NOT A DISEASE

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19178, 8 December 1927, Page 10

NOT A DISEASE

TROUBLE AFFECTING EWES

INVESTIGATIONS BY DEPARTMENT."

An address was given recently beforo the Canterbury A. and P. Association by Mr Henry Overton on the subject of the Dominion's lamb trade, and a copy was forwarded to the Minister for Agriculture. At yesterday's meeting of the General Committee of the Association the Hon. Mr Hawken wrote acknowledging receipt of a copy of the address and stating that he was forwarding it to the Acting Director-General, Department of Agriculture, for the information of the officers concerned. Mr Haw ken further wrote: "It would appear, however, from the remarks made in the paper (address) in question that an impression prevails that the Departmental officers do not know what the trouble affecting lambs, now the subject of investigation, is, and I think it only fair that I should remove that impression. "As stated by Mr Overton, this trouble, which has been known tor many years, is not recognised as a (iisease, but as a dietetic trouble, and to show that it was diagnosed as such in New Zealand over twenty years ago. I am sending an extract from the annual report of® the Department or Agriculture (Division of Veterinary Science) for 1907 dealing with the trouble, which I think should convince Mr Overton and your members that his subsequent experience only goes to ■upport the diagnosis then arrived at. "The investigations which are being carried out by the Department at tho present time are with a view to confirming, or otherwise, the opinion previously held by the Department, and at the same time collecting further information and • data in regard to the predisposing cause in order that as much information on the subject as it is possible to get may be available. "In regard! to the trouble affecting the ewes prior to lambing, I a copy of the Department's Bulletin No. 73, where (on page 6) the subject is treated under the heading: •Ante-Partum Paralysis.' This may be of interest to some of your members if they havo not previously

TC&cl The chairman (Mr E. Hay), referring to the trouble affecting ewes, said that Mr Overton had, objected to it being called a disease. Mr J. 0. Coop considered that this (should be impressed on the Minister and moved that the letter be referred) back to the Minister with the comment that he had not fully understood the references to the trouble affecting ewes. They did not want it said , that there was disease amongst the sheep of the Dominion. Mr H. S. S. Kylo, M.P., said that it was a sporadic disease; it was not infectious or contagious. Mr Coop's'.motion was duly seconded and) was agreed to.

LIQUIDATION OF SYDNEY FIRM.

(bt cable— pbess association—copyright.) (ATJSTBAUAS AND N.Z CABIiS ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December 7th, 11.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 7-. A meeting of shareholders in George A. Bond and Co. approved of the company being voluntarily wound up with a v' jw to reconstituting its. affairs. The company will continue to carry on operations.

[A previous ,message stated that George A. Bond and Co., hosiery and ■underwear makers, proposed to go into voluntary liquidation owing to the financial stringency and the competition of cheap foreign goods. The company's assets total £1,522,408, and it employs 1200 women and 800 men.]

LONDON WOOL SALES.

PRICES WELL MAINTAINED.

(B1 CABLE—FBI SB A880CIATIO»—COPIBIOBT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.»' CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON,- December 0. At the wool sales, 10,293 bales were offered, 6380 Australian and 4913 New Zealand. There was an average selection of merinos luitable for . both Yorkshire and the Continent, an exoellent selection of scoureds, and a limited offering of greasy crossbreds, principally medium and low. Competition was keen generally, and prices vere well maintained. The following prices were received for the New Zetland clips named:—"Paparatu," 21d to 18d a lb; "Waipaoa," 19Jd to 17Jd; "Woka Downs," 401 d to 39d; "Otemata," 40d to 30d. BRISBANE SALES.

BRISBANE, December 7. The third series of wool salqa have commenced. Competition was exceptionally keen for all grades. The market for all stylish wools and wools showing quality advanced five per cent. Other grades were firm, in sellers' favour. Good scoureds in dry condition met with keen competition np to last salo rates. Other grades were irregular. WHEAT. NEW YORK, December 6. Chicago wheat quotations are:—December, i29J cents a bushel; March, 133J cents; Slay, 134] cents. BRITISH-AUSTRALIAN COTTONGROWING.

British-Australian Cotton-Growing Association, Ltd., whose headquarters are in Brisbane. showed a profit last year of £4728, compared with £7775 for the previous period, which was 18 months. For that period the profit was struck after writing off certain expenses connected with the valuation of assets and for other purposes. The present profit is shown without provision for depreciation being made. It is, therefore, proposed to transfer the amount to the general reserve to be applied in providing for depreciation, taxation, and extinguishing establishment and preliminary charges, and £3603 at present' in the balance-sheet as depreciation reserve is to be transferred to the general reserve for the same purpose. The season ■was the most adverse since the company commenced operations, actual rqceivals of seed cotton amounting only to 7,059,4301b, yielding 4825 .bales of lint, against 9,047,0631b of seed cotton the previous year, yielding 6135 bales of li:at. The arrangement with the Queensland Cotton Board made the previous year for the ginning of seed cotton and the purchase of cotton seed worked satisfactorily, and the results under the bounty system of payment have generally given satisfaction to the growers. An increased acreage is hoped for this season. Only two ginnerieß were worked, those at Rockhampton and Whinstanes. Four were idle. In consequence of the short supply of cottonseed from the Queensland crop, only 1575 short tons, it was necessary, In order to ope~ate profitably the oil mill, to .import cotton seed to the quantity of 5762 short tons for the manufacture of cattle and sheep food, and a ready sale in Australia was found. The balance-sheet shows an . unchanged capital of £559,432. General reserve and reserve for depreciation amount to £38,437, as against £33,005 at the previous balancing date. There are sundry creditors' of £1712, whereas the p"evioas balance-sheet showed creditors, including overdraft, at £20,105.. Assets are down at £604 310. but these include establishment and research charges £57,681, preference shares expenses ;'22,370. and goodwill £91,000. Among the tangible assets are land and buildings £137,683, machinery and plant £169,595, stock, stores, and seeds £21,116. There are also investments of £36,539, and cash of £53,578. The revenue f'om ginnery, oil mill, and other sources was £34,715, and there were dividends and inte~est ef £3906. Salaries, wages, and expenses were £33,894.