WHEAT-GROWING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18899, 14 January 1927, Page 10

WHEAT-GROWING.

REASONABLE PROTECTION. HON. MR HAWKEN'S STATEMENT Mr David Jones telegraphed to the Hon. Mr Hawken on Wednesday regarding the Ashburton wheat conference as follows : "Mr Carpenter's report to Farmers' Union in committee to-day on Ashburton wheat conference with you differs from report of other members. His impression is that you indicated that in your opinion all wheat should be I grown in the Dominion unless the price was a hardship on Dominion people and that you wanted the wheat grown here and the money kept in the Dominion. What is your interpretation?" The Hon. Mr Hawken has replied as follows: ''ln reply to your telegram respecting wheat I regret I have been away for a few days and thus unable to attend to matter before. A wrong impression has been made public as to my attitude at the meeting at Ashburton last month. I emphasised the opinion that all our wheat should be grown in the Dominion as long as the protection needed was reasonable and did not impose a hardship on the people. The Government were anxious to keep the money in the country and employ/all the labour possible. We could not alter the duties, as that is a matter for Parliament, but I strongly urged the deputation to make out a prima facie case for a dumping duty and place it before the Minister for Customs. One of the deputation wanted a £5 duty on flour, and I used ''essential' in the sense _ that wheatgrowing was not essential if we had to pay an excessive price to have it grown in New Zealand. The fowl wheat position is, I think, satisfactory, and the importations are being kept down as finely'as possible without running any undue risks to the poultry industry. So far there is no evidence of any undue quantity of flour being imported." WHEAT TRANSPORT. COPING WITH RUSH. To cope with the especially heavy grain' harvest this year, the Railway Department has decided to run special wheat trains where necessary. Tho Department is anticipating a,very keen demand for trucks, during the harvest season, and arrangements; are being made to. keep the 4500 trucks allotted to trie northern district, comprising the country north .of Tinwald, and the West Coast, moving all the'time. Circulars are being issued to the users of trucks, asking their co-opera-tion in minimising delays in the loadinn of trucks, so that those sent to branch stations loaded with merchandise 1 may be immediately dispatched to Christchti'rch again with grain. ...... . •——— LARGE TIMBER STOCKS. MILLS TO CLOSEDOWN. ,< [THE PEESB Special Service.] '." '' WELLINGTON, January 13. .It js customary during the Christmas holidays for the New Zealand sawmills to close down for a fortnight, but this year fully 50, per ceiit. of the mills will remain idle for at least a month. This action has been taken in order to allow a clearing of accumulated stocks to be' made. Mri A.''Seed, secretary of the' Dominion Federated Sawmillers' Association, s'-ited to-day that the position had been accentuated by the large importations of timber from overseas.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS. GRAIN' AND PRODUCE. [THE PRESS Special Service.] INVERCARGILL, January 13. ■ Oats^—This'market continues very'flat, it being-reported that the northern merchants are, operattng r only •at very low prices, as low'as-3s 7d ; for A Cartons, f.0.b., s.i., being name' 3, ' while the proportionate value- for ■JJ's" would ; b'e 3s. On this : basis prices to fatmers (Will,, have to be .under. 2s .6d and _2s?7d respectively on .'trucks, country 'star tions, if the'merchants are .to have a profit: As has been mentioned before,' farmers would •be'we.ll 'advjsed to .pay-particular; attention to the threshing of'their .oats, as the bulk coming in of recent years has, shown signs of careless threshing. Wheat—Supplies for local fowl feed pur; poses are being drawn from outside sources, us there will be no Southland grain available until the. now season's wheat comes in. Chaff —The market is well .'supplied, and merchants.are not keen buyers, especially as the shipping demand has eased off, and that storage space is required for wool. To-day's values for good, bright quality is about £i a ton. ' Ryegrass and Italian Rye—These markets also are very dull at present, and machine' dressed seed is saleable for shipment only at low values, while new season's seed is also reported to be offering by more I northern centres for delivery : a month, or two ahead at low prices. From .present inr I dications it.' seems most 'unlikely that, even the best seed will net the farmer more than 2s 6d a bushel on trucks, while inferior lines will doubtless command much lower prices. A .point that will'prqbably be taken into'.- consideration • this season by ■ merchants will.be,the •germination, of. lines purchased, and 1 it- is possible, that * merchants will; require's .guarantee as regards'the percentage 'tit • germination. ' .This attitude is being forced on the 'merchants by the fact that ■whenUbey 'are selling dressed seed'they have to givo similar guarantees. • Potatoes—The only business being done at presont in new potatoes is drawn from northern- centres for local consumption. It will. be some months before the Southland main crop is available. Trnit and Vegetables. Business in the fruit mart has been much brighter during the past week, for-with the holidays over operations are now getting back to normal. Strawberries are practically finished, the only supplies available being a few local grown. Raspberries are in full supply, also loganberries, black currants,"and gooseberries. Cherries are easing off, and the crop will very soon be finished. Peaches, apricots, and plums are now coming forward in regular supply. The market is bare of oranges, but farther supplies are due in the coming week. Fiji bananas are .due about January 20th. A small parcel reached the market last week. The condition was mixed, but owing tb the shortage very high prices were realised. Lemons are plentiful, and are cheap in price. Current prices for the week are: Strawberries, Is to Is Od; cherries, 6d to Is Cd; plums, dessert, to 6d; peaches, to 7Jd; apricots, to 7d; gooseberries, from ljd to 3d; cabbages, Is to 2s 6d; cauliflowers, to Cs;.novv potatoes, Id to 2d. DAIRY PRODUCE FOR EXPORT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 12. For December, the Dairy Department graded 1629 tons of butter, of which -154 was unsalted, as compared with 1095 tons for December,. 1925. For . the paet five months the total was 35,615 tons, compared with 32,783 tons for 1950. . Cheese graded for December totalled 12,875 ton 3, as compared with 12,982 tons for 1925, and for the past five months 33,839, compared with 33,473 for 1925.

