C.—l

14

individual cheques should be larger than they were for March, 1929. Last year the advance payment for March was at the rate of Is. 3d. per pound, but the increase in manufacture for March this year was greater by 37 per cent. Thus, it would take a payment of considerably less than Is. to bring suppliers' cheques for March below the totals for the corresponding month last year. The comparison between autumn production of last year and this year shows an increase of 25 per cent., but, taken over the whole season, the increased production will be about 10 per cent. Stock : Stock generally are in better condition than in previous years. Sheep : Prices as compared with last season, including fats, show a decrease of approximately 3s. Bd., per head. Cattle : Fat-stock prices for the summer months were good —up to 375. 6d. per hundred being offered. Prices then receded to 315., and at the present time there is no price offering for beef. The difference in store values as compared with last season on grown cattle is approximately 30s. down, and 255. lower on young cattle. The outlook as far as feed is concerned for the winter is excellent, and sheep and lambs are continuing to improve in condition. Cattle generally are in good order, and there is plenty of rough feed. Wool: The price of wool sold at Napier sales this year showed a marked decrease as compared with last season. The average price worked out at 9-76 d. per pound, as against 14-82 d. per pound last year. Crops : The maize crops so far are very promising, and there appears every prospect that the return, taken generally, will be one of the best for many years. Wairoa District. —This district had good rains throughout the season, with consequent abundance of feed. East Coast District —Dairying : The settlers on the coast have also experienced a particularly good season as far as production is concerned. Bay of Plenty. —The season in the Bay of Plenty district, so far as climatic conditions are concerned, was good, and stock wintered well. The lambing percentage was well up to the average, but, owing to the wet weather experienced during the late spring and throughout the summer, lambs have not done as well as usual. The wet weather also prevented sheep-farmers from shearing early, with the result that they missed the early sales at which the prices realized were better than at later sales. Lands opened for Selection. —Altogether a total area of 6,359 acres was offered for sale or selection under the ordinary provisions of the Land Act, 1924, and the Education Reserves Act, 1928, comprising for the main part hilly sheep country, partly cleared and grassed, and partly bush. Judging by the number of applications received, the apparent lack of demand for land in this district still continues, partly on account of the quality of land offered and partly owing to the very unsettled conditions in the. wool markets. HAWKE'S BAY. (J. D. Thomson, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) So far as climatic conditions affect all branches of our great primary industry, the past season must be regarded as having been distinctly favourable. Given a good autumn growth of feed, all stock were in prime condition to endure the hardship of the winter, while the orchardist and agricultural farmers were given the most favourable weather conditions for their field work. An absence of seasonable rains in the early spring followed by a spell of cold wet weather —while not distressing the orchardist, and but slightly affecting the dairy-farmer—produced a flush of feed that seriously affected the sheep-farmer, resulting in heavy losses in hoggets. It was also a disturbing factor in the fattening of lambs for the freezing-works, the total number of lambs slaughtered at the works to the end of December being 71,000 less than for the same period last season. Orchards. —Favoured with heavy crops, reasonable prices, and a wonderful stretch of fine weather for the harvesting of fruit, no severe late frosts, and a total absence of the disastrous hailstorms which have at times in the past destroyed the prospects for the season, the orchardists have every reason to anticipate a highly satisfactory return for their arduous labours. The estimated output of apples and pears for the season is 250,000 cases —an increase of nearly 100,000 over the former season — which, at a moderate rate, means a net return of £50,000 to the orchardists. When the high-producing power of the rich lands of the Hcretaunga Plains and other favoured portions of Hawke's Bay — averaging 600 bushels per acre over the whole district —is more fully recognized, it may confidently be predicted that this district will become the largest fruitgrowing centre in New Zealand. The industry to-day is well and thoroughly organized, and cultivation, spraying, and all branches of orchard-work are carried out on good, modern, up-to-date lines. Dairying. —The season on the whole was very satisfactory. The dairy herds came through the winter in good condition for the exhaustive milking-period, and a flush of feed was maintained practically throughout the season, while the prices for butterfat to the 31st December were good. The subsequent drop in prices was more than counter-balanced by the excess of butterfat over former seasons. In order to reach higher returns over the whole district, several essentials to attain this most desirable end must be attended to, such as closer subdivisions, the planting of extensive shellerbelts, storing of surplus feed by means of silos, severe culling, and herd-testing. The past season has been noteworthy for the marked increase in an improved water-supply on a large number of the