automatic system in Stratford was well in hand, and it was hoped that the change over would take place there before March next. PRIMARY SCHOOLS SPORTS. The South Taranaki primary school sports contests for the Dixon Banner and the Bennett and Sutton Cup competition will be held at the A. and P. 'grounds, Hawera, to-day, commencing at 11 a.m. Twenty-three schools’ teams will compete, comprising some 230 boys and 150 girls. As nearly all these will take part in several events, the total entries work out at over 1000. The fields are very big, some events having as many as five heats, twelve competitors in each heat. The Dixon Banner is at present held by the Okaiawa School, and the Bennett and Sutton Cup by the Mokoia School. Both these institutions have entered strong teams in an effort to retain the trophies. The opposition to last year’s winners promisee to be strong. In addition to the banner and the cup, trophies are to be given to the boys and the girls scoring most points in the senior and junior championship events. Senior championships are for pupils 12 years of age and up to 15, and the junior events for those under 12.

Both boys’ championships include 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, high and long jumps, hop, step and jump, ami relay race. In addition, the seniors have a half-mile and a hurdle race. The girls’ scratch events, senior and junior, are comprised of 75 yards, 100 yards, and 120 yards race, with the addition or a 440 yards relay race for the younger sections. The proceedings will open with ths assembly at the Winter Show Building, at 10.30 a.m. of all competitors, who will form a procession and proceed to the showgrounds, headed by the Hawera school drum and fife band.