CROP STATISTICS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19142, 27 October 1927, Page 10

CROP STATISTICS.

FARMERS' UNION SUGGESTIONS. J REPORTS ON CROP CONDITIONS. An interesting report from the Agricultural Committee of the North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' Union was submitted at yesterday's inecting on the subject of crop statistics. Mr W. W. iliilholiand. who made the report, said that the Government Statistician evidently did not understand the executive's request for the collection of statistics as to the condition of trops. It was desired that reports or. the condition of the grain crops should be collected on January Ist, .February Ist, and March Ist, the reports to be issued within one week of these dates. To enable this to be done would require crop reporters consisting of selected farmers in various districts —there would be from 100 to 200 of them. This system should be followed rather than that of each grower reporting. ■\Vhen in Wellington he (Mr Mulhollaud) had taken up the matter with the Government Statistician, who evidently was fully seized of the fact that the pre-

sent system of collecting agricultural statistics left much to be desired. He lad ; pointed out that whiio no fault was found with the main statistics; though some alterations miglit be detailed, it was necessary that they shouid ha supplemented by reports on the condition of the crops which would bo

available within a few days of their

collection. As to the famous potato statistics he had pointed out that it had not been a question of their inaccuracy—probably tliey had beeu quite accurate when collected —but the difficulty had been caused by the fact that they had not been published till some

;time after they had been collected when tho conditions had altered considerably. The Government Statistician (Mr Frascr) had suggested that the subject •hould be referred to the Minister, and that a conference might be arranged of representatives of- the Statistics Department, the Department of Agricul-

ture, and the Farmers' Union. He (Mr Mulholland) had suggested that representatives of the merchants also should attend as they, equally with the Farmprs' Union, were dissatisfied with the method of handling crop statistics, and probably were as vitally interested as were the wheat-growers. Tho Progress League, lie understood, was reviewing the question of statistics generally. The Farmers' Union was

interested in statistics as a guide to the Ncurrent position of the various crops with which they were dealing, to be used commercially to determine the price nt which ,the produce of the farm should bo sold. For commercial purposes the information required, regarding the condition of crops need be only reasonably accurate and quickly available. He had gathered from Mr Eraser that their requirement could be iuet. He (Mr Mulholland) suggested that the- best procedure at the moment might be to get in touch with the Progress League, and see if tho Farmers' Union's representations could not be made jointly with those of the League. The report was approved and it was decided that the Agricultural Commit-tee-should'get in touch with the Progress League. LOCAL BODIES' LOANS, • (rKisa association tzlxg&au.) WELLINGTON; October 26. A meeting of the Local Government ILoajis Board was held on Tuesday, Mr 31. E. Hayes, Secretary of the Treasury, presiding. Nine applications, totalling £307,680, were dealt with, ■anction being .given for. £208,325 new Joans and £2700 for a renewed loan. , The other applications wore deferred er declined. Among tho applications were three from the "Wellington City amounting to £290,875. After considering the objections the Board sanctioned these iQaris. subject to a Sinking Fund adjustment, .and previa •ion for a poll of ratepayers. GRADING OF FLAX. imtSS ASSOCIATION TELEGKAM.) "WELLINGTON, October 26. It is probable that a general discussion will tako place between the flaxmillcrs and tho Department of Agriculture at an early date in reference to the recent gradings. It is believed that the standard fixed is too high. NAPIER HARBOUR LOAN. * ✓ QUICKLY SUBSCRIBED. (>T CABLE—PBKSS 'ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) • (ICSTBALIAK A.VD H.S. CABLJ ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, October 26. The Napier Harbour Board loan was quickly subscribed.

SHARES. (BT CABLE—PRSSS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) I(j CSTRALIAJT iOCD X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, October 25. Dalgety and Co., shares, £l2 7s 8d; 4 per cent; debenture stock, £74 7s 6d; Goldstrough, Mort. (debentures), £BS. GOLD. ' LONDON", October 25. The price of gold is S4s 10Jd an ounce. BURNSIDE MARKET. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, October 2G. Fat cattle dropped at the Burnsido sales to<ay by about 20s to 30s per head, but prices in other classes were on a par with late rates. Fat Cattle—There was an extra largo yarding of ribout 400,* considerably in excess of requirements. Tho quality was good, but there were not so many heavy cattle forward as there have been during the last lew sales. Values opened 20s to 30s down on last week's rates, and there was a tendency. to a further decrease. Extra prime ox beef made 42s 6d per 1001b, heavy and Tough 355, prime heifer 37s 6d, light heifer •nd cow beef 25s to 27s 6d. Fat Sheep—There was a penning of 2137 comprised of some prime quality and medium wethers with a fair proportion of heavyweights, a few pennings of good quality ewes, and a sprinkling of plain wethers. The sale opened at equivalent to last week's rates, and finished in vendors' favour, especially for medium weights which could bo quoted from par to Is up on last week's prices. For heavy weights no change was noticeable. Extra heavy wethers made up to 57s 6d (a few specials making 63s 3d), prime 4Ss to 525, medium 42s 6d to 4Gs, light 3Gs, extra heavy ewes to 465, prime 41s to 435, medium 35s to 37s 6d, light from 30s. Extra heavy wethers_ sold at "id per lb, prime light 7ld, prime ewes 5Jd, and light and aged 4Jd. Spring Lambs—A small entry of 26 was penned. Prime lambs realised up to'42s, and others from 35s to 38s, the price per lb j-anging from Is 3d to Is 6d. Store Cattle—There was an entry of 150 ef medium quality, which met with a dragging sale. Forward bullocks sold at up to-£l3, medium three to four-year-olds £9 ss, empty heifers £3 19s, and one and a hali-year-old •teeri £1 15s. -