KEEN BIDDING. WELLINGTON WOOL SALE. EXCELLENT CLEARANCES. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON. January 13. The wool sale which commenced in the Town Hall on Wednesday was brought to a close this forenoon, and proved to be one of the finest and most satisfactory sales held in this City. Jt was characterised by a very healthy tone, and the competition was brisk throughout, and at no time showed signs of flagging. Every section of the trade appeared anxious to buy, with the result that for every lot in the catalogue there was keen competition, and the clearances were excellent. The wool offered consisted mostly or crossbreds from the Wairarapa, Manawatu, and Nelson districts, but there was a fair quantity of wool from Marlborough consisting of halfbreds and merino. The quantity of merino produced m New Zealand is relatively very small and barely sufficient to meet the requirements of the Dominion's voollen mills; therefore, they have to pay full prices for such wools under the pressure of Bradford competition. No super lines of merinos were offering as at the December sale, but the prices of merino were equal to those of the December sale, if not a shade above. The competition between Bradford and the local mills for this class of wool was very keen. The halfbred was in fairly good supply, as the Nelson district as well as some parts of the North Island, had fair quantities offering. Much of this wool suited the requirements of Continental buyers, and generally halfbreds may be put down as having advanced a penny on super and Id to lid on shabby, short staple and inferior sorts which the Continent favoured. American operators made certain of obtaining the requirements of super wools. They bid freely for suitable lots, and paid 14d, 14-Jd, and 15Jd per lb for average and inferior grades of fine and medium crossbreds. The Continent and Bradford were strong competitors, and in these grades of wool there was a most pronounced merer . in price, the advance being sdto Id all round. For average and inferior grades of crossbreds, and lower grades (44465) the advance was less, and ranged about id. For coarse and low cvossbreds (36-445) the best qualities showed an_advance of Jd to id, and inferior qualities were par to id higher. Lambs' wool was in extremely good demand, competition coming from France, Bradford, and Dominion mills. This was the first sale this season that there was any quantity of this class of wool showing any length of staple, and the prices realised must be considered very satisfactory. The top price realised for a line of lambs' wool was 16Jd. Viewed from nil points, the sale was an extremely satisfactory one. Prompt day is on January 27th, and the cheques to jrrowers on that date should approximate to £400,000. RANGE OF PRICES. (rRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) f WELLINGTON, January 13. At the wool sales to-day the official range of prices was:

