NOTES BY THE WAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 15

NOTES BY THE WAY

FUTURE LAMB EXPORT Comment in the English farm papers on the depressed condition of the lamb and mutton market is rather perturbing when considered in relation to the future of the New Zealand trade. Flockowners in the United Kingdom are being involved in heavy losses. The incomes of many of them are mainly dependent on their fat lamb returns, and with prices down by 12s to 15s a head the return has failed entirely to meet expenses. Scottish farming has been especially hard hit. The agricultural writer of the "Glasgow Herald" estimates Lhat the total loss on the current lamb sales will amount to £1,873,000 compared with last year. He calculates that if all the sheep stocks of the country were to be written down in keeping with present lamb prices the iigure for Scotland would approach £ti.ooo,ooo, and that for England nearly £20,000,000. In surveying the causes of the collapse the agricultural writer of "The Times" says that there are several lactors responsible. There has beeri an increase in the shipments of frozen lamb and mutton, but not a big increase. So far this year imports have 'been greater than in the first seven months of last year, and there is no doubt that the increased shipments have had a depressing effect on the market coming in a season when the home production of lambs was heavier than for some years. Unfortunately for the home producer the effect of the extra supplies has been felt in his prices much more than in the prices of imported lamb, which have remained comparatively steady. Australia and New Zealand, which are responsible for the increased shipments, have escaped the full effect of the depression. Their product always sells at a lower price, and it seems that the public is economising at the expense of the home producer. The Government have never taken powers (continues this writer) to regulate imports of lamb and mutton from the Dominions: the South American product is regulated by quota, as in the case of beef, but Dominion supplies are subject only to voluntary agreements. Arrangements have been made since the beginning of 1935 with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and what are called "basic allocations" haVe been made. These allocations appear to be on a generous scale, and actual ■ imports have been less than the quantities permitted. This fact needs to be remembered in connexion with the Minister for Agriculture's statement in the House of Commons that assurances had been received from the Dominions that their shipments of .lamb and mutton this year would probably be 400.000 cwt. less than last year's allocation and would not exceed last year's actual shipments. So far this year shipments have been increased by 200,000cwt over last year's total, to the end of July, so if this undertaking is to be honoured shipments during the re-

maining five months should be considerably reduced. As matters stand, the Government cannot enforce the control of import* to maintain a profitable level of prices for the home producer. If Dominion shipments happen to be short the home producer may do well enough, but if his c::tra production happens to coincide with increased Dominion shipments he must face the consequences. The Minister for Agriculture has said that it is not practicable to consider a subsidy for fat lambs, such as applies to fat cattle. The administrative dlfiYculties are obvious. But if the Governments of the Dominions are unwilling to enforce the effective regulation of shipments, pressure can be brought on them to induce their farmers' leaders to come into confers ence with home producers and set up an Empire Lamb Council on the same lines as the International Beef Conference, with authority to control supplies. Failing agreement the Board of Trade would assume powers to regulate supplies. Haphazard marketing with no regard to home production is a menace to the stability of prices, Which in the - long run all producers must desire.

Apart from this problem of imported supplies, there are matters

which home producers can profitably consider. One is the avoidance of temporary glut in the markets, which may depress prices for a whole season. It appears from the Ministry of Agriculture returns that at least 500,000 more lambs were marketed before June 4 this year than in 1937. Grass keep was short in the spring and early summer, and no doubt some farmers were forced to sell at the beginning of the season, but there is clearly need for a market intelligence service which would make the position clear to farmers when markets are being over-supplied. There is need also (concludes the writer) in this highly competitive age for the effective advertising of homeproduced lamb that has to sell against Canterbury lamb. New Zealand producers have found that it is good business to advertise their lamb. All these matters require immediate consideration by the Government, and by those who can speak for sheep farmers. It would be reassuring if the Minister of Agriculture were to summon a conference of the interested parties in the determination that the depression now hanging heavily aver the sheep industry shall be removed as quickly as possible. NEW ZEALAND'S POSITION The foregoing appeared in "The Times" of August 29, so that it represents a most recent opinion. The size of the Dominion's current lamb crop is being influenced this year by several unusual factors. The ewe flock is substantially bigger, or it was last season—the current figures are not available—but it is reasonable to suppose that the proportion of ewes has increased in relation to the total flocks. As against this, there will be some diminution of the Auckland lamb crop as a result of the facial eczema outbreak, and with the hard winter that has prevailed in some provinces lamb losses may be heavier. The weight of evidence lies in the direction of a somewhat heavier exthe farm income for locally sold the general farm income for local stock and wool, which might compel farmers to cash the readiest product on the farm—the lamb. At the moment young ewes are so much lower in price than 12 months ago that there will not be much encouragement to carry over ewe lambs for future breeding. On the whole, therefore, it would seem that as far as lamb is concerned there will be an increase, but it is possible that mutton will not vary to much extent. There was a much increased export of mutton last year. The probability of the continued agitation in England for some regulation may eventually engage the official ear. and the prospect should not be ignored by Canterbury farmers when planning their stock and cropping programme. IRRIGATION FARMING While the average farmer is somewhat suspicious of some of the methods of "education" which have been recently instituted for his benefit, and 'is unlikely to take much notice of them, there is one which

has been adopted which has a definite value. This is the decision to appoint three qualified fields instructors to instruct farmers in the principles of irrigated farming. This is a need which 'has been referred to in these columns on .occasions, as the best of farmers in ordinary circumstances can not all claim to be equipped with a knowledge of how to apply water. These three men will take up posi- j tions on the Public Works irrigation schemes, and while they are helping farmers to understand irrigation, they will at the same time learn something about constructional and management aspects as the various schemes progress. The lesson of Central Otago, where the water was.used regardless of quantity or benefit in the early stages of irrigation, should be avoided in the big schemes now in course of construction in Canterbury. The knowledge that these men will obtain through being associated with the constructional work should be of very great assistance in helping irrigators in the preparation of areas for the application of the water. A service of this nature was operated in the Redcliff and Levels schemes, which are now completed, and the result is proving very satisfactory. Most of the farms that will come under irrigation are of extensive area, ranging from 400 to 600 acres, and it can be readily seen that an unskilled use of the Water on such blocks might lead to damage to the soil to an extent by souring it, and a loss of water, whereas it should, properly applied, double the productive capacity.

CHRISTCHURCH HORSE PARADE

Twenty-five years ago one of the most important events in the farming calendar of Canterbury was the annual horse parade held on the Addington Showgrounds. Although there is not the same number of horses bred in the province nowadays, there has in recent times been a definite revival of interest in the Clydesdale horse. Recent events suggest that the Dominion would be unwise to rely entirely on mechanised forms of transport and power for the farm implements, as events may develop that fuel supplies for farming machinery will not be so readily available. The annual horse parade this year is set down for September 28, and entries close on Friday next, September 23 s Liberal prize money is offered iri the* various classes for -two, three,, foiir-> year-old and upwards, •• - : "