NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

JOTTINGS FOR FABMEBS,

Tho president of tbo South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr E.G. Turner) in bis annual address to the members at Timaru last night, referred to- the high price® for lamb and muttoa which had ruled from the beginning of the season. The temptation to farmers to sell everything that they could fatten owing to the high prices obtaining was, no thought, a menace to the future of our flocke, inuiinueh as the ewe lambs in many cases wero shipped away. He drew the attention of all farmers to tho danger of this custom which, if continued, must bring about a serious depreciation in tho quality of both our wool and mutton. Tho present outlook, however, was bright, and there was every indication that prices for wool, mutton and lamb would remain at their present high level for some time to come.

In his address to tlio South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night, Mr R. G. Turner (president) said that during the autumn of 1913 a much larger number of ewes wero for Sropding both in Ashburton and South Canterbury districts than in the previous year, the increase having been mostly* imported from the North Island. It was, therefore, oxpected that the record point in esport would be touched at the port of Timaru duriug this season, but owing to the very unfavourable fattening season this had not been realised. The early part of the season was very wet, and induced riiet in tho grass, at th'c same- time preventing farmers from getting their land ready for turnips. Continued vret resulted in the turnip crop being a partial failure, with the result that they had not been able to fatten off nearly such a largo proportion as was anticipated The exports ho expected would fall considerably short of the past fenyears, and more store sheep would bo carried over to next season than had been the case in recent years.