WOOL SALES AT HOBART. HOBART, January 13. The first wool sales of the season have commenced. The competition was very keen. 1 Compared with the closing prices on the mainland in December, fine merinos advanced JO per cent., other merino 3 from nar to 5 per cent., and super and good comebacks and cro6sbreds were 5 per cent, higher. Merino skirtings were unchanged, while crossbred skirtings advanced 5 per cent. LONDON WOOL SALES. LONDON, January 12. At (lie wool sales commencing on January ]Bth, 131.300 bales will be the offering, of which 80,000 are Australian and 41,830 New Zealand. TALLOW. Dalgety and Co., Ltd.. received (he Collowing advice from their London office, dated January 12th, 1927: Tallow—At the weekly auction, 853 casks were offered, and 50 per cent. sold. Prices are unchanged. Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Co. received tho following cablegram from Messrs W, Weddel and Co., Ltd.: — Tallow market unchanged. At tallow auctions to-day, 800 casks were offered, and 410

CHRISTCHURCH STOCK EXCHANGE. YESTERDAY'S TRANSACTIONS. Sales Reported—Britis'i Tobacco, 51s. Sales on 'Change—X.Z. Insurance, 3is Sd; Royal Bank (£1 paid), 37a 6d (2 parcels); Western Aust. Bank, 54s 6d (7 parcels); X.Z Refiig. (contr.), 7s 3d (2 parcels); Electro. Zinc (prcf., cum div.), 37a Gd. LATEST QUOTATIONS.

OTHER EXCHANGES. (rBESS 13S0CMT10X T1LIOBAM8.) AUCKLAND, January 12. Share Market sales—Mt. Eden Borough debentures; 1061, SJ : per cent., ±101; Bank of New Zealand, 595; New Zealand Insurance, 37s 6d; Pukemiro Collieries, 225; Auckland Gas, -23s lOd; National Timber, lis 3d; Colonial Sugar, £55 j Alburnia, 33 9d; Moaiialaiari(con.), 4s lOr], 53; Kawarau, 3s od, Js 6d: . Ohinemuri, 6s. DUNEDIN, January 13. Salos reported—Goldsbrough, Mort, 49s 3d; 5J per cent. Soldiers' Bonds (1933), £101; Scoullar and Co., £1 2s WAIMATE STOCK MARKET. A considerable livening has taken place in the stock market since the holidays, and a good deal of business has passed, consisting mainly of lambs for delivery in January and early February. Wethciß and ewes also command a good enquiry, but the prices offered, which leave only a small margin of profit,- do not tempt holders, who are in a very safe position in consideration of the abundance of feed. Ewo 8 and lambs, however, are being bought freely at prices which will yield tho buyers very little profit unless the present prices for fat sheep and lambs advance. Though not quite so many lambs are being taken in first drafts as in other years, they are jirafting well, and it iB far better than was expected after the wet season. Paddock lamba off good country have been selling fairly well, several sales having been made at prices ranging from 21s to 23s for mixed sexea. At this price a good proportion of fats aro expected. Half-. bred wether lambs have been selling at 16s, and wether lambs suitable for rape at up to 21s. Enquiry is current for two-tooth wethers at from 18s to 20s, but holders are asking prices from 20s 6d to 235, which results in little business passing. Good-con-ditioned aged shorn ewes, with lambus at foot, are fetching from Me 6d to 16s 6d, and inferior sorts from lis 6d to 13s 6d. At the various sales prices ranging from 24a 6d and 25s 6d up* to 26s lOd for extra good lots are being obtained for fat lambs. At the Glenavy sale on Monday the price of 28s was brought by an exceptionally good line of fat lambs. There is a plentiful supply of fat cattle, but they aro held in small lots. The offer is greater than the needs of the local trade, arid a few trucks are being railed each week' to the bigger markets. Good money is being obtained for all sorts of store cattle, aiffl £3 a head for wean : ing time was fetched by a line of calveß reared on their mothers, and £5 a head for a line of station-bred 18-months-olds, mostly Herefords. BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

(BY CABLE—PHESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, January 12. Board of Trade returns are as follows: Imports for December, £113,312,000, an increase of £3,356,000 compared with November. Exports for December, £49,707,000, an increase o£ £3,356,000 compared with November. Imports for 1926 totalled £1,242,863,000, a decrease of £77,851,000 compared with the previous year. Exports for 1926 totalled £651,892,000, a decrease of £121,488,000 compared with the previous year. Imports in December, 1926, decreased by £20,963,000, exports by £16,061,000, and reexports by £3,143,000 compared with December, 1925. The principal decreases in imports were:—Grain and flour, £3,282,000; meat, £2,546.000; other food and drink, nondutiable £2,555,000, dutiable £2,246,000; raw cotton, £6,925,000; raw wool, £2,066,000; other textile materials, £2,063,000; rubber, £3,858,000. The principal decreased exports were:—Coal, £2,390,000; iron and steel manufactures, £5,901,000; vehicles, £1,831,000. Increases in imports were:— Coal, £5,842,000; iron and steel manufactures, £1,785,000. DIVIDEND DECLARED. N.Z. INSURANCE COMPANY. (PHKSS ASSOCIATION TKLEGBAM.) AUCKLAND, January 12. The directors of the New Zealand Insurance Company have declared an interim dividend of lOd a share for the half-year ended November 30th last, payable on February 9th.

VALUABLE RAM. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) MASTEKTOX, January 13. It was reported this evening that Mr W\ It. Glasson, president of the Australian Lougwool .Slieepbreeders' Association, had purchased, this afternoon, from Mr 11. W. Matthews (Lower Valley) a four tooth ram of Waiorongomai strain for 500 guineas, which is said to be a Dominion record price for a single sheep of any breed. THE RAILWAYS. WORKING ACCOUNT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 13. Tbe following is the railway working account for the four-weekly period ended December 11th: NORTH ISLAND. Per cent.

WAIRARAPA RAM FAIR. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) MASTERTON, January 13. Tho Wairarapa Stud Sheepbveeders' Annual Ram Fair was held to-day before a largo attendance of buyers, representing all the New Zealand provinces, also New South Wales. It was essentially a Romney sale, all other breeds being entirely neglected. Tho top price was 250 guineas, paid by Shannon Brothers, o£ Feildiug, for a shearling rain offered by W. 0. Small (Kairanga), who toppod averages with 100 guineas for five sheep. W. Perry and Son, "Penrose," Masterton, had an average of 83 1-3 guineas for eighteen sheep, their best prices being 200 guineas for a ram sold to J. D. Lilburu (Hunterville), 180 guineas to AV. M. Stewart (Fcilding), 170 guineas to J. Miller (Otago), 130 guineas to T. H. Meo (Otago), and 150 guineas to W. R. Glasson (N.S.W.). Quontin Donald (Featherston) averaged 82 1-3 guineas, his best prices being 220 guineas to J. G. Alexander (Wanganui), 120 guineas to Crawford King (Otago), and 100 guineas to Lamb Brothers (North Auckland). A. P. Southey (East Taratahi) averaged G5 guineas, with one lot reaching 155 guineas | the purchaser being W. R. Glasson (N.S.W.) AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. (BY CABLE—ritESS ASSOCIATION—COPYMGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received January 13th, 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 13. Wheat—The quotation is 4s 74d a bushel in the country, equal to 5s 3d ex trucks at Sydney. Flour—£l3 a ton. Oafs—Tasmanian While Giants 4s 3d to ■ls 5d a bushel; Algerians 3s 10s to 4s. Potatoes—Tasmanian £2l to' £23 a ton, local'i'2s a ton, West Australian £2O a ton* Onions—£lo 16 £l2 a ton. ADELAIDE, January 13. Wheat—Growers' lots are quoted at . r >s ljd. to ss' 3d a bushel. Tho parcels trade quotation is 5s 3d for March delivery.' Flour—Baker's lots £l3 5s a ton. Oats —2s 4d to. 2s 6d a bushel. MELBOURNE, January 13. The hides market is firm at last week's best rates. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. (BT CABLE— PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPVRIGItT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received January 14th, midnight.) SYDNEY, January 13. At the wool sales, the market ruled firm at the lately improved rates for all good wools, but irregularity was noticeable in broad-stapled and doubtful-yielding lines. Greasy merino eold to 32id.

Dec. Jan. (1 d d d Merino 00/70 60/64— Super .. 19f to 23 20} to 22.} Average .. 16$ to. 19 17 .to-20,. Inferior .. 14J to 17 Fine Half bred 56/58— Super .. 17 to 19 T V 17}'to 19$ Average — ISA to 16$ 15 to 18 Medium Halfbred 50/56 — Super .. 15 to 17:} 17 1o 18} . Average .. 13 to 16 14| to.17 Inferior .. 10$ to 12 12$ to 14} Coarse Halfbred 48/50— Super ..14 to 16 16 to • 17} ■ Average .. 13J to 14J 13J to 15J Inforior .. 10$ to 11J 12 to 13$ Corriedale —• Super .. 16 \o 17 17} to.19J Average .. 12} to 15 •14} to 17 Inferior .. -*■ — 12} to 14} Fine Crossbred 46/48— Super .. 13$ to 15 14 to 16} Average .. Hi to 13} 12* to 14 Inferior, .. 10 to 11} 10} to 12} Medium Crossbred 44/46— Super . .. 13 to 141 13} to 15 Average .. 11} to 13} 11$ to 13} inferior .... 9$ to 11 9$ to 11 Coarse Crossbred, 40/44— Super .. HI to 13* 12 to 13} .Average .. ' 10} to 12 10$ to 12} Inferior' ..' 74 to 9$ 7$ to 9$ Hoggets 48/50— • . 124. to 16}. 12$ to 16} Fine 46/48 Hi to 15 11} to 15} Medium 44/46 .10J to 14} 11 to 14$ Coarso 40/44 10 'to 12$ 10$ to 13 Low 36/40 10 to 11$ 10 to 11} Lambs — . . Fine 44/50 11 • to 14* 12* to 16} Medium 40/44 . 11$ to 13 Seedv and inferior all grades— ' , ■. 5$ to 10 7 to Hi Bellies arid Pieces— • Merino —■ ..••■■ ' Good to super 12$ to 14$ 14} to 17$ Low to,' " Medium .. 10$ to 12 10$ to 14 Halfbred- 1 - ' ' ■• ! Good to super 11 to 13$ 12} to 15$ Low to-. Medium . 9 to 11 10$ to 12 Crossbred— Good to super 8$ to 14 8$ to 14 Low to Medium . • 5 ' to 8$ 5} to 8-1 Crutchings — • ' > Medium to Good .. 8 to 9$ 7} to 10 Inferior and seedy .. 3 to 7 4 to 7 Locks — Merino .. 9} to 11$ 9 to 10$ Halfbred .. ' 6 : \to' 8 ' 7$ to 8$ ,• Crossbred ..- .4$.to .6} 5 to 6$ Fine wools showing quality were up in price by Id, in some cases l$d. Average Crossbreds were at par to $d better on December rates.

Buyei •s. Sellers. £ s. d. £ B.d. X.Z. GOVT. DEBEXTURES4£ per cent. Inscribed, 1938 and 1939 96 10 0 96 15 o 4.S per cent. Bonds, 193-3 96 10 0 5 per cent. Bonds, 19-27 99 2 6 99 15 0 5J per cent. Bonds, 1933 101 0 0 OTHER DEBEXTURESXew Brighton Borough, 5'i per cent., 1955 — ] 101 0 0 To Kuiti Borough, G per cent., 1933 — 1 101 0 0 X.Z. Breweries, BoncU 1 4 3 14 9 BANKSAdelaida 8 15 0 9 0 0 Aust. Bank of Comm. — 1 11 U Australasia M 0 0 li 3 b Comm. of Au?t. 1 VI 6 1 13 6 Comm. of Aust. (pref.) 6 17 6 — E., S., and A . 8 8 0 8 12 b Xational of Australasia (£10 paid) 18 5 0 19 0 0 Xational of Australasia (£5 paid) 9 3 0 9 12 G Xational of X.Z. G 19 0 7 2 G Xcw South Vales ■16 12 G 47 0 0 Xew Zealand .. 2 19 0 2 19 3 Roval (£1 paid) 1 17 3 1 18 3 Royal (£1 paid) 7 2 C -. Union of Aust. 15 5 0 15 7 G Victoria (ord.) . 10 0 0 10 3 6 '•ffestern Australian 2 14 3 2 14 9 IXSURAXCE— Xational 3 13 9 3 14 3 New Zealand .. 1 17 4 1 17 G Queensland 2 13 0 __ South British 2 16 6 2 17 0 Standard 2 16 9 2 18 6 LOAN AND AGEXCY— Dalgcty and Co. 15 5 0 15 12 6 Goldsbrough Mort 2 9 1 2 9 7 National Mortgage — 3 9 0 X.Z. and River Plato 1 3 6 SHIPPING— . Howard, Smith 1 12 0 P. and 0. Deferred .. 211 0 0 Union (pref.) 1 0 0 10 6 FROZEN MEATCanterbury 7 15 0 9 0 0 X.Z. Refrigerating (pd.) 0 14 3 0 15 3 N.Z. Kefrig. (contr.) .. 0 7 3 0 7 4 WOOLLEXSKaiapoi (17s paid) , .. 0 8 0 0 10 9 Kaiapoi (Vs paid; 0 3 0 0 3 9 Kaiapoi (pref.) 0 14 6 0 16 0 COALWestport 1 11 6 1 16 0 GASAshburton 4 18 6 5 2 0 Christchurch .. 1 5 0 15 8 BREWERIES— Carlton ., 2 4 6 2 G 9 Manning — 10 6 Montieth's 0 19 3 13 0 New Zealand .. 2 10 6 2 12 6 Staples 1 18 1 1 19 4 Thnaru 0 12 6 0 16 0 Ward -y 2 0 — CEMEXTSWilson's d 14 0 1 16 6 MISCELLANEOUS - Beath and Co. i n 0 1 12 G British Tobacco 2 10 9 ' • Burns Philp 1 18 0 — Electro. Zinc (ord. cum div.) 1 16 0 1 17 0 Electro. Zinc (pref. cum div.) 1 17 6 1 17 9 Henry Jones 2 8 9 2 9 8 Mason, Strutheis (Ha paid) 0 14 6 0 15 3 N.Z. Drag Co. 3 10' 6 3 12 0 N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. (6.'j per cent. Stock, 1930) 76 0 0 32 0 0 N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. (GJ per cent. Stock, 1931) — 80 0 0 X.Z. Farmers' Fertiliser 4 12 6 N.Z. Guarantee Corpn. o n 4 0 10 1 Whitcoinbe and Tombs 3 10 0 MINING- , Kawaran 0 3 r — Ut. Lycll 1 7 3 18 0

±i.xpenai - ot Section. Revenue. ture. Revenue. [vaihu •186 S-28 154.94 Gisborno 2,839 3,062 122,88 N.I. Alain Lines and Brunches 348,6-12 261,037 81.90 Totals 331,971 267,923 S2.36 SOUTH ISLAND. S.I. Main Lines and Branches 209,011 201,299 96.00 Westpovt 12,788 8-17-'69.48 Nelson 1,743 3,401 162.14 Pkfon 2,290 4,132 134.93 Totals 225,834 217,780 95.71 Operating totals 577,805 483,709 87.79 Miscellaneous 24,738 Lake Wakatipu steamers 675 1,020 190.28 Eefr o s h m e n t rooms, advte., and other subsidiary services 13,237 12,785 83.39 • Deptl. dwellings 6,329 10,170 167.69 Grand totals 623,8015 509,698 83